Who we are
Who we are
Who we are
Our vision is to enable physicians to deliver therapies for chronic neurological disorders without the risk and invasiveness of drilling through the skull. We push for a better neurosurgical ecosystem, one that offers new hope with an alternative to invasive and inaccessible brain surgery.
Team
Team
Wesley Jones
CEO and Co-Founder
The engineering Co-Founder with over 10 years of experience in both small entrepreneurial and Fortune 500 companies in the medical device industry. Mr. Jones is a Biodesign fellow and seasoned engineer who has successfully led and managed the technical teams for 11 different electrophysiology devices at Medtronic and Acutus Medical. Passionate about driving change, Mr. Jones has dedicated his career to solving unmet clinical needs through the application of minimally invasive technologies. Now, Mr. Jones has joined forces with Dr. Morales to apply his experience from cardiac electrophysiology to the unmet needs in neurology.
Wesley Jones
CEO and Co-Founder
The engineering Co-Founder with over 10 years of experience in both small entrepreneurial and Fortune 500 companies in the medical device industry. Mr. Jones is a Biodesign fellow and seasoned engineer who has successfully led and managed the technical teams for 11 different electrophysiology devices at Medtronic and Acutus Medical. Passionate about driving change, Mr. Jones has dedicated his career to solving unmet clinical needs through the application of minimally invasive technologies. Now, Mr. Jones has joined forces with Dr. Morales to apply his experience from cardiac electrophysiology to the unmet needs in neurology.
Wesley Jones
CEO and Co-Founder
The engineering Co-Founder with over 10 years of experience in both small entrepreneurial and Fortune 500 companies in the medical device industry. Mr. Jones is a Biodesign fellow and seasoned engineer who has successfully led and managed the technical teams for 11 different electrophysiology devices at Medtronic and Acutus Medical. Passionate about driving change, Mr. Jones has dedicated his career to solving unmet clinical needs through the application of minimally invasive technologies. Now, Mr. Jones has joined forces with Dr. Morales to apply his experience from cardiac electrophysiology to the unmet needs in neurology.
Dr. Jose Morales
CMO and Co-Founder
The clinical Co-Founder with over 15 years of research experience ranging from the molecular study of neurons to computational neuroscience investigations with brain machine interface technology. Dr. Morales is a neurointerventional surgeon and the inventor of Vonova’s less invasive method for accessing the brain. For his innovations, he has been awarded multiple grants and patents. Dr. Morales was inspired during his medical training to innovate a non-surgical alternative to invasive brain surgery for the millions affected by neurologic disease. He was drawn to Mr. Jones for his expertise in transcatheter cardiac mapping and his passion for translating novel technology to clinical practice.
Dr. Jose Morales
CMO and Co-Founder
The clinical Co-Founder with over 15 years of research experience ranging from the molecular study of neurons to computational neuroscience investigations with brain machine interface technology. Dr. Morales is a neurointerventional surgeon and the inventor of Vonova’s less invasive method for accessing the brain. For his innovations, he has been awarded multiple grants and patents. Dr. Morales was inspired during his medical training to innovate a non-surgical alternative to invasive brain surgery for the millions affected by neurologic disease. He was drawn to Mr. Jones for his expertise in transcatheter cardiac mapping and his passion for translating novel technology to clinical practice.
Dr. Jose Morales
CMO and Co-Founder
The clinical Co-Founder with over 15 years of research experience ranging from the molecular study of neurons to computational neuroscience investigations with brain machine interface technology. Dr. Morales is a neurointerventional surgeon and the inventor of Vonova’s less invasive method for accessing the brain. For his innovations, he has been awarded multiple grants and patents. Dr. Morales was inspired during his medical training to innovate a non-surgical alternative to invasive brain surgery for the millions affected by neurologic disease. He was drawn to Mr. Jones for his expertise in transcatheter cardiac mapping and his passion for translating novel technology to clinical practice.
Geoffrey Weissbach
Operations and Quality
Over two decades of medical device development and operations experience in the cardiac EP field. Geoff started his career at CryoCath Technologies which transformed the cardiac ablation from the incumbent RF technologies towards Cryo, until it was acquired by Medtronic for $388M. Geoff Continued his career for 12 years with Medtronic before taking a leadership position in Straumann Group’s Digital Business Unit. Among Geoff’s many roles, his expertise in program management, regulatory, design controls and market research is key to Vonova's success.
Geoffrey Weissbach
Operations and Quality
Over two decades of medical device development and operations experience in the cardiac EP field. Geoff started his career at CryoCath Technologies which transformed the cardiac ablation from the incumbent RF technologies towards Cryo, until it was acquired by Medtronic for $388M. Geoff Continued his career for 12 years with Medtronic before taking a leadership position in Straumann Group’s Digital Business Unit. Among Geoff’s many roles, his expertise in program management, regulatory, design controls and market research is key to Vonova's success.
