  
    At R3 Vascular, we strive to develop the best in class bioresorbable scaffolds that rival metal drug eluting stents. Our unique polymer and proprietary technologies are used to create scaffolds that balance strength with flexibility for treating peripheral arterial disease (PAD). At a 98-micron strut thickness across all its usable range of diameters, the MAGNITUDE BRS device is the thinnest BRS ever tested in this clinical setting.
  

management team

Chris Owens
President & CEO
Chris has over 30 years of medical device experience holding senior-level executive positions in both commercial and technical areas. He has held CEO and executive leadership roles, served as an independent board of director, held board/CEO advisor roles and has been an integral member of board compensation committees with various organizations.

Chris has extensive experience in commercializing and scaling businesses, developing products from early stage to product launch, driving clinical strategy and trials including HEMA strategies, in compensation related matters and in raising capital to sustain company growth through value creating strategies. He has spent extended time in various markets throughout his career holding positions in product development (R&D), manufacturing, sales, marketing and clinical.

From 2014-2023, Chris was the President & CEO of Gynesonics Inc., a privately held medical device company dedicated to advancing women’s health by developing transcervical, uterus-preserving, incision-free, minimally invasive technologies for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Chris scaled Gynesonics delivering triple digit revenue growth, obtained regulatory clearances and positive HEMA results including obtaining coverage, coding (CAT I code) and payment - revamped company strategies delivering best-in-class clinical data-outcomes (including 15 trials and studies and over 40 publications), completed technology improvements while driving elite gross margins.

Chris served on the board of RF Surgical, with products for the detection of retained surgical sponges, which was acquired by Medtronic in 2015. Prior to joining Gynesonics and RF Surgical, Chris was the President & CEO of IDEV Technologies from 2008-2013. IDEV was a privately held medical device company focused on the peripheral vascular market with the development of the Supera stent, which was acquired by Abbott in 2013. From 2005-2008, he served as Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for MicroVention, a startup medical device company in the neurovascular space that was purchased by Terumo Corporation. From 2003-2005, he was the Vice President of Global Research and Development for the Surgical Division of Bausch & Lomb.

Chris earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Plastics Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Kamal Ramzipoor
CTO, Founder
Kamal has been a medical device business and technical executive for over 30 years with a range of experience from raising capital to building and managing medical device companies. He has a track record of cultivating advanced technologies, innovation and market introduction of category leading products. Highly experienced with fund raising at increased valuations involving strategic partners, private investors and multinational institutions and has proven ability to build, staff, train and manage vertically integrated global operations. Lastly, he has a robust analytical skills and deep technical knowledge relating to medical device innovation process ranging from concept development, intellectual property management, product development from concept to a marketable product, manufacturing, clinical trials and regulatory process management. Kamal has authored or co-authored over hundred fifty issued or pending patent applications.

Josh Smale
Vice President, Global Clinical and Scientific Affairs
Josh brings over 20 years of distinguished experience in the medical device industry, specializing in clinical and regulatory affairs strategy, clinical evidence generation, and physician education. Prior to joining R3 Vascular, he served as Vice President of Clinical Affairs for the Peripheral Intervention business unit of Becton Dickinson (BD), where he directed a complex device portfolio with a proven track record of leadership and innovation resulting in multiple successful clinical study programs and global device approvals. At BD, Josh oversaw all global clinical studies, podium presentations, and publications, aligning strategies with FDA and international requirements. His career also includes pivotal roles at Bard Peripheral Vascular (acquired by BD), SenoRX, and Endologix, where he contributed significantly to regulatory approvals and clinical trial advancements in vascular and oncology device interventions. Josh holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University and is recognized for his patents, publications, and leadership in driving Real-World Evidence (RWE) through partnerships such as the Registry Assessment of Peripheral Interventional Devices (RAPID). At R3 Vascular, Josh leads global clinical trial initiatives, including the pivotal ELITE trial for the next generation Magnitude drug-eluting bioresorbable scaffold, aimed at transforming below-the-knee PAD interventions worldwide.

Chang Lee
Sr. Director of Research & Development
Chang has over 15 years of experience in medical device R&D and product development ranging from implantable drug/device combination devices to wearable electronic medical products. He has developed products for sleep apnea, neuromodulation, sports medicine, ultrasound imaging, peripheral and cardiovascular disease from initial concepts to market release. Chang’s vast experience includes R&D and Operations in both clinical and commercial phases.

Chang holds a BS in Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a MS in Mechanical engineering from Stanford University.

Afsoon Fallahi, Ph.D.
Sr. Director of Operations and Polymer Engineering, Formulations and Analytical Chemistry/API
Afsoon is a polymer and biomaterial scientist/engineer with substantial experience in materials and polymer engineering, bio-materials, Drug/Nanoparticle synthesis and characterizations, biomedical devices, flexible smart electronics in both industry and academia. The fields of her expertise include Biomedical devices, Polymer thin Films, Textile engineering, Hydrogels, Nanomaterials and Nanocomposites, Polymer Fabrication and characterization techniques, Nanoparticles, Flexible Smart skins fabrications.

She received a Master degree in polymer engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), she continued her PhD and Postdoc research in polymer engineering/ biomedical application at MIT and Harvard University (Wyss Institute).

