David Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD
Foot and Ankle Surgeon
Dr. Armstrong is Professor of Surgery at the University of Southern California. Dr. Armstrong holds a Master of Science in Tissue Repair and Wound Healing from the University of Wales College of Medicine and a PhD from the University of Manchester College of Medicine, where he was appointed Visiting Professor of Medicine. He is founder and co-Director of the Southwestern Academic Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA).
Dr. Armstrong has produced more than 570 peer-reviewed research papers in dozens of scholarly medical journals as well as over 100 books or book chapters. He is co-Editor of the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Clinical Care of the Diabetic Foot, now in its third edition.
Armstrong was appointed Deputy Director of Arizona’s Center for Accelerated Biomedical Innovation (ACABI) and co-founder of its “augmented human” initiative, which places him at the nexus of the merger of consumer electronics, wearables and medical devices.
Dr. Armstrong was selected as one of the first six International Wound Care Ambassadors and is the recipient of numerous awards and degrees by universities and international medical organizations including the inaugural Georgetown Distinguished Award for Diabetic Limb Salvage. In 2008, he was the 25th and youngest-ever member elected into the Podiatric Medicine Hall of Fame. He was the first surgeon to be appointed University Distinguished Outreach Professor at the University of Arizona. He was the first podiatric surgeon to become a member of the Society of Vascular Surgery and the first US podiatric surgeon named fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Glasgow. He is the 2010 and youngest ever recipient of the ADA’s Roger Pecoraro Award, the highest award given in the field.
Dr. Armstrong is past Chair of Scientific Sessions for the ADA’s Foot Care Council, and a past member of the National Board of Directors of the American Diabetes Association. He sits on the Infectious Disease Society of America’s (IDSA) Diabetic Foot Infection Advisory Committee and is the US appointed delegate to the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF). Dr. Armstrong is the founder and co-chair of the International Diabetic Foot Conference (DF-Con), the largest annual international symposium on the diabetic foot in the world. He is also the Founding President of the American Limb Preservation Society (ALPS), an interdisciplinary medical and surgical society dedicated to eliminating preventable amputation in the USA and worldwide.
David Armstrong, DPM, MD, PhD
Foot and Ankle Surgeon
Dr. Armstrong is Professor of Surgery at the University of Southern California. Dr. Armstrong holds a Master of Science in Tissue Repair and Wound Healing from the University of Wales College of Medicine and a PhD from the University of Manchester College of Medicine, where he was appointed Visiting Professor of Medicine. He is founder and co-Director of the Southwestern Academic Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA).
Dr. Armstrong has produced more than 570 peer-reviewed research papers in dozens of scholarly medical journals as well as over 100 books or book chapters. He is co-Editor of the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) Clinical Care of the Diabetic Foot, now in its third edition.
Armstrong was appointed Deputy Director of Arizona’s Center for Accelerated Biomedical Innovation (ACABI) and co-founder of its “augmented human” initiative, which places him at the nexus of the merger of consumer electronics, wearables and medical devices.
Dr. Armstrong was selected as one of the first six International Wound Care Ambassadors and is the recipient of numerous awards and degrees by universities and international medical organizations including the inaugural Georgetown Distinguished Award for Diabetic Limb Salvage. In 2008, he was the 25th and youngest-ever member elected into the Podiatric Medicine Hall of Fame. He was the first surgeon to be appointed University Distinguished Outreach Professor at the University of Arizona. He was the first podiatric surgeon to become a member of the Society of Vascular Surgery and the first US podiatric surgeon named fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Glasgow. He is the 2010 and youngest ever recipient of the ADA’s Roger Pecoraro Award, the highest award given in the field.
