Foundation Leadership
The Ohio Life Sciences Foundation is the association’s charitable arm that works to support the activities of the association and deliver its own programs that help strengthen Ohio’s life sciences industry. It is led by a group of trustees comprised of business and academic leaders. Each trustee serves for a 3-year term.
Michael Gaul, Chief Operating Officer, Beyond Air
Michael Gaul joined Beyond Air as its Senior VP, Operations in May 2020. Mr. Gaul has a proven track record in multiple industries, including medical devices and reagents, semiconductor automation capital equipment, public safety communication systems, and complex industrial controls and instrumentation. He has led teams in operations, sales and marketing, supply chain, distribution, quality, regulatory, human resources, and finance. He has P&L experience with multiplant responsibility in both the US and Asia, including roles with Sparton Corporation (Group VP, Manufacturing & Design Services Business Unit; Group VP, Medical Business Unit), SynCardia Systems (COO; VP Operations), Ventana Medical Systems (VP & General Manager, Operations), and Robotic Vision Systems, Inc (General Manager, Vanguard Division; VP Operations, Systemation Division). He currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Ohio Life Sciences Foundation to support and promote Ohio’s bioscience industry. Mr. Gaul has a BS in Business Administration from Delaware Valley University and an MBA from Florida Institute of Technology.
Stephanie Harrington, MS, CEO, Matrix Medical Devices
Board Treasurer
Matrix Medical Device founder and visionary, Stephanie Harrington has over 20 years of management experience in the medical device industry, including regulatory affairs, quality system compliance, clinical studies, product development, and commercialization. Guiding startups and established companies alike through new product development and regulatory affairs management is her current mission. Previously, Stephanie served as Chief Operating Officer of Frantz Medical Development, responsible for new product development, manufacturing, and corporate regulatory and quality affairs. Stephanie also served as Vice President and Chief Regulatory Officer at Imalux, establishing the company’s quality system, 510(k) clearances and clinical studies. Prior to Imalux, she was Director, Research and Development at STERIS, responsible for product development of medical device reprocessing systems. Stephanie earned a Masters in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University and holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Maryland.
Mike Hooven, President and CEO, Enable Injections
Mike has extensive experience in the medical device industry in a broad variety of technical and clinical areas. He is the founder of five medical device companies and holds over 85 issued and pending US patents. Enable Injections is a start-up company focusing on painless injections for vaccines and other drugs. Enable Medical Technologies is a start-up company focusing on opportunities in minimally invasive procedures. Mike is the founder, and a Director of AtriCure, Inc., a medical device company that manufactures and sells surgical devices designed to create precise lesions in soft tissue. He was Director of Product Development at Ethicon Endo-Surgery from 1988 to 1994, and held engineering positions at Siemens/Pacesetter from 1986 to 1988, and at Cordis Corporation from 1981 to 1986. Mike earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Michelle Leonard, Vice President, Global Human Resources and Integration, NAMSA
Michelle Leonard joined North American Science Associates (NAMSA) in August 2015 as Director Total Rewards and was named VP, Global Human Resources in April 2019. Michelle is a solution-oriented, forward-thinking leader that is committed to collaboration, transparency, and solutions that are meaningful to the company and its employees. During her leadership at NAMSA, the company has implemented several strategic initiatives to support a total wellness strategy, a global compensation structure, and a global HRIS system. Michelle has held progressively responsible positions in Human Resources management within Holcim (US) Inc., Aggregate Industries US, Holcim (Canada) Inc., and HCR Manorcare. She has her Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management and Services from Bowling Green State University and an MBA in Finance from The University of Toledo.
Eddie Pauline, MBA, OhioCED, President & CEO, Ohio Life Sciences Association & Ohio Life Sciences Foundation
Eddie Pauline joined Ohio Life Sciences as President and CEO in August 2021. Eddie previously served as the Director for Economic Development for The Ohio State University within its Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge. In this role, Eddie led the economic development and economic impact functions to attract new companies to Ohio and retain and expand Ohio businesses. Working closely with tech transfer and commercialization partners, corporate partnerships, the innovation district, medical center, government affairs, and startup portfolio, he initiated and guided campus-wide and industry-specific workforce, innovation, and placemaking programs to drive economic growth. Prior to coming to Ohio State in 2010, Eddie worked in the digital media industry for startups and large corporations, primarily in Seattle and New York, where he was part of the team that led the successful acquisition of Scout.com by Fox Interactive Media. Eddie holds a BA and a BS from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Franklin University. He is an Ohio Certified Economic Developer. Eddie, his wife Lindsey, and their three children live in Worthington, Ohio.
