The entire MDI Partners team is actively involved in every project, each bringing their expertise to ensure success.
Navroze S. Mehta, Managing Director
Edward Boyle M.D., Managing Director
John F. Harris, Founder
Andrew Firlik M.D., Founder
Chris Genau, Vice President of Engineering
Navroze S. Mehta
Managing Director, MDI Partners
Navroze Mehta was the Founder and Vice Chairman of NovaVision Inc., a venture backed neurostimulation medical device company that restores vision in stroke and traumatic brain injury patients, with over 15 years of experience managing life science and technology companies. Mr. Mehta co-founded NovaVision in 2002, guiding the company through the FDA clearance of its Vision Restoration Therapy (VRT) device, the accumulation of 50 Partner Centers and three rounds of financing. Before joining NovaVision, he co-founded Dermdex/Skinstore, a medical technology company that specialized in practice efficiency solutions for dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Mr. Mehta successfully managed the sale of Dermdex/Skinstore to Salu Inc. Skinstore currently has revenues over $40 million and was the 2006 recipient of Inc’s 500 fastest growing companies in the US. Prior to co-founding Dermdex, Mehta was the president of Boca Global, a subsidiary of Boca Research, where he was responsible for directing the day-to-day operations of a $70 million NASDAQ company involved in developing internet appliances, thin client and data communications solutions. Before joining Boca Research in 1998, he was president and CEO of Comark Communications, Inc., a high tech designer and manufacturer of television transmission systems and a wholly owned subsidiary of Thomson CSF, a $7 billion global electronics company.
Mr. Mehta received an MBA from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Sydenham College at the University of Bombay, India. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of New York, a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and past chairman of America’s Gateway Chapter (YPO) in Miami.
Edward Boyle M.D.
Managing Director, MDI Partners
Ed Boyle is an experienced cardiothoracic surgeon and medical device entrepreneur. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Clear Catheter Systems, a privately held medical device company co-founded by MDI Partners to design, develop, manufacture and market innovative devices to facillitate surgical drainage.
Prior to his current position, Dr. Boyle led the Cardiovascular Vascular Biology research team at the University of Washington where he developed basic science and clinical research programs, primarily focusing on the study of tissue injury, coagulation and inflammation. He has also published over 80 manuscripts in peer reviewed medical journals and textbooks. In addition to obtaining NIH funding, Dr. Boyle played the lead role in developing research collaborations with Bayer’s Pharmaceutical Division, Genentech, Zymogenetics/Novo Nordisk, Icos Corporation, US Surgical Corporation (now Tyco Healthcare) and other privately held biotechnology and device companies. This research program was recognized nationally with awards from the American College of Surgeons, the American Heart Association, The Western Thoracic Surgery Association, the Seattle Surgical Society and others. Dr. Boyle was a founder of Elixis, a healthcare information technology company, which was acquired by Data Critical Corporation (NASDAQ:DCCA), now a division of General Electric (NYSE:GE). He is also the founder of ClearCatheter Systems and Precision Thoracic Corporation, both early stage medical device companies where he is an inventor on a number of medical devices patent applications.
Dr. Boyle is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Chest Physicians. He studied medicine at University of Minnesota Medical School, and trained in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Washington.
John F. Harris
Founder, MDI Partners
John Harris is President and CEO of NeuroVista Corporation, an early stage medical device company developing technologies for the management and treatment of epilepsy. Prior to his work with NeuroVista, Mr. Harris was a full-time consultant to Versant Ventures, a healthcare-dedicated venture capital firm with assets of $600 million, where he helped assess medical device investment opportunities. Prior to his work at Versant, Mr. Harris was Co-founder and Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Northstar Neuroscience, a Seattle-based medical device company that seeks to dramatically improve neurological recovery following stroke through targeted electrical stimulation of the brain. He is also the founder of Heartstream, a Seattle-based company that is revolutionizing the treatment of sudden cardiac arrest with uniquely designed defibrillators that make the deployment of these devices practical in a variety of settings. These heart defibrillators are now on all commercial aircraft in the U.S., as well as in public buildings, stadiums, arenas and first responder vehicles, and these devices are responsible for saving thousands of lives. While at Heartstream, Mr Harris held positions in finance, product management, business development and marketing. Collectively, he has over 16 years of experience in the development and commercialization of innovative medical device technologies.
Mr. Harris received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Stanford University and a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Andrew Firlik M.D.
Founder, MDI Partners
Andrew Firlik is a neurosurgeon, venture capitalist and currently a General Partner at Foundation Medical Partners, which he joined to concentrate on medical device and biopharmaceutical investments. Prior to Foundation, Dr. Firlik was a venture partner at Sprout Group and Managing Director of its healthcare technology spinout, New Leaf Venture Partners. Previously, he was a principal at Canaan Partners. Dr. Firlik has led numerous venture capital investments and has served as a founder, founding investor or director of many companies, including Northstar Neuroscience, NeuroVista, Sopherion Therapeutics, Transoma, Omnisonics, Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Viacor and Spine Wave.
Dr. Firlik is a founder and an inventor of the core technology platform of Northstar Neuroscience (NASDAQ:NSTR), a medical device company that is pioneering a novel approach to neuromodulation for the treatment of stroke and other disorders. He is also the Chairman of NovaVision, a medical therapeutics firm focusing on neuroplasticity for visual disorders. Dr. Firlik currently serves on the board of directors of several companies, including NeuroVista, Spine Wave, Clear Catheter Systems, Intelect Medical, BridgePoint Medical, Innovative Metabolics and Visiogen. He is a member of the Industrial Advisory Board of Cleveland Clinic Innovations Center and the Administrative Board of the Cornell University Council and Chairman of its Technology Transfer Committee. Dr. Firlik spent 12 years in the healthcare profession during his medical training and practice as a neurological surgeon. He has published more than 50 articles in the medical literature, written chapters for several medical textbooks and is the co-editor of a book about cerebrovascular surgery. Dr. Firlik’s scientific work has been presented at many international conferences, and he has been an inventor of numerous patents.
Dr. Firlik studied biology at Cornell University and Oxford University, received his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College. As a board certified neurosurgeon, Dr. Firlik most recently served as Clinical Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at the New York University School of Medicine.
Chris Genau
Vice President of Engineering
Chris Genau is a recognized engineering leader with more than 18 years experience in the medical device, consumer and automotive industries. Mr. Genau has expertise in complex mechanical design, medical device development, implantable and surgical systems, human factors and is adept at working with US and international standards and specifications. Prior to his work at MDI Partners, Mr.Genau played a lead role at NeuroVista Corporation where he developed key components of an active implantable system for the management and treatment of Epilepsy. Prior to NeuroVista, he held a principal engineering position at CoAptus Medical where he co-developed a minimally invasive closure device for the treatment of a structural cardiac defect. Prior to CoAptus, Mr. Genau led a multi-disciplined team at Northstar Neuroscience, a Seattle-based medical device company seeking to improve neurological recovery following stroke via targeted electrical stimulation of the brain. Before joining the world of venture-backed medical startup companies, Mr.Genau worked in a consulting role for NEO Technologies where he focused solely on new product development for a variety of clientele. Notable work during this time includes design and development of medical diagnostic and monitoring devices, surgical tools and multiple consumer electronic products.
Mr. Genau has a passion for integrating elegant solutions into new products and is an inventor on numerous medical device and consumer product patents. He received a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley.