BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JEFFREY CHAMBERS, MD
Founder, Chief Medical Officer & Board Chairman
Dr. Chambers is a national leader in complex coronary interventions and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is the President of Metropolitan Cardiology Consultants and Director of Research and Cath Lab at Metropolitan Heart and Vascular Institute. Dr. Chambers has a strong background in clinical research and was an investigator in numerous clinical trials in the cardiovascular space. He is a serial entrepreneur with numerous issued patents, some of which are associated with devices commercially available today.
Dr. Chambers received his medical degree from Wayne State University Medical School and completed his medical studies at the University of Minnesota.
SARAVANA KUMAR, PhD
President, CEO & Board Member
Dr. Kumar’s talents range from product design and development to investor relations and commercialization within both small and large companies. Before his appointment to CEO, Dr. Kumar served as Vice President of R&D and Operations for 3 years wherein his team spearheaded the rapid development of AltaValve technology. Prior to 4C Medical, Dr. Kumar served as Senior Director of R&D and Operations at Conventus Orthopaedics, where his efforts led to the successful approval and commercialization of multiple novel fracture repair systems. Previously, he led engineering teams at St. Jude Medical for the successful development and commercialization of their transcatheter aortic valve replacement technology. His accomplishments include successful product development and launching of numerous medical technologies including a transcatheter aortic valve replacement technology, a transcatheter tricuspid valve regurgitation treatment technology, a stent-tissue technology for treatment of tracheal-bronchial infections in lung cancer patients, and multiple orthopedic devices for the fixation of fractures in the upper extremity. Dr. Kumar has authored more than 10 papers published in peer-reviewed journals, and has multiple issued patents.
Dr. Kumar earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota at the Twin Cities, Master of Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Bachelor of Science from the University of Delhi in New Delhi, India.
BUZZ BENSON
Board Member
Buzz has been an active investor and advisor in the healthcare industry for over 35 years. Buzz is a founding member of Sightline Partners (2004) and 10K Lakes Capital (2020). He led the effort to establish Sightline Partners as an independent firm in 2004 by acquiring the healthcare venture capital operations from Piper Jaffray Companies. Sightline Partners and 10K Lakes Capital focus on secondary transactions across multiple healthcare segments and the team has successfully raised five dedicated secondary funds with over $400 million in total capital. Prior to Sightline Partners, Buzz established Piper Jaffray's dedicated venture investing activities in 1992, serving as President and Managing Director of Piper Jaffray Ventures from 1992-2004. In 1986, he founded and co-headed Piper Jaffray's healthcare-focused Investment Banking activities for six years. In addition to over 35 years of venture capital and private equity experience, Buzz has been actively involved in a broad range of transactions for healthcare companies including mergers and acquisitions, corporate partner agreements, public offerings and private placements of equity and debt. He has been an active board member on over 80 public and private companies.
JONATHON CHEN
Board Member
Mr. Chen is the Chief International Business Officer at MicroPort. Before this appointment, he has served as the Executive Vice President of International Operations and Investor Relations. Mr. Chen's primary responsibilities include growing the company's international business markets in the U.S., Europe, and South America. Prior to joining the MicroPort, Mr. Chen worked for Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for 6 years where he was Senior Vice President of Business Development. He led the management team to build a $300 million medical products business through various acquisitions and licensing transactions. Preceding Angiotech, Mr. Chen was a life sciences investment banker for Credit Suisse and Alex. Brown & Sons. He helped his clients raise more than $2 billion in equity and debt capital and advised on over $3 billion in Mergers & Acquisitions transactions.
Mr. Chen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Sciences degree with honors in Biological Sciences from Stanford University.
RHONDA J. ROBB
Board Member
Rhonda was most recently Chief Operating Officer at Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. In that role she was responsible for the general management of the Company and for the operating systems and structures to ensure execution of the Company’s key strategies and initiatives for growth and International expansion. Rhonda led US Sales, International, Marketing, Health Economics, Reimbursement, Product Development, Clinical Affairs, Quality, Regulatory Affairs and the Information Technology functions. Prior to CSI, Rhonda was Vice President and General Manager for the Structural Heart Business at Medtronic, where she provided leadership for the transcatheter heart valve and surgical heart valve franchises. Rhonda held additional leadership positions at Medtronic in the Cardiac & Vascular space in Interventional Cardiology Marketing, and in Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure with leadership roles in strategic marketing, market development, business/commercial leadership, strategy, portfolio development and education.
Rhonda earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Carlson School of Business, at the University of Minnesota. Rhonda has served on the Board of the Twin Cities American Heart Association.