Eli Phillips, Jr., PharmD, JD, Vice President of Business Development & Partnerships | Cell, Gene, & Advanced Therapies, McKesson Corporation
Board Vice-Chair
Dr. Phillips is a licensed Pharmacist and Attorney with a professional focus on improving patient access to advanced technologies and therapies. His background in strategy, sales, and operations has fueled the commercialization of cell and gene therapies, as well as integrated digital health solutions for biopharma and provider clients. He has held leadership roles at Caris Life Sciences, a provider of next-generation sequencing services, and led various business units at Cardinal Health, covering regulatory affairs, late-stage drug development, real-world evidence, and product commercialization. Dr. Phillips is a prolific author, with recent publications in top-tier journals such as AJMC, JAMA Oncology, and JCO Oncology Practice, where he explores topics related to the quality, cost, and access to healthcare in the U.S., particularly in the context of specialty pharmaceuticals and digital health technologies..
Todd Ponsky, MD, Chief Innovation Officer, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
In addition to Dr. Ponsky’s role as Chief Innovation Officer, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, he also is a Professor of Surgery, at the University of Cincinnati, a pediatric surgeon at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Akron Children’s Hospital, and CEO & Founder GlobalCastMD with an additionally diverse background in medical science. As the Director of Clinical Growth and Transformation at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, he has pioneered advancements in pediatric surgery, notably being the first to perform single-port surgery in children. Dr. Ponsky has had an extensive academic journey as both a student and professor, and he’s contributed significantly to medical literature with over 125 manuscripts, 3 textbooks, and multiple chapters. His leadership roles in several prestigious medical societies, coupled with his innovative contributions to pediatric surgery and medical education, notably founding GlobalcastMD, highlight his exceptional fit for the board.
Sam Privitera, Chief Technical Officer at AtriCure, Inc.
Sam Privitera brings a wealth of experience as the Chief Technical Officer at AtriCure, where he oversees Research, Product Development, Operations, and Quality Assurance. AtriCure, known for its innovative technologies in treating Afib and related conditions, benefits from Mr. Privitera’s leadership in managing integrated manufacturing systems and coordinating quality systems. His contributions have been pivotal in developing AtriCure’s groundbreaking medical devices, and his extensive experience in delivering best-in-class products across various clinical areas is complemented by his role on the boards of the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Heart Association and the Advisory Board for the School of Biomedical Engineering at SUNY Buffalo. His engagement in these diverse boards, along with his rich portfolio of over 50 US patents and the development of numerous associates, makes him an excellent fit for the Ohio Life Sciences board.
Stacy Strauss, Director, Ohio University Innovation Center
Board Chair
Stacy Strauss joined the Innovation Center in 2014. Ms. Strauss manages the staff; advises and makes connections for clients; and oversees facility management, fundraising efforts, budget analysis, resource solicitations, and other operations. During her tenure, the Innovation Center was named the Rural-Based Entrepreneurial Center of the Year (2022), International Incubator of the Year (2019), and Rural Incubator of the Year twice (2016 and 2019), by InBIA, the industry’s leading international professional association. The Innovation Center was also ranked by UBI, a global benchmarking institute, as the 3rd best university-based incubator in North America (2016). She has secured over $5 million in grant funding to support the work of the Innovation Center. Ms. Strauss is also an active board member of the Athens County Port Authority. Ms. Strauss holds a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College and a master’s degree from The Ohio State University. She also holds an Entrepreneurship Center Management certificate from InBIA.
David Sylvan, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer/President, UH Ventures
As Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer and President of UH Ventures, David oversees a comprehensive health system with annual revenues of $5.4 billion, 21 hospitals (including 5 joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and over 200 physician offices located throughout 16 counties. He is also President of UH Ventures, the innovation and commercialization arm of University Hospitals. As Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, David’s responsibilities span core operations, industry partnerships, technology transfer, commercialization, investments, business development, and strategic initiatives. As President of UH Ventures, David and his team leverage UH Ventures’ design and process expertise alongside the Strategy & Planning platform, to accelerating UH’s position as the premier healthcare provider in Northeast Ohio. He collaborates with UH leaders and the broader ecosystem to accelerate system growth through new business endeavors and the expansion of existing programs. His work also includes the identification and evaluation of new opportunities through acquisition, investment, joint ventures, and other arrangements.
David was recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as one of the top 113 Healthcare Leaders in 2022 and is an adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve University’s (CWRU) Weatherhead School of Business in the Department of Design & Innovation, where he mentors and coaches students and practitioners throughout their professional journeys. He is also a frequent panelist and contributor at industry-specific forums.
He received a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Business Law from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the CWRU Weatherhead School of Management.
Aklilu Tedla, J.D., Vice President & General Manager, Cardinal Health
Membership and Marketing
Aklilu is a 2023 PM360 Elite 100 Winner leading multiple businesses at Cardinal Health. He oversees teams of scientists, clinical researchers, consultants, and regulatory experts and has spent over 24 years in the healthcare industry, serving in various positions across sales, marketing, and operations. Aklilu also spent nine years in strategy and consulting roles, uniquely positioning him to continuously improve organizational structures to achieve critical business goals. Prior to his current role, Aklilu led strategy for Cardinal Health’s Specialty Solutions business, where he identified gaps in the current portfolio and created business cases to support new initiatives. Aklilu received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Indiana University,