Stuart Corr, PhD

Director, Innovation Engineering | The Bookout Center Associate Research Professor | Department of CV Surgery Weill Cornell Medical College | Cornell University

Dr. Stuart Corr serves as Director of Innovation Engineering at The Bookout Center, Houston Methodist, where he leads the development of multidisciplinary innovation programs, engineering capabilities, and collaborative ecosystems that accelerate the translation of emerging technologies into clinical practice. His work focuses on building infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and interdisciplinary teams to advance surgical innovation, medical robotics, intelligent systems, and next-generation healthcare technologies. With over 20 years of experience spanning academic research, technology development, and innovation leadership, Dr.

Corr has established initiatives connecting clinicians, engineers, researchers, and industry partners to drive innovation from concept through clinical evaluation. He has authored over 45 peer-reviewed publications and secured research funding from multiple sources, including the NIH and NSF.

Farshid Alambeigi, PhD

Director of Surgical Robotics and Imaging | The Bookout Center at Houston Methodist

Dr. Farshid Alambeigi is Director of Robotics, Imaging, and Autonomous Surgery at the Bookout Center at Houston Methodist Research Institute and an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Rice University. He leads the Advanced Robotic Technologies for Surgery (ARTS) Laboratory, developing innovative robotic systems that integrate artificial intelligence, medical imaging, and minimally invasive surgical technologies. An award-winning researcher and recipient of the NIH Director’s New Innovator Award, his work focuses on autonomous surgical systems, soft robotics, and intelligent medical devices to advance precision surgery and translate engineering innovations into clinical care.

Estela Abich, MD

General Surgeon | Orlando Health

Dr. Abich is board certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery. Her professional memberships include the Obesity Medical Association, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, American Venous Forum, Florida Vascular Society and Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery.

She has presented her research at national conferences, and her work has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals.

Aman Ali, MD

Bariatric Surgery, General Surgery, Minimally Invasive General Surgery | Houston Methodist

Dr. Aman Ali is a bariatric and minimally invasive surgeon at Houston Methodist Surgical Associates at Sugar Land, specializing in weight loss surgery, gastric bypass, foregut and reflux procedures, hernia repair, and abdominal wall reconstruction. He completed his medical training and surgical residency at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Houston Methodist, followed by advanced fellowship training at Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts General Hospital, and is fluent in Urdu, Hindi, and Gujarati.

Dave Aten, MA, CMI

3D Anatomic Specialist | University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

David Aten is a Certified Medical Illustrator and 3D Anatomic Specialist at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he creates patient-specific anatomical models to support surgical planning and education. With 21 years of professional experience, he also collaborates on research exploring virtual reality applications for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.

Abigail Bagdasaryants, MD

PGY-1 Obstetrics & Gynecology Resident Physician | Houston Methodist Hospital

Dr. Abigail Bagdasaryants has 2 years of experience in obstetrics and gynecology, caring for patients in Houston, Texas. She earned her medical degree from Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine and sees patients at Saint Joseph Medical Center and Houston Methodist Hospital.

Charu Bavare, MD

Director of CV Robotics | Houston Methodist

Dr. Charu Bavare is a vascular surgeon at Houston Methodist’s DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, specializing in complex aortic repair, open vascular surgery, thoracic outlet syndrome, and other advanced vascular procedures. He is actively involved in vascular surgery education, clinical trials, and advancing robotic vascular surgery using the da Vinci Xi platform for thoracic and intra-abdominal procedures.

Lance Black, MD, MBID

Senior Associate Dean of Innovation & Strategic Projects | Texas A&M Engineering Medicine (EnMED)

Dr. Lance Black is a physician-innovator and healthcare executive serving as Senior Associate Dean of Innovation and Strategic Projects at the Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine, where he advances engineering-driven healthcare solutions. With experience spanning clinical medicine, medical device development, and entrepreneurship, he holds more than 70 international patents, co-founded XN Health, and serves as Chairman of the Board of LifeGift.

Floris van der Breggen, CEO

Founder | SyncVR

Floris van der Breggen is founder and CEO of SyncVR Medical, the largest Virtual/Augmented Reality (XR) platform of healthcare in Europe. He has a background in psychology and computer science. From his first-ever side job in dementia care when he was 15 years old, he is endlessly motivated to improve healthcare internationally day by day, which led to founding SyncVR Medical in 2019, now becoming the de-facto standard platform for XR in healthcare.

