Scientific Advisory Board
Our scientific advisory board brings together highly ethical, critical thinkers in each of their fields of expertise. We appreciate their encouragement as we continue our efforts to investigate the strengths and limitations of the Cyclic Variations in Altitude Conditioning™ (CVAC™) process as a potential therapeutic modality.
Lawrence A. Burgess, MD
John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii
Dr. Burgess is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and the John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii. He is a surgeon who completed a distinguished career in the Army, where he served as Chief of Surgical Services at Tripler Army Medical Center, and Consultant to the Surgeon General of the Army for Otolaryngology. While in the military, he developed and successfully implemented a web-based core curriculum on military-unique medical topics for all army interns in training.
As the Director of the Telehealth Research Institute at the University of Hawaii, he continues a close working relationship with the Department of Defense (DOD) in developing telehealth and advanced medical technologies, while assisting Hawaii and Pacific Rim organizations to improve their telehealth capabilities. The multidisciplinary, high-technology group under his direction also works closely with the Pacific Telehealth and Technology Hui at Tripler and the Veterans Administration (VA), to develop research and operational capability in virtual reality (VR) and simulation.
J. Geoffrey Chase, PhD
Professor University of Canterbury, Centre for Bio-Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Christchurch, New Zealand
Dr. Chase is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University (BS) and Stanford University (MS and PhD). An engineer, he has 11 years of industry experience from a wide range of industries, and an ongoing research career at the University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand). His work focuses on the modeling, control and application of dynamic systems modeling in a broad range of areas. It has a primary focus on clinical medical applications that translate advanced engineering modeling and computation of human physiology and disease to clinical medical applications that have a significant impact on patient outcomes in intensive care, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
As a Co-Director of the Centre for Bio-Engineering, Dr. Chase has a close working relationship with clinicians and hospitals locally and internationally to develop novel technology solutions to significant health care problems. The multidisciplinary, high-technology group under his direction also works closely with medical device, pharmaceutical and systems companies to translate model-based medical therapeutics to clinical practice and patients.
Donald A. Chu, PhD
Director and Founder, Athercare Fitness and Rehabilitation
Castro Valley, CA ( www.athercare.com )
USA Strength & Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame (2003); Director, Athletic Training & Rehab., Stanford U. (2001-03); Director, Grad. Athletic Training, Rocky Mt. U. Health Professions
Donald Chu received his PhD from Stanford University in 1974. His degree in Physical Therapy is also from Stanford. He has a Masters in Kinesiology & Physical Education from CSU, Hayward. He is a Professor Emeritus from CSU, Hayward after a teaching career spanning over twenty years. During the time from 1997- 2001, Dr. Chu served as the Program Director of the Ohlone College Physical Therapist Assistant program. From 2001-2003, Dr. Chu served as the Director of Athletic Training & Rehabilitation at Stanford University.
Dr. Chu has developed an extensive reputation in the field of sports rehabilitation and in the areas of fitness and conditioning. He has been credited with bringing “Plyometric Training” to the attention of the athletic world through his application of theoretical knowledge into practical demonstrations.
Anne L. Friedlander, PhD
Consulting Professor in the Human Biology Program at Stanford University
Dr. Friedlander has broad research experience in the field of exercise physiology with a special emphasis on the regulation of substrate use during exercise and environmental physiology (high altitude and heat).
Dr. Friedlander received her MA and PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of California, Berkeley. Following a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Division of Endocrinology, Geriatrics and Metabolism at Stanford University, she served as the Associate Director for Education in the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). During that time she also was appointed as the Director of the Exercise Physiology Lab within the Clinical Studies Unit at the VAPAHCS. Over the past several years, Dr. Friedlander has also served as the Co-Director of the Human Performance track within the Program in Human Biology at Stanford University, and was formerly Director of the Mobility Division within the Stanford Center on Longevity.