Dr. Armstrong is past Chair of Scientific Sessions for the ADA’s Foot Care Council, and a past member of the National Board of Directors of the American Diabetes Association. He sits on the Infectious Disease Society of America’s (IDSA) Diabetic Foot Infection Advisory Committee and is the US appointed delegate to the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF). Dr. Armstrong is the founder and co-chair of the International Diabetic Foot Conference (DF-Con), the largest annual international symposium on the diabetic foot in the world. He is also the Founding President of the American Limb Preservation Society (ALPS), an interdisciplinary medical and surgical society dedicated to eliminating preventable amputation in the USA and worldwide.
Marissa Carter, PhD
Clinical Trial Design
Marissa Carter is President of Strategic Solutions and holds an MA in biochemistry from Oxford University and a PhD in chemistry from Brandeis University. Dr Carter has an extremely broad background in science, and has worked in many medical fields, as well as chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, and materials science. She believes passionately in interdisciplinary research as the key to understanding medical problems, and brings to the table many different disciplines to help solve challenging issues. She is also a veteran businesswoman, and has worked for many large corporations, such as GTE, Chevron, and Solvay, in research, pilot and industrial engineering, marketing and sales, and product development. She is a biostatistician, epidemiologist, EBM practitioner, and a health economist. Dr. Carter spends most of her time designing, monitoring, and analyzing clinical studies as well as assisting manufacturers on medical devices and biologics approvals and works in the fields of wound care, epidemiology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, and quality of life. For many years she has collaborated with the FDA, CMS, payer, and other wound care organization personnel to help approve new clinical trial endpoints, conduct CACs, and advance improve the way we do wound care research. She is the author or coauthor of over 130 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters in medical and chemical research and is a peer reviewer for dozens of different medical journals.
Marissa Carter, PhD
Clinical Trial Design
Marissa Carter is President of Strategic Solutions and holds an MA in biochemistry from Oxford University and a PhD in chemistry from Brandeis University. Dr Carter has an extremely broad background in science, and has worked in many medical fields, as well as chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, and materials science. She believes passionately in interdisciplinary research as the key to understanding medical problems, and brings to the table many different disciplines to help solve challenging issues. She is also a veteran businesswoman, and has worked for many large corporations, such as GTE, Chevron, and Solvay, in research, pilot and industrial engineering, marketing and sales, and product development. She is a biostatistician, epidemiologist, EBM practitioner, and a health economist. Dr. Carter spends most of her time designing, monitoring, and analyzing clinical studies as well as assisting manufacturers on medical devices and biologics approvals and works in the fields of wound care, epidemiology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, and quality of life. For many years she has collaborated with the FDA, CMS, payer, and other wound care organization personnel to help approve new clinical trial endpoints, conduct CACs, and advance improve the way we do wound care research. She is the author or coauthor of over 130 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters in medical and chemical research and is a peer reviewer for dozens of different medical journals.
Bryan Fisher, MD
Vascular Surgeon
Dr. Bryan T. Fisher Sr. is a board certified Vascular surgeon and Physician Lead for Vascular Services for the HCA Tristar Division in Middle Tennessee. Uniquely qualified to address the challenges and solutions aimed at the delivery of high quality patient care, Dr. Fisher is consistently recognized by his peers as a caring professional and respected collaborative colleague in the local and international community.
Dr. Fisher graduated with honors from Tennessee State University and became a Ronald McNair and MARC Scholar. He was accepted into the UW Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, but deferred one year to teach elementary school at Belmont Elementary School in Woodbridge, VA. After medical school, Dr. Fisher completed a five year general surgery residency at The Ohio State University under Dr. E. Christopher Ellison. He then culminated his surgical training at Vanderbilt University under Dr. Thomas C. Naslund.
Dr. Fisher is a board certified Vascular surgeon and is a member of The Surgical Clinic in Nashville, TN. He serves as the Co-Chairman of the Tristar Vascular Workgroup, Physician Lead for Vascular Services HCA Tristar Division, and co-Director of the Center for Functional Limb Preservation at Tristar Centennial Medical Center. As the physician lead of Vascular services at the division level, Dr. Fisher provides leadership and the vision of providing cutting-edge, personalized, high quality care for vascular disease; in a truly collaborative environment. Dr. Fisher specializes in complex open, endovascular and hybrid techniques in the treatment of aortic disease and lower extremity occlusive disease. He has a special interest in the treatment of advanced lower extremity disease in patients at higher risk for limb loss. Dr. Fisher has an additional focus on eliminating disparities cardiovascular disease outcomes that adversely affect the Black community.