Pothik Chatterjee, MBA

Executive Director | Rice-Methodist Digital Health Institute

Pothik Chatterjee serves as the Executive Director of the Houston Methodist-Rice Digital Health Institute (HMRDHI), where he plays a pivotal role in advancing the institute’s mission to revolutionize health care through cutting-edge technology and interdisciplinary collaboration. In this capacity, he guides the strategic growth of the institute, ensuring its vision remains deeply aligned with the broader institutional goals of Rice University and Houston Methodist in the realms of digital health, precision medicine, and data science.

Ray Chihara, MD, PhD

Thoracic Surgeon; Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lung Transplant Surgery, Thoracic Surgery | Houston Methodist

Dr. Ray Chihara, MD, PhD, serves as Surgical Director of Lung Transplantation and Assistant Professor of Surgery, with training in general and cardiothoracic surgery and research in xenotransplantation. His clinical expertise includes robotic surgery, lung and esophageal cancers, mediastinal tumors, and benign thoracic conditions such as chronic respiratory failure, esophageal motility disorders, and diaphragm dysfunction.

Tarek Dammad, MD

Director, Academic Interventional Pulmonology | Houston Methodist

Dr. Tarek Dammad is a board-certified interventional pulmonologist who completed his medical training at the University of Aleppo, Saint Louis University, and the University of Louisville. He has established interventional pulmonology programs in New Mexico and Orlando, with a focus on advancing collaborative, patient-centered care and educating the next generation of specialists.

Jaydev Desai, PhD

Professor & Director, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering; Georgia Center for Medical Robotics | Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. Jaydev P. Desai is a distinguished professor of biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech and founding director of the Georgia Center for Medical Robotics, specializing in surgical robotics, endovascular interventions, and image-guided procedures. An award-winning researcher and fellow of IEEE, ASME, and AIMBE, he has authored over 230 peer-reviewed publications and advanced innovations in medical, pediatric, and rehabilitation robotics.

Olivia Dziadek, MD

Gynecology | Houston Methodist

Dr. Olivia Lisa Dziadek is a fellowship-trained minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon with an American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology focused-practice designation in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS). An experienced, high-volume surgeon, she is dedicated to advancing women’s health through evidence-based, personalized care and excellence in minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Dominic Emerson, MD

Associate Professor Cardiac Surgery | Cedars-Sinai

Dr. Dominic Emerson is an Associate Professor of Cardiac Surgery at Cedars-Sinai’s Smidt Heart Institute and Associate Director of the Comprehensive Transplant Center, specializing in heart and lung transplantation and robotic surgery. He helped lead the world’s first robotic lung transplant in 2021 and now oversees thoracic surgery residency and fellowship training, advancing surgical innovation and the education of future surgeons.

Hina Faisal, MD

Associate Professor of Surgery; Anesthesiologist and Critical Care Physician | Houston Methodist

Dr. Hina Faisal is a board-certified anesthesiologist and critical care physician who serves as Director of Critical Care Surgery Research, leading initiatives in delirium prevention, perioperative brain health, and recovery after complex surgery. She completed her medical education in Pakistan and advanced training in Ireland and the United States, including an anesthesiology residency at Case Western Reserve University and a fellowship in Anesthesia Critical Care Medicine at UTHealth Houston.

Julie Gutierrez, MD

Gynecology, Division Director of General Gynecology | Houston Methodist

Dr. Julie Gutierrez is a board-certified OB/GYN and high-volume minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon specializing in vaginal, laparoscopic, and robotic procedures, with expertise in complex family planning and comprehensive women’s health. A Menopause Society Certified Practitioner and oral board examiner, she is dedicated to surgical education and advancing care in menopause management and gynecologic treatment for women with spinal cord injuries.

Sean Huver, PhD

Principal Engineer & Senior Manager | NVIDIA

Sean Huver, PhD, is a Principal Engineer and Senior Manager at NVIDIA, where he leads the Holoscan Advanced Workflow team. His team builds collaborations to create permissively licensed foundational datasets and advance AI models across healthcare and life sciences. He led the conception of Open-H-Embodiment and oversees a growing portfolio of related initiatives spanning multiple modalities. Before joining NVIDIA, Sean was a startup founder and research physicist working on quantum information projects.

