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Board of Directors
Adam Deitz
Adam Deitz is the founder and CEO of Ortho Kinematics. Before founding Ortho Kinematics in 2006, he accumulated ten years of experience in medical product commercialization as a strategy consultant, advising startup and multinational device, diagnostic, and pharmaceutical companies on new product strategies.
During his consulting career, Mr. Deitz specialized in developing and executing launch and growth strategies for over fifteen new medical technologies, contributing as a strategy advisor to product leadership teams as well as an “on the ground” launch manager. During the latter part of his consulting career, Mr. Deitz became deeply involved in medical diagnostics, leading the development and commercialization of four new diagnostic technologies. Through his consulting experience, Mr. Deitz developed a strong expertise in all aspects of medical product commercialization as well as a well-rounded perspective regarding what does and does not work in launching new medical diagnostics.
Mr. Deitz began his strategy consulting career at Booz-Allen & Hamilton. Then he proceeded to work at a series of smaller, more specialized firms prior to founding Ortho Kinematics. Mr. Deitz holds a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Evan S. Melrose, M.D.
Dr. Evan Melrose is the Managing Director and founder of PTV Sciences, a healthcare venture capital and growth equity firm focused on enabling healthcare entrepreneurs and global innovation. With over 22 years in Healthcare, Dr. Melrose possesses unique knowledge and extensive operating experience in various aspects of healthcare investments, research, clinical practice, education, and health policy; specifically medical devices, healthcare IT, health services and biotechnology. Before founding PTV Sciences, Dr. Melrose was a Director with Burrill & Company, a San Francisco-based life science private equity/venture capital firm. Prior to Burrill, he was involved in healthcare startups in Philadelphia and clinical private practice. Dr. Melrose has also held faculty appointments at the University of California San Francisco, the University of Pennsylvania and Baylor College of Medicine. Over the course of his healthcare investment career he has been directly involved in multiple IPOs, several acquisitions, and several dozen private healthcare investments.
Dr. Melrose received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, his M.D. from Indiana University and his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine (recertified in 2006).
Dr. Melrose currently sits on the boards of Asuragen, BioSurface Engineering Technologies, Ortho Kinematics, Mirna Therapeutics, and Sinexus, and serves as Chairman of the Board for InSite Vision (OTC BB: INSV.OB). Current and prior advisory board experience includes: BayBIO-BayBioNest, Rice University Jesse Jones School of Business-Rice Alliance, BioHouston, MD Anderson Technology Review Committee, BIO Investor Forum, and MedTech Insight IN3.
Jerry DeVries
Jerry Devries is a co-founder and managing director of TEXO Ventures, an early stage healthcare venture capital company that works alongside entrepreneurs helping them to accelerate the launch of their companies. He has a passion for marketing and business development and enjoys working closely with management teams to help them develop their business strategies and marketing programs.
DeVries has over 17 years of experience in the orthopedic industry including being a founder and managing general partner of Path4 Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on the musculoskeletal industry. While at Path4, DeVries worked closely with Austin Ventures, a top-tier venture capital firm, as they made healthcare investments. Together they launched Spinal Restoration (www.spinalrestoration.com) and LDR Spine USA (www.ldrspine.com).
Before founding Path4 Ventures, Mr. DeVries was the Vice President of U.S. Orthopedic Marketing for Zimmer (formerly Centerpulse). He was a member on the executive team responsible for the turnaround of Centerpulse Orthopedics, later purchased by Zimmer, as it rebounded from the largest product recall in orthopedic devices.
In addition to his various management positions, Mr. DeVries sits on the boards of Spinal Restoration, Intercede Health, Ortho Kinematics and The Busby Foundation. Prior to joining Zimmer, he worked for Texas Instruments in a variety of engineering and supervisory positions.
He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University and an MBA from Baylor University.
John Rodakis
John Rodakis is the Chief Financial Officer at Ortho Kinematics. He has advised companies as an investment banker, a management consultant, and an angel investor for much of his career.
Mr. Rodakis currently leads GateBridge Investments, and was previously a Principal with Golden Gate Capital. He led Golden Gate in its first technology buyout transaction and oversaw the corporate division’s conversion to an independent company.
He was initially a consultant at McKinsey & Company, and since then has had a long career involving investing in and working alongside technology companies. Mr. Rodakis later worked with Broadview Associates, then a leading M&A technology bank, as a technology M&A investment banker. Additionally, he was with Bessemer Venture Partners, an esteemed venture capital firm.
John Rodakis has a B.S. in molecular biology from Southern Methodist University and earned an MBA from Harvard University.
Joseph W. Pepper, PhD
Joe Pepper is a seasoned executive with a wealth of experience running medical diagnostics companies. He served from 2003 until 2007 as CEO of U-Systems, Inc., a privately backed start-up that developed automated ultrasound for the early detection of breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. Prior to that (2001-2003) Joe was President of the Diagnostics Imaging Division of PSS World Medical, Inc., a $710M division that distributed medical imaging supplies & equipment. Dr. Pepper served as CEO for OEC Medical Systems, a mobile, fluoroscopic imaging equipment manufacturer and seller, from 1997 until the sale of the company to GE Medical in 1999. Prior to joining OEC, Joe spent 15 years with The BOC Group, Plc. where he served as president of Ohmeda Medical Devices, the healthcare subsidiary of BOC responsible for international selling and distribution of single patient use medical devices. He also served as president of Ohmeda Medical Equipment, which had a sales force of 140 sales representatives and 140 service engineers focused on domestic sales and service of anesthesia machines and operating room monitors.
Joe received a BS/MS in Engineering Science from Florida State University, a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from Harvard University.