Dr. Fisher owes his success to his wife and friend of 21 years, Latita Fisher. They have four wonderful children (Bryan Jr., Breahn, Breya, and Brylee).
Bryan Fisher, MD
Vascular Surgeon
Dr. Bryan T. Fisher Sr. is a board certified Vascular surgeon and Physician Lead for Vascular Services for the HCA Tristar Division in Middle Tennessee. Uniquely qualified to address the challenges and solutions aimed at the delivery of high quality patient care, Dr. Fisher is consistently recognized by his peers as a caring professional and respected collaborative colleague in the local and international community.
Dr. Fisher graduated with honors from Tennessee State University and became a Ronald McNair and MARC Scholar. He was accepted into the UW Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, but deferred one year to teach elementary school at Belmont Elementary School in Woodbridge, VA. After medical school, Dr. Fisher completed a five year general surgery residency at The Ohio State University under Dr. E. Christopher Ellison. He then culminated his surgical training at Vanderbilt University under Dr. Thomas C. Naslund.
Dr. Fisher is a board certified Vascular surgeon and is a member of The Surgical Clinic in Nashville, TN. He serves as the Co-Chairman of the Tristar Vascular Workgroup, Physician Lead for Vascular Services HCA Tristar Division, and co-Director of the Center for Functional Limb Preservation at Tristar Centennial Medical Center. As the physician lead of Vascular services at the division level, Dr. Fisher provides leadership and the vision of providing cutting-edge, personalized, high quality care for vascular disease; in a truly collaborative environment. Dr. Fisher specializes in complex open, endovascular and hybrid techniques in the treatment of aortic disease and lower extremity occlusive disease. He has a special interest in the treatment of advanced lower extremity disease in patients at higher risk for limb loss. Dr. Fisher has an additional focus on eliminating disparities cardiovascular disease outcomes that adversely affect the Black community.
Dr. Fisher owes his success to his wife and friend of 21 years, Latita Fisher. They have four wonderful children (Bryan Jr., Breahn, Breya, and Brylee).
Shamsideen (Deen) Musa, MD
Anesthesiologist and Interventional Pain Physician
Shamsideen (Deen) Musa, MD
Anesthesiologist and Interventional Pain Physician
Dennis Orgill, MD, PhD
Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Orgill is trained as an engineer with a BS in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley, a SM in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Medical Engineering from MIT. He completed Harvard Medical School and residencies in Surgery and Plastic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he now works as a Plastic Surgeon focusing on adult reconstructive surgery. He is the Medical Director for the Brigham and Women’s Wound Healing Center and runs the Wound Healing and Tissue Engineering Laboratory. He has over 300 peer reviewed publications and has received numerous awards for his work. His research interests include the use of Biophysical forces to enhance wound healing.
Dennis Orgill, MD, PhD
Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Orgill is trained as an engineer with a BS in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley, a SM in Mechanical Engineering and a PhD in Medical Engineering from MIT. He completed Harvard Medical School and residencies in Surgery and Plastic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he now works as a Plastic Surgeon focusing on adult reconstructive surgery. He is the Medical Director for the Brigham and Women’s Wound Healing Center and runs the Wound Healing and Tissue Engineering Laboratory. He has over 300 peer reviewed publications and has received numerous awards for his work. His research interests include the use of Biophysical forces to enhance wound healing.
Jeff Page, DPM
Foot and Ankle Surgeon
Dr. Page is a podiatric medical educator board certified in wound care and in foot and ankle surgery. Recently retired as the Founding Dean and Professor of podiatric medicine and surgery of the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, Dr. Page also served as Dean and Professor at the California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco, California. He twice served as the Chief of the Podiatry Section and Residency Director at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Nankai University School of Medicine in Tianjin, China. Dr. Page has published over 75 manuscripts and peer-reviewed posters and served as a consultant on several medical advisory boards for biotechnology.