Matthew Kaufman, MD

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Workshop Faculty | Houston Methodist

Dr. Matthew Kaufman is a board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in complex reconstructive microsurgery, breast reconstruction, lymphatic surgery, and lymphedema treatment. With advanced training from Baylor College of Medicine and the Buncke Clinic, his clinical interests also include robotic surgery, cancer and trauma reconstruction, upper extremity surgery, and peripheral nerve surgery.

Chris Lincoln, PhD

Senior Director of Translational Development & Quality | Houston Methodist

Christopher Lincoln serves as Senior Director of Translation & Quality at the Houston Methodist Academic Institute, overseeing translational development, production and quality, imaging, cellular therapeutics, and product development funding. He leads the translational pipeline from early-stage development through clinical trials while building strategic partnerships to accelerate innovation and advance patient-centered solutions.

Robert LiKamwa, PhD

Director, Spatial Computing Systems | The Bookout Center, Houston Methodist

LiKamWa explores the research and design of software and hardware for mobile Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Mixed Reality, and visual computing systems, and their ability to help people tell their stories. To this end, his research and design projects span three arcs: (i) advanced visual capture and processing systems, (ii) systems for hybrid virtual-physical immersion through augmentation of senses, and (iii) design frameworks for data-driven augmented reality and virtual reality storytelling and sensemaking.

Alan Lumsden, MD

Chair, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery; Director, DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center | Houston Methodist

Alan Lumsden, the Walter W. Fondren III Distinguished Endowed Chair, DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center and chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Houston Methodist, is a leader in the field of endovascular surgery. He has clinical and research expertise in stent graft treatment of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms, stenting and endarterectomy in carotid arterial disease, renovascular hypertension, aortoiliac occlusive disease, mesenteric vascular and minimally invasive therapy in venous disease.

Alwyn Mathew, MD

Second-year medical student | Houston Methodist

Alwyn is a second-year medical student at Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM) with a strong interest in public health and healthcare policy, particularly initiatives focused on children and youth. Alwyn is committed to advancing patient education, health advocacy, and community-based public health initiatives that empower individuals to make informed healthcare decisions and improve health outcomes.

Martin McMahon, BS

Patient Technology Coordinator at Texas Children's Hospital and Donor Outreach Liaison at MakeGood INC

Martin "Marty" McMahon is the Patient Technology Coordinator at Texas Children’s Hospital, where he specializes in using interactive technology to improve the hospital experience for pediatric patients. He integrates video games, virtual and augmented reality, and robotics into therapeutic play, even developing programs like the 2nd Player Gaming Volunteer Program to keep isolated children connected and engaged. Recognized globally as a member of The Game Awards "Future Class," McMahon is a leading advocate for accessible, inclusive gaming and technology in healthcare, focusing on bringing

normalcy and joy to children undergoing medical treatment.

Arianna Menciassi, PhD

Professor, BioRobotics Institute | Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna

Professor Arianna Menciassi is a Professor of Bioengineering and Biomedical Robotics at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa, Italy, where she leads the Surgical Robotics & Allied Technologies team at The BioRobotics Institute. Her research focuses on surgical robotics, microrobotics, biomedical devices, and targeted therapeutic technologies, and she has received international recognition for her innovations, including the KUKA Innovation Award for robotic-assisted focused ultrasound.

Marcia O’Malley, PhD

Professor & Chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering | Rice University

Dr. Marcia O’Malley is the Thomas Michael Panos Family Professor at Rice University, with appointments in mechanical engineering, computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and bioengineering. Her research focuses on haptics, robotic rehabilitation, and wearable robotic devices for training and recovery, and she is an accomplished educator and award-winning researcher recognized as a Fellow of several leading engineering and biomedical organizations.

Nassir Navab, PhD

Professor & Chair, Computer Aided Medical Procedures & Augmented Reality | Technical University of Munich

Professor Nassir is a full professor and Director of the Laboratories for Computer Aided Medical Procedures (CAMP) at the Technical University of Munich, internationally recognized for pioneering work in medical augmented reality, surgical data science, and robotic imaging. An elected member of Academia Europaea and Fellow of several leading scientific organizations, he has received numerous prestigious honors, including the 2025 IEEE Technical Achievement Award, and holds more than 100 granted patents alongside an extensive body of highly cited research.

