Jason Darrah
Chief Financial Officer
Jason believes that Elira has a novel solution that will significantly benefit the growing worldwide overweight and obese population, and is passionate to see that Elira’s technology reaches individuals that are seeking to lose weight and improve their wellbeing. Jason has over 20 years of experience working in venture capital (Oakwood Medical Investors) and investment banking (A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.) with a focus on the healthcare industry. He holds a BA in Economics cum laude from Wheaton College.

Steven Diianni
Head of Engineering
Steven believes that whenever smart people collaborate on a project, such as at Elira, anything is possible. Prior to joining Elira, Steven directed advanced technologies at Insulet Corporation, where he led the mechanical engineering team in the creation of the first and only disposable insulin pump for type 1 diabetics. Steven was also a Principal Engineer and team leader at Thoratec and Baxter Healthcare. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University.

Danika Harrison
President and CEO
Danika believes that giving patients the ability to manage their health through innovative platforms combining digital health and wearable medical devices can greatly improve patient outcomes. Prior to Elira, Danika helped launch innovative consumer healthcare products at companies such as Zeltiq, Tria Beauty and Johnson & Johnson. She holds a BS in Marketing from Georgetown University and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

Peter Hong
Head of R&D
Peter is intrigued and motivated by discovering and solving unique issues presented by medical and consumer device development. Prior to Elira, Peter led development of glucose sensor device electronics and software as director of engineering at Medtronic Diabetes. Peter received BS in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and MS in Electrical Engineering from University of Minnesota.

Mike Lamberson
Head of Commercial
Mike believes that healthcare is ripe for disruption and focuses his passion at the intersection of medical devices and digital technology. Prior to Elira, Mike led marketing and sales teams at companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Zeltiq, and IMS Health. Mike also founded Launchsmith, a firm that delivers launch excellence to regulated healthcare product companies. He holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University and an MBA from SMU’s Cox School of Business.

Luis Malave
Head of Operations
Luis is passionate about the technology he is building to help people who want to lose weight, but without the harmful side effects of pills or invasive procedures. Prior to Elira, Luis helped build several medical device companies such as Medtronic, MiniMed, and Insulet. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

James Nouss
Assistant Secretary
Two of the greatest health issues currently facing our country are the proliferation of obesity and diabetes. Mr. Nouss believes that Elira can be the leader in solving and eradicating these diseases. As a business lawyer, Mr. Nouss has spent 35+ years providing clients with corporate and finance advice on their most pressing issues. He has worked with numerous medical device companies on formation, financing and exit transactions. Mr. Nouss received his BA from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his JD from Georgetown University. He also successfully completed a Leadership program at the Wharton School of Business.

Brad Stengel
Head of Clinical
Brad is passionate about the opportunity to create a unique therapy that delivers hope and help for patients interested in improving their overall health. He has overseen all clinical activities at Elira since it’s inception. Prior to joining Elira, Brad represented multiple orthopedic devices manufacturers as the principal partner of a three state regional medical distributorship. Brad holds a MBA from the John M. Olin School of Business at Washington University.

Charlie Bolten
Charlie is a Vice President at BioGenerator since 2009. Prior to BioGenerator, Charlie held positions in the Pfizer Exploratory Immunobiology group, and various pharma project teams at Pharmacia and Searle. He began his career in agricultural research at Monsanto, mainly in the area of genomics.

Ralph Dacey, M.D.
Ralph is the Henry G & Edith R Schwartz Professor and Chairman of Neurological Surgery at the Washington University School of Medicine, and Neurosurgeon-in-Chief at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Ralph also holds consultation affiliations with the St. Louis Rams and St. Louis Cardinals. He holds a BA from Harvard University and an MD from University of Virginia.

Danika Harrison
Danika believes that giving patients the ability to manage their health through innovative platforms combining digital health and wearable medical devices can greatly improve patient outcomes. Prior to Elira, Danika helped launch innovative consumer healthcare products at companies such as Zeltiq, Tria Beauty and Johnson & Johnson. She holds a BS in Marketing from Georgetown University and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

Bevil Hogg
Bevil is passionate about bringing effective, affordable, non-invasive, digital therapeutic solutions to the worldwide obesity epidemic. Prior to Elira, Mr. Hogg had 30+ years of P&L responsibility, and during the last 20 years, on the manufacture and commercialization of technologically-advanced equipment for the healthcare marketplace. Mr. Hogg has been a founder and CEO of EndoStim, SynerZ Medical, Stereotaxis (Nasdaq: STXS), and Everest & Jennings. Prior to these, he co-founded three companies, including Trek Bicycle Corporation. He holds a Diplome Superior d’ Etudes Francaises from Université Paris-Sorbonne.

Derek Lee
Derek is Senior Advisor at Athyrium Capital Management which focuses on investment opportunities in the global healthcare sector. Prior to this, Derek was CFO at Talaris Advisors and worked at UBS Investment Bank and Salomon Smith Barney. He holds a BS from Bentley University.

Arda Minocherhomjee
Arda believes the innovative approach to weight loss that Elira is developing will be a welcome addition to many people trying to look and feel their best. Prior to Elira, Arda was a Managing Partner of Chicago Growth Partners and was on the boards of many health care companies. He holds an M.Sc. in pharmacology from University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. and an M.B.A. from University of British Columbia.

Raul Perez, M.D.
Raul is passionate about people losing weight because of the collateral implications towards good health. Prior to Elira, Raul was a founder of EndoStim where he served as its Chairman of its Board of Directors, and founder and Chairman of SynerZ Medical. Raul is also President of Oakwood Medical Investors, a life science venture capital fund. He received his Medical Degree from University UAG in Mexico, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (at the Maryland General Hospital) in 1976, and completed four years of post-graduate training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri in 1981. Raul is a board certified OB/GYN and practiced medicine for 19 years in private practice though July 2000.

Travis Spitzer
Travis owns and operates Concordia Capital Partners, LLC., a boutique investment banking firm specializing in private equity and debt placements, investment and financial advisory as well as asset management services. Concordia’s investment focus is Health care and Health services, Information technologies and commercial real estate. He is also a co-founder of a number of successful companies including, enterprise software innovator Corticon Technologies, www.corticon.com , as well as, co-managing director of private equity fund EGI, LLC.