Karen L. Herbst, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, UCSD
Associate Program Director, Endocrinology, UCSD
Center for Metabolic Research, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System
Chairperson, CVAC Systems, Inc. Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Herbst received her PhD in Cell Physiology from the University of Iowa. Following a subsequent two-year post-doctoral fellowship, Dr. Herbst completed her medical training at Rush University in Chicago. Dr. Herbst then completed her Residency and Endocrine Fellowship training at the University of Washington, where she studied inherited fat disorders (lipodystrophy) as well as androgens and metabolism. Passionate about helping people with these rare health conditions, she has devoted her research to this area since 2005.
Recognized as a leading authority on the subject of fat disorders in the US today, Dr. Herbst is actively pursuing funding for her research on fat disorders. She is regarded as a compassionate and effective physician. Dr. Herbst is board certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism and Internal Medicine.
Mike Nichols, MD
Health Management Private Practice
http://whenyouareserious.com
Dr. Nichols’ background in scientific theory construction at the University of Chicago, where he obtained his first graduate degree in the Philosophy of Science, led him to question current medical approaches to complex medical problems and led him eventually to found the TempusClinic in Los Gatos, CA. His medical degree is from Loyola University of Chicago and residency from Stanford University.
Dr. Nichol’s private practice has a primary focus on Health Management, and includes exercise physiology and training, nutritional medicine and stress management. According to Dr. Nichols, the heart of his practice is “taking care of people who want to get healthier based on a rational set of benchmarks of biological age built out of a complex array of cardiovascular and hormonal markers”.
Amit Sharma, MD, FACP, FASN
Director of Clinical Research at Boise Kidney and Hypertension Institute
Meridian, Idaho
Dr. Sharma received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans. He subsequently completed an internship in Internal Medicine. He completed a Fellowship in Nephrology and Hypertension, and a Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Sharma is a Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology and the American College of Physicians, and a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners. He also carries additional certification as a Specialist in Clinical Hypertension by the American Society of Hypertension.
Dr. Sharma’s primary research interests include the effects of continuous renal replacement therapy, referral patterns of chronic kidney disease and anemia, and the study of vascular calcification in pre-dialysis patients. He serves on the Editorial Board for the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Learning System.
Business Advisors
Joseph C. Franchetti, BS M & E, Wharton
Vice Chairman
Joseph’s broad-ranging experience within the health care industry includes life sciences, medical devices and diagnostics. Currently, Joseph serves as a long-standing consultant, director and advisor to several public and start-up companies in the cardiology/cardiovascular and life sciences arenas.
Joseph’s executive experience includes serving from 1989-1996 as President and CEO of Colin® Medical Instruments Corp. (now Omron®) a Japanese-owned worldwide leader for non-invasive blood pressure and physiological/vital signs monitoring and diagnosis. He co-founded Bio-Chem Laboratory Systems Inc., and served as CEO. For eleven years, he was Corporate and International Vice President and General Manager for Technicon (now Siemens) and Narco Scientific (now Respironics, Inc.®). Joseph has served as Vice-Chairman of CVAC Systems, Inc. since 2006. He currently serves as an independent director for Vicor Technologies. Joseph is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Trustee emeritus of Southwest Research Institute of Texas. Joseph is a former US Army Infantry officer.
Karen Drexler, BSE, MBA
Strategic Consultant
In 1995 Karen founded Amira Medical, an innovative glucose monitoring company that developed minimally invasive technology to measure blood glucose directly with a virtually painless approach to blood sampling. As President and CEO she was instrumental not only in the design and development of the product, but also in expanding the company´s scope internationally−particularly in Japan. Amira was purchased by Roche Diagnostics in 2001. Prior to founding Amira, Karen held a number of positions with significant responsibilities in the areas of operations, sales, marketing, business/strategic planning and product development during her tenure at LifeScan®, a Johnson & Johnson Company. LifeScan develops, manufactures and markets self-blood glucose monitoring systems. Karen is an inventor on 12 issued U.S. patents. In 2002 she was named “Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year” by the Silicon Valley Women’s fund. Karen is currently a member of the Board of Directors for several start-up companies, and advises CVAC Systems, Inc. Karen holds a BSE degree in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University, and an MBA degree from Stanford University.
Three Board positions are reserved for outside investors.
Legal Counsel
Cooley LLP
General Counsel, Intellectual Property Counsel
The content on the web pages listed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CVAC Systems, Inc.