David Pynadath, PhD

Executive Director for Research Initiatives, Ken Kennedy Institute | Rice University

Dr. David Pynadath is the Executive Director for Research Initiatives at Rice University’s Ken Kennedy Institute, where he supports responsible AI and computing research through funding development and strategic partnerships. With extensive experience in artificial intelligence, human-machine teaming, and social simulation from his previous leadership role at the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies, he works to advance interdisciplinary research and collaboration across academia, industry, government, and the Texas Medical Center.

Homer Quintana, MCTM

Program Director, CRDT | Houston Methodist

Homer Quintana, MCTM, specializes in biotechnology and life sciences product development, translational research, and commercialization, helping clients advance drug and medical device candidates toward regulatory review and market readiness. His expertise includes intellectual property evaluation, clinical translation, regulatory strategy, product and market valuation, venture and non-dilutive funding, and tailored startup consulting.

Maham Rahimi, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery; Director of Research, EnMED | Houston Methodist; Texas A&M Engineering Medicine

Dr. Rahimi is a vascular surgeon at Houston Methodist Hospital, where he joined the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery in 2017, with clinical expertise in aortic aneurysms, aortic dissection, vascular graft infections, and peripheral artery disease. With advanced training in biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and vascular surgery, he has authored more than 30 publications, presented over 50 abstracts, and continues to advance research and innovation in vascular care and medical device design.

Pedro Ramirez, MD

Gynecologic Oncology, Gynecologic Surgical Oncology; Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology | Houston Methodist

Dr. Pedro T. Ramirez is Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Houston Methodist Hospital and a Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, with extensive experience in gynecologic cancer research, surgical innovation, and clinical care. A former MD Anderson faculty member and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, he led the landmark LACC trial that transformed surgical standards for early-stage cervical cancer and continues to advance evidence-based surgical innovation through his work with Oxford University’s IDEAL Council.

Patrick Reardon, MD

Chief, Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery | Houston Methodist

Patrick R. Reardon, MD, FACS, is a board-certified surgeon with expertise in several areas, including bariatric surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, endocrine surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. He attended medical school and completed his residency and fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and a member of the Academy of Master Surgical Educators. Dr. Reardon is a highly experienced doctor, with 32 years of practice, and is known in the community for his research studies.

Sarah Rozycki, MD

Urogynecology | Houston Methodist

Dr. Sarah Rozycki is a urogynecologist specializing in pelvic floor disorders, including pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and bladder conditions, with expertise in minimally invasive, robotic, and VNOTES surgical techniques. She is committed to compassionate, evidence-based women’s healthcare and actively contributes to multi-institutional research investigating the microbiome and surgical outcomes.

Siddarth Satish, PhD

Vice President, AI | Stryker

Siddarth Satish serves as Vice President of AI at Stryker, where he leads enterprise initiatives in artificial intelligence, spatial computing, and mixed reality while advancing innovation in surgical and orthopedic technologies. As the founder and former CEO of Gauss Surgical, he pioneered AI-driven surgical blood-loss measurement technology, guided the company through multiple regulatory approvals and its acquisition by Stryker, and holds more than 50 patents in surgery, diagnostics, and computer vision.

Austin Shelton, MBE

Research Engineer | The Bookout Center, Houston Methodist

Austin is a Research Engineer and full-stack software developer at the Bookout Center with a focus on creating custom XR applications. He graduated from Rice University with a Master of Bioengineering in 2023, after which he joined the Bookout Center at its inception. Since then, he's developed a variety of XR products and platforms for patients, physicians, and trainees alike.

Jeffrey Siewerdsen, PhD

Professor, Department of Imaging Physics | UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Siewerdsen leads the Surgineering Lab and Surgical Data Science Program at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, advancing image-guided surgery through innovations in surgical navigation, robotics, intraoperative imaging, and predictive analytics. His research integrates engineering, medical imaging, and artificial intelligence to improve surgical precision and outcomes, with projects spanning robotic brain surgery, orthopedic robotics, and deep-learning applications in intraoperative imaging.

Anuj Suri, MD

OB/GYN Clinical Program and Workshop Faculty | Houston Methodist

Dr. Suri is a gynecologic oncologist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Houston Methodist Hospital, specializing in the care of patients with gynecologic cancers. He earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee, completed his residency at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, and pursued fellowship training in gynecologic oncology at the University of North Carolina Hospitals.