East West Life Science Summit 2023: Innovating Throughout Our Rural and Underserved Communities

Chandima is the CEO of Photon Biosciences, LLC.  Prior to Photon Biosciences, Chandima held various roles in diagnostics and contract research organizations. Initially trained as a research & development scientist in developing diagnostic assays from the conceptual stage through R&D and commercialization, Chandima held positions in product management and global business development. He was also a director for the nation's largest animal health trade representative group Animal Health Institute (AHI), and involved in policy and regulatory process development work through collaboration with government and private organizations. Over the last two-plus years, Chandima navigated Photon Biosciences to develop its flagship technology platform for at-home diagnostics applications.  He earned a BSc (Hons) at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Chandima also earned an MSc. in Molecular Biology & Biophysics and a Professional Science Masters (PSM) degree at Washington State University.

Cara Beatty has 20 years of success leading in multiple systems of care including an evolving HMO, a fee-for-service multi-specialty group, and a community health center. She maintains an intense focus on the Quadruple Aim—significant impacts on patient outcomes and experience (reducing wait time by 10X), improving employee satisfaction (doubling satisfaction score), and healthcare cost management.

Brett Brennfleck serves as a Director at Tasso, the maker of self-administered and nearly imperceptible blood collection devices. Brett’s role with the firm is to transform the experience and accessibility of legacy blood collection solutions, specifically among employers, ACOs, and US insurers.

Prior to joining Tasso, Brett served as Director at Highmark, the Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliate based in Pittsburgh, PA. His roles with the firm focused on Enterprise Strategy and performance in Medicare Advantage Stars, the largest value-based care program in US Insurance.

Peter Choi is a senior program officer for the Andy Hill Cancer Research Endowment (CARE) Fund (“Washington’s Cancer Research Endowment”), a public-private partnership investing in cancer research. He works on supporting the CARE Fund’s grant programs. Prior to joining the CARE Fund, Peter worked in public health at a state health department and internationally. Peter earned his Master of Public Health degree at the University of Washington.

As President & CEO of Life Science Washington (LSW), Marc sets the strategic direction, guides policy priorities, and directs business operations to ensure our members have the talent, investment, and partnerships needed to sustain the industry’s robust growth and solidify Washington state’s reputation as one of the top life science clusters in the nation. Marc also serves as the Chair of the Life Science Washington Institute, which is an affiliated non-profit focused on supporting life science entrepreneurs and growing start-up companies in Washington.

Before taking the helm as President & CEO, Marc served as Vice President, Public Policy & External Affairs for LSW. Prior to joining Life Science Washington, he served as Director of Policy & External Affairs for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where he was actively involved in creating and advocating for several statewide bioscience initiatives including the Life Sciences Discovery Fund. He was also deeply involved in a range of PNNL’s philanthropic science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education partnerships and science education initiatives. Prior to moving to Washington state, Marc held a variety of policy and consulting positions in Washington, D.C.

Daryll DeWald is the Vice President of Washington State University (WSU) Health Sciences Chancellor WSU Health Sciences Spokane. He leads development of WSU’s rapidly growing, world-class center for health sciences education and research. DeWald joined WSU Health Sciences Spokane in September 2017 as its fourth chancellor and was named vice president for WSU’s statewide health sciences efforts in July 2019. An experienced academic leader and a successful life sciences researcher, DeWald is passionate about higher education and providing avenues for students, faculty, and staff to succeed. He oversees a downtown campus that is highly connected to Spokane’s medical community and central to Spokane’s urban growth and sustainability.

Mary “Nora” Disis, M.D., is director of the UW Institute of Translational Health Science and the Center for Translational Medicine in Women's Health. She is also associate dean of the UW School of Medicine, dean of Research and Graduate Education, associate dean of Translational Science, Helen B. Slonaker Endowed Professor for Cancer Research, professor of Medicine and Oncology and adjunct professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pathology.

Dr. Disis believes patients and physicians must work as partners, especially in the field of oncology. All aspects of clinical care as well as cutting-edge research must be brought to the table to improve outcomes for cancer patients.

Dr. Disis earned her M.D. at the University of Nebraska. She is board certified in both Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine. Her research focuses on immune-based therapies for common cancers, in particular breast and ovarian cancer.