Jennifer Lee
Sr. Director, Global Quality Assurance
Jennifer has over 19 years of experience in the medical device industry, holding positions in both Engineering and Quality for Class III implantable and device-drug combination devices. Prior to joining R3 Vascular, Jennifer was the first hire in the Quality Department at Tioga Cardiovascular where she established the Quality Management System and built a quality team from the ground up, gaining approval for the use of the TMVR device in a First in Human clinical study. From 2011-2022, she served at Cardiva Medical in a dual Engineering and Quality role, bringing the product through V&V, IDE Clinical Trial, Manufacturing Transfer to Mexico and Commercialization in the US and EU. She led the organization during ISO 13485:2016 and EUMDR transitions and has a proven track record of leadership and audit success. Cardiva was acquired by Haemonetics in 2021. Prior to Cardiva, Jennifer worked on the Cypher Drug-Eluting Stent at Cordis Corporation (J&J).

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

Kristin Ellis
Sr. Director, Global Regulatory Affairs
Kristin is a seasoned medical device Regulatory Affairs leader with over 26 years in the medical device industry. Her background in R&D engineering brings product-centric experience in optimizing regulatory pathways, managing agency interactions, and ensuring global compliance across the product life cycle. Kristin has successfully led numerous FDA submissions, CE marking efforts, and global registrations spanning Canada, Australia, and Asia. She brings extensive expertise in risk management, design controls, and quality systems, and serves as the primary liaison with regulatory bodies including the FDA and EU Notified Bodies.

Before joining R3 Vascular, Kristin held Regulatory leadership roles at Imperative Care, Silk Road Medical, and Abbott Vascular Structural Heart (Evalve), where she contributed to the regulatory success of innovative Class II and Class III neurovascular and cardiovascular devices. Kristin also worked as a regulatory consultant for Stryker Neurovascular, Shockwave Medical, and a sleep apnea medical device start-up.

Kristin holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington, is RAC (US) certified, and is a member of the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS). She is also an inventor on multiple U.S. and European patents, underscoring her commitment to advancing medical technologies through innovation and regulatory excellence.

James Sparks
Senior Vice President Global Operations
James has over 35 years of medical device manufacturing experience ranging from large multinational companies to start ups developing global manufacturing strategies from early stage product launch, through mature product lines.

From 2016-2025, James was the Sr. Vice President of Global Operations of Gynesonics Inc., a privately held medical device company dedicated to advancing women’s health by developing transcervical, uterus-preserving, incision-free, minimally invasive technologies for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. During this time, James scaled Operations in pace with the business growth from initial product launch to over $20M at the time of acquisition by Hologic.

Prior to joining Gynesonics, James held increasing Operations leadership roles with Tridien Medical (acquired by Hillrom), Medtronic Structural Heart Division, Biolase, and Biosense Webster (a Johnson & Johnson company).

James earned a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology from West Cost University and an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix. James holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification, and earned a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification while at Johnson & Johnson. James also served in the United States Air Force from 1986-1990, and was active in the Big Brothers / Big Sisters organization from 1993 to 2008.

Board of Directors

Jack Springer
Executive Chairman
An Executive with over 30 years in medical device industry with executive positions at Johnson & Johnson, (Cordis) Medtronic, and Invatec, acquired by Medtronic in 2010. Currently, Jack serves as a board member and consultant to several medical device companies and is a partner in a boutique life science investment banking firm, RM Global.

Chris earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Plastics Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

David Neustaedter, Ph.D.
David Neustaedter, Ph.D., is a Venture Partner on the Medical Technologies team at Deerfield Management and joined the Firm in 2022. Prior to Deerfield, Dr. Neustaedter spent seven years as a Vice President, at Medtronic Ventures and, before Medtronic’s merger with Covidien, spent a further 7 years with Covidien including five years as a Vice President of Venture Capital. He has also held positions at Stryker Development, Leerink Swann/MEDACorp Strategy Consulting, Fletcher Spaght, and Braun Consulting. Dr. Neustaedter holds a B.Sc. in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology from University of Calgary, an M.B.A from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from University of British Columbia.

Michael Hurley, M.D.
Michael Hurley, M.D., is a Principal on the Medical Technologies team and joined the Firm in 2022. Prior to Deerfield, Dr. Hurley was a Senior Associate at Blackstone Life Sciences where he focused on investments across medtech, biotech, and pharma. Before Blackstone, he served as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and was a practicing physician at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He completed his residency at UCSF and is board certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Hurley holds a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.S. in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and an M.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine.

Frederik Groenewegen
Frederik is a Co-Founder and General Partner of 415 CAPITAL. He has been an investor in more than a dozen of innovative medical technology companies and led 415’s investments in Supira Medical, CorFlow Therapeutics, Cardiac Success, Aktiia, Distalmotion and R3 Vascular, where he serves as a Board Director. Prior to founding 415 CAPITAL, Frederik served as Business Development Manager at Regis Medical, a Germany based medical device distributor where he helped source and evaluate new distribution partnerships and early-stage investment opportunities. Previously, Frederik worked in HSBC’s Leveraged & Acquisition Finance group in New York City where he structured financings for private equity-backed buyouts and corporate M&A transactions including several large-cap Healthcare transactions. Before moving to New York City, he was an Analyst at HSBC in London where he advised clients on cross-border M&A transactions and IPOs. Frederik holds an Hon. B.A. in Economics magna cum laude from the University of Toronto (University College), Canada.”

Amir Abolfathi
Innovative and results-driven healthcare executive with track record of success. Skilled in all aspects of building an enterprise. Experienced in driving product, process, commercialization and corporate strategy, working through difficult clinical and regulatory challenges, reimbursements, lobbying, building, and motivating world-class cross-functional teams. Significant experience in venture capital equity and debt fund-raising; raised $300M of capital since 2006 and supported raising $300M from 1995 to 2006. Inventor on 100+ issued patents. Experience in M&A, IPO, and spin-offs.