Dr. Page was awarded fellowships by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, the American Professional Wound Care Association, the American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine, and the American Society of Podiatric Dermatology. He received the Kenison Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Podiatric Medical Students Association and was selected several times as one of the most influential podiatrists in the U.S. by Podiatry Management magazine. He was also given the John R. Burdick Altruism Award by DOCare International.
Dr. Page has been deeply involved in service to the community and the profession. He is the founding Chairman of the Board for the FUEGO Foundation, dedicated to expanding aid and health care access to under-resourced populations abroad. For 18 years he helped to lead interdisciplinary missions to Guatemala and Mexico and the foundation supports foreign clinics and medical trainees desirous of serving health related missions. Dr. Page served for many years on the Board of Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH) which operates ten community clinics for the under-served in greater Phoenix and he served for several years with the American Diabetes Association in Arizona. He has devoted many years to the provision of health care to the homeless through direct patient care and through the supervision of volunteer student organizations dedicated to support of the homeless.
Jeff Page, DPM
Foot and Ankle Surgeon
Dr. Page is a podiatric medical educator board certified in wound care and in foot and ankle surgery. Recently retired as the Founding Dean and Professor of podiatric medicine and surgery of the Arizona College of Podiatric Medicine at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, Dr. Page also served as Dean and Professor at the California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco, California. He twice served as the Chief of the Podiatry Section and Residency Director at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Nankai University School of Medicine in Tianjin, China. Dr. Page has published over 75 manuscripts and peer-reviewed posters and served as a consultant on several medical advisory boards for biotechnology.
Dr. Page was awarded fellowships by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, the American Professional Wound Care Association, the American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine, and the American Society of Podiatric Dermatology. He received the Kenison Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Podiatric Medical Students Association and was selected several times as one of the most influential podiatrists in the U.S. by Podiatry Management magazine. He was also given the John R. Burdick Altruism Award by DOCare International.
Dr. Page has been deeply involved in service to the community and the profession. He is the founding Chairman of the Board for the FUEGO Foundation, dedicated to expanding aid and health care access to under-resourced populations abroad. For 18 years he helped to lead interdisciplinary missions to Guatemala and Mexico and the foundation supports foreign clinics and medical trainees desirous of serving health related missions. Dr. Page served for many years on the Board of Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health (NOAH) which operates ten community clinics for the under-served in greater Phoenix and he served for several years with the American Diabetes Association in Arizona. He has devoted many years to the provision of health care to the homeless through direct patient care and through the supervision of volunteer student organizations dedicated to support of the homeless.