Matt has served as President & CEO of Osceola Medical Center in Osceola, WI and as Chief Administrative Officer for Essentia Health overseeing St. Mary’s & Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics in Orofino Idaho and St. Mary’s Hospital and Clinics in Cottonwood, ID. He earned a Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Sciences degree from the University of Idaho, College of Business.

As the Executive Director to Life Science Washington Institute Rich works on connecting entrepreneurial support resources across the state and leads the development and delivery of new Institute programs and services. Additionally, he is Chairman of the Board for the Bioscience Association of West Virginia, and was the founding CEO of Valtari Bio.

Prior to joining LSWI Rich held Director level positions at two venture capital firms, was the chief operating officer of a biotech company in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and the Chief Science Officer for the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials at Rutgers University.  He has helped companies secure over $100 million in federal funding, tax, and relocation incentives and written over $15M in successful SBIR/STTR applications.

Andy Johnston, is the principal mechanical engineer and founder of Johnston Engineering.  He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Washington State with 20 years of mechanical engineering design and analysis expertise and an adjunct instructor of mechanical engineering at Gonzaga University.   Johnston Engineering designs machines and devices including 5 current projects for medical and dental devices.  Johnston is a board member of Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster and he helped win the funding grant for the Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Building which will be built here in Spokane.    

Born and raised in Spokane. I grew up in the family business and have been a part of its growth and change since my family started this journey in 1986. I have been active here for the past 30 years, working in most departments and did spend many years on the shop floor. Our manufacturing facility provides complex components and completed assemblies for many industries world wide. We concentrate primarily on the medical, semiconductor, military defense, space exploration and nuclear industries. Our only campus is here in the Spokane Valley and we employ nearly 200 people from the Spokane and North Idaho region.

I have no formal college education, just on the job experience. I believe very heavily in the philosophy of Continuous Improvement, we always strive to be better than we were yesterday.

Marcelo is founder of A4Ventures, a Washington-based venture fund which focuses on creating and and supporting early stage companies in the life sciences, medical device and high tech industries.

Through A4Ventures, he has founded, co-founded or held a board role on several Washington-Based companies in Life Sciences, including: Allele Diagnostics, a diagnostic laboratory focused on rapid genetic testing; Amend Health, a rural health care technology integrator; Celere Talent, a biotechnology talent acquisition and advisory firm; Arevo Health, a cloud-based SaaS organization focused on providing health care cost transparency; ChalkLabs, a data visualization and analytics company among others; Share Farm, a peer-to-peer food delivery and distribution company.

Marcelo is also an acting Adjunct with Washington State University Ellison S. Floyd College of Medicine.

Annie Reedy has spent the past 26 years in medical and nursing research in a variety of leadership roles. She joined the MultiCare Institute for Research & Innovation in March 2011 with an eye toward growth and expansion of services. As chief research and education officer, Reedy is responsible for providing the strategic vision, direction and operational leadership across MultiCare’s research and educational initiatives and collaborations.

Katrina Rogers is a change expert with over 20 years of experience in discovering, developing, and manufacturing medicines and related technologies. An expert in laboratory and technical operations, she is also an ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence and Pharmaceutical GMP Professional. She is an adjunct faculty member in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, and she is active in the local bioscience industry. Her executive services firm specializes in helping entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders change the world with their new medicines and medical devices.

Eric Tham is senior vice president and chief research operations officer for Seattle Children's Research Institute. He earned his MD from Northwestern University Medical School and his master's in biomedical informatics from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he also completed his pediatric residency and pediatric emergency medicine fellowship. Dr. Tham has received certifications from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Board of Preventive Medicine. He is an affiliate associate professor in the University of Washington’s Department of Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education.

Since joining Children’s in 2014, Dr. Tham has led major organizational transformation projects in leadership positions including interim senior vice president of Seattle Children’s Research Institute, chief research information officer, vice president of information technology and clinical research operations, and associate chief information officer. He also cared for acutely ill and injured children in Children’s Emergency Department as a pediatric emergency medicine physician.

Dr. Tham was previously a faculty member at the University of Colorado and practiced pediatric emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Scott Thielman is CTO and co-founder of Product Creation Studio. With expertise leading the development of consumer, medical and industrial products, Scott has participated in all aspects of development for clients including Philips, Johnson & Johnson, and Lilly. He holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington and is a licensed professional engineer.