Meet Our Healthcare Demo Day Judges

We're thrilled to welcome an exceptional group of healthcare leaders to judge our upcoming Healthcare Demo Day hosted by Cooley, Drive Capital, Trigent, and JP Morgan. With diverse backgrounds spanning clinical care, innovation, finance, and technology, these industry experts bring invaluable perspectives to evaluate promising healthcare startups.

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Anil Saldanha

Chief Innovation Officer, RUSH

As the Chief Innovation Officer at RUSH, Anil Saldanha is at the forefront of healthcare transformation. He leads strategic initiatives in Public and Community Health, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, and Precision Medicine. Anil's visionary approach has positioned RUSH as a leader in healthcare innovation, developing cutting-edge solutions that address complex healthcare challenges while improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

David Parker

Chief of Staff & Director of Finance, Huddle Modern Pediatrics

David Parker currently serves as Chief of Staff & Director of Finance at Huddle Modern Pediatrics, where he brings his extensive background in healthcare and finance to drive operational excellence. Previously, he worked as an Investment Banking Associate at J.P. Morgan, collaborating with clients to solve their most challenging and consequential financial decisions.

Before J.P. Morgan, David held leadership roles at VillageMD, where he gained valuable insights into how innovative healthcare organizations operate from the inside while leading critical teams through periods of growth. David is motivated by solving complex problems with real and measurable impact, and his diverse experience in management consulting built a foundational skill set that has prepared him for tackling complex business challenges on diverse, high-functioning teams.

Dr. Deepti Pandita

Chief Medical Information Officer & VP of Clinical Informatics, UCI Health

As the Chief Medical Information Officer and Vice President of Clinical Informatics at UCI Health, Dr. Deepti Pandita leverages her extensive experience to drive innovation and excellence in healthcare technology. With over 20 years in the field, she has a proven track record of leading large-scale projects, developing strategic plans, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to improve patient care and operational efficiency.

Dr. Pandita is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at UCI Health, where she teaches and mentors the next generation of healthcare professionals while actively practicing as a physician. She holds dual board certifications in Clinical Informatics and Internal Medicine, as well as a medical license from the state of California. Her passion is to harness the power of data and technology to transform the healthcare landscape and enhance the quality of life for patients and communities.

Katherine Maskel

Industry Engagement Manager, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Katherine Harmon serves as the Industry Engagement Manager at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, where she sources industry partnerships and investments for the hospital's research and innovation programs. She holds an MBA with a focus in healthcare innovation and a BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Prior to joining Lurie Children's, Katherine was the Program Manager of the mHUB MedTech Accelerator, where she played an integral role in building a program that attracts global startups to Chicago and supports their pathway to commercialization. Her background also includes serving as the Director of Programs & Partnerships at Kids Science Labs, where she worked to create meaningful change in the lives of children and families through access to experiential education.

Margaret Schuler

SVP of Practice Support Operations and RCM, The Aspen Group

As the Senior VP of Practice Support Operations and Revenue Cycle Management at TAG - The Aspen Group, Margaret Schuler leads and oversees the operational and financial performance of a diverse portfolio of healthcare services. With more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry spanning finance, revenue cycle management, and digital transformation, she focuses on optimizing processes, systems, and outcomes.

Margaret has a proven track record of achieving best-in-class results in key performance indicators, including bad debt, denial management, and cash collections. During her tenure at OhioHealth, the organization achieved the HFMA MAP Award ten times for High Performance in Revenue Cycle Management. She has successfully implemented fully integrated revenue cycle platforms, enhanced price transparency, and ensured regulatory compliance across multiple settings and segments.

As a CAQH CORE board member and an active participant of HFMA, Margaret shares her insights and best practices with other healthcare leaders and professionals. She holds an MBA and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Dayton and is a former Economic Development Advisor for the U.S. Peace Corps.

Melissa Evraets

VP of Resident Care & Chief Nursing Officer, Vi Living

With 21 years of experience as a registered nurse, Melissa Evraets brings comprehensive clinical expertise to the judging panel. Her career spans all levels of care including hospital-based care, home care, behavioral health, surgical services, and post-acute care. In her current role as VP of Resident Care and Chief Nursing Officer at Vi Living, Melissa focuses on the wellness, vitality, and quality of life for seniors and their families in the Continuous Care Retirement industry.

An Oklahoma native now based in Chicago, Melissa has a passion for nursing leadership, high-quality care, and exceptional service delivery. Her frontline experience provides valuable insights into the practical implementation of healthcare innovations.

Neil Bahroos

Chief of Health Data Innovation, Keck Medicine of USC

Neil Bahroos is a distinguished leader in AI, Data, Analytics, and IT in healthcare with over 20 years of experience in precision medicine and health data innovation. As the Chief of Health Data Innovation at Keck Medicine of USC, Neil has spearheaded transformative initiatives in AI, advanced analytics, and data governance.

Throughout his career, Neil has held leadership roles at top institutions including USC, Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and University of Chicago, propelling them to new heights of innovation and competitiveness. His expertise in cybersecurity, EMR systems, and cloud computing positions him as a visionary leader in the healthcare IT landscape, uniquely qualified to evaluate cutting-edge technological solutions.

Sharon Markman, MHA

Administrative Director, Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation, University of Chicago Medicine

Sharon Markman joined the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) in 2016 as the Administrative Director of the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation (HDSI). Under her leadership, UCM has expanded education programs and services to support scholarly work and innovation that bridges health system operations and researcher interests and expertise.

Prior to UCM, Sharon spent nearly 25 years at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, where she built robust public, patient, and professional programs. She collaborated with international thought leaders, national organizations, and governmental agencies to bring research findings to the bedside. Her committee service includes work with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the National Cancer Institute, and the American Cancer Society.

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Don't miss the opportunity to see these distinguished judges in action at our upcoming Healthcare Demo Day, where they'll evaluate innovative startups poised to transform the healthcare landscape. Their combined expertise across clinical care, operations, technology, and finance provides a comprehensive lens through which to identify truly groundbreaking solutions.

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