Marvin Slepian, MD
Cardiologist
Biomedical Engineer
Marvin J. Slepian, M.D. is a Regents’ Professor at the University of Arizona; with Professorships in Medicine, Medical Imaging, BioMedical Engineering (Associate Dept. Head), Materials Sciences and Engineering, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, as well as being a McGuire Scholar in the Eller College of Management. Dr. Slepian is the founder and Director of ACABI – the Arizona Center for Accelerated Biomedical Innovation – an across the university “creativity engine,” to drive innovation, novel solution development and real-world translation. In parallel with his clinical career Dr. Slepian has had an extensive research career leading to the development of innovative diagnostics and therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases. His work has focused on the development and use of novel biomaterials for tissue engineering, drug delivery and medical device development. His lab has developed many novel diagnostics and therapeutics which have found their way into clinical use today including: drug-eluting stent technologies, stent coatings, “polymer paving,” surgical anti-adhesive barriers, stretchable and biodegradable electronics, “wearables,” synthetic tissue sealants, myocardial revascularization and cell delivery methods and cardiovascular prosthetic devices – including the only FDA approved total artificial heart. He is the author or co-author of more than 250 articles, textbook chapters and abstracts, published in journals such as Science, Nature Materials, PNAS, PlosOne, Circulation, and the New England Journal of Medicine. He also serves on multiple editorial review boards. He is a prolific inventor with more than 100 issued and filed patents and has been the founder of numerous medical device companies including FOCAL (NASDAQ), Endotex, Angiotrax, Hansen Medical (NASDAQ), Arsenal, 480 BioMedical, MC10 and SynCardia, and has been involved in bringing many new devices through the FDA regulatory process into clinical use, including most notably the total artificial heart. He has received multiple awards for his academic and translational research activities including: the American Heart Association award for the most significant advance in cardiovascular medicine, the AZBio Pioneer Award (2017) for Lifetime Achievement in Biomedical Science Innovation, and in 2019 was named daVinci Fellow – the highest recognition of the University of Arizona College of Engineering; and received the Daniel Drake Medal – the highest distinction of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine for outstanding innovative medical research. In 2020 Dr. Slepian was selected as Founders’ Lecturer – the highest honor of the U Arizona College of Medicine. Dr. Slepian is an elected fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), and is an elected member of BEMA – the Biomaterials Engineering Materials and Applications (BEMA) Roundtable, of the National Research Council of the National Academies. He is the Immediate Past-President of the International Society for Mechanical Circulatory Support (ISMCS) is and was recently elected President of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO).
Marvin Slepian, MD
Cardiologist
Biomedical Engineer
Marvin J. Slepian, M.D. is a Regents’ Professor at the University of Arizona; with Professorships in Medicine, Medical Imaging, BioMedical Engineering (Associate Dept. Head), Materials Sciences and Engineering, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, as well as being a McGuire Scholar in the Eller College of Management. Dr. Slepian is the founder and Director of ACABI – the Arizona Center for Accelerated Biomedical Innovation – an across the university “creativity engine,” to drive innovation, novel solution development and real-world translation. In parallel with his clinical career Dr. Slepian has had an extensive research career leading to the development of innovative diagnostics and therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases. His work has focused on the development and use of novel biomaterials for tissue engineering, drug delivery and medical device development. His lab has developed many novel diagnostics and therapeutics which have found their way into clinical use today including: drug-eluting stent technologies, stent coatings, “polymer paving,” surgical anti-adhesive barriers, stretchable and biodegradable electronics, “wearables,” synthetic tissue sealants, myocardial revascularization and cell delivery methods and cardiovascular prosthetic devices – including the only FDA approved total artificial heart. He is the author or co-author of more than 250 articles, textbook chapters and abstracts, published in journals such as Science, Nature Materials, PNAS, PlosOne, Circulation, and the New England Journal of Medicine. He also serves on multiple editorial review boards. He is a prolific inventor with more than 100 issued and filed patents and has been the founder of numerous medical device companies including FOCAL (NASDAQ), Endotex, Angiotrax, Hansen Medical (NASDAQ), Arsenal, 480 BioMedical, MC10 and SynCardia, and has been involved in bringing many new devices through the FDA regulatory process into clinical use, including most notably the total artificial heart. He has received multiple awards for his academic and translational research activities including: the American Heart Association award for the most significant advance in cardiovascular medicine, the AZBio Pioneer Award (2017) for Lifetime Achievement in Biomedical Science Innovation, and in 2019 was named daVinci Fellow – the highest recognition of the University of Arizona College of Engineering; and received the Daniel Drake Medal – the highest distinction of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine for outstanding innovative medical research. In 2020 Dr. Slepian was selected as Founders’ Lecturer – the highest honor of the U Arizona College of Medicine. Dr. Slepian is an elected fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), and is an elected member of BEMA – the Biomaterials Engineering Materials and Applications (BEMA) Roundtable, of the National Research Council of the National Academies. He is the Immediate Past-President of the International Society for Mechanical Circulatory Support (ISMCS) is and was recently elected President of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO).