Geoffrey Weissbach
Operations and Quality
Over two decades of medical device development and operations experience in the cardiac EP field. Geoff started his career at CryoCath Technologies which transformed the cardiac ablation from the incumbent RF technologies towards Cryo, until it was acquired by Medtronic for $388M. Geoff Continued his career for 12 years with Medtronic before taking a leadership position in Straumann Group’s Digital Business Unit. Among Geoff’s many roles, his expertise in program management, regulatory, design controls and market research is key to Vonova's success.
Jim Pak
Systems Engineering
Engineering technologist and technical leader with over 25 years of experience in both the medical and semiconductor industries. Mr. Pak has successfully led new product introduction, systems engineering development, and Manufacturing Scale across industry leading companies like Medtronic, Qualcomm, Acutus Medical, and Dexcom. Mr. Pak is passionate about innovating new technology, specifically in the medical device field to push the envelope to provide the best possible experience for both doctor and patient.
Jim Pak
Systems Engineering
Engineering technologist and technical leader with over 25 years of experience in both the medical and semiconductor industries. Mr. Pak has successfully led new product introduction, systems engineering development, and Manufacturing Scale across industry leading companies like Medtronic, Qualcomm, Acutus Medical, and Dexcom. Mr. Pak is passionate about innovating new technology, specifically in the medical device field to push the envelope to provide the best possible experience for both doctor and patient.
Jim Pak
Systems Engineering
Engineering technologist and technical leader with over 25 years of experience in both the medical and semiconductor industries. Mr. Pak has successfully led new product introduction, systems engineering development, and Manufacturing Scale across industry leading companies like Medtronic, Qualcomm, Acutus Medical, and Dexcom. Mr. Pak is passionate about innovating new technology, specifically in the medical device field to push the envelope to provide the best possible experience for both doctor and patient.
Adam Ahmad
Director of R&D
Adam has over 20 years of endovascular device design and development experience including catheters and implants. Heavily focused on startups, he has contributed to the development and manufacturing of over 40 different devices covering all major endovascular markets including neurovascular. Most recently, Adam cofounded and built a vertically-integrated catheter contract manufacturer, Midwest Interventional Systems in Maple Grove, Minnesota. He is passionate about leading companies to attain product excellence and commercial success.
Adam Ahmad
Director of R&D
Adam has over 20 years of endovascular device design and development experience including catheters and implants. Heavily focused on startups, he has contributed to the development and manufacturing of over 40 different devices covering all major endovascular markets including neurovascular. Most recently, Adam cofounded and built a vertically-integrated catheter contract manufacturer, Midwest Interventional Systems in Maple Grove, Minnesota. He is passionate about leading companies to attain product excellence and commercial success.
Adam Ahmad
Director of R&D
Adam has over 20 years of endovascular device design and development experience including catheters and implants. Heavily focused on startups, he has contributed to the development and manufacturing of over 40 different devices covering all major endovascular markets including neurovascular. Most recently, Adam cofounded and built a vertically-integrated catheter contract manufacturer, Midwest Interventional Systems in Maple Grove, Minnesota. He is passionate about leading companies to attain product excellence and commercial success.
Advisors
Advisors
Dr. Gary Duckwiler
Head of Clinical Advisory Board
Vonova’s lead clinical advisor who has been working with the team since 2020. He is the Chief and Fellowship Director of the Division of Interventional Neuroradiology at UCLA. As a pioneer of acute stroke treatment, he was deeply involved in the development, trials, and FDA/CMS approval processes for the first cleared stroke device (MERCI device). He also has a deep focus on Aneurysm therapy, and was one of the physicians involved in the first human case of aneurysm detachable coiling.
Dr. Gary Duckwiler
Head of Clinical Advisory Board
Vonova’s lead clinical advisor who has been working with the team since 2020. He is the Chief and Fellowship Director of the Division of Interventional Neuroradiology at UCLA. As a pioneer of acute stroke treatment, he was deeply involved in the development, trials, and FDA/CMS approval processes for the first cleared stroke device (MERCI device). He also has a deep focus on Aneurysm therapy, and was one of the physicians involved in the first human case of aneurysm detachable coiling.
Dr. Gary Duckwiler
Head of Clinical Advisory Board
Vonova’s lead clinical advisor who has been working with the team since 2020. He is the Chief and Fellowship Director of the Division of Interventional Neuroradiology at UCLA. As a pioneer of acute stroke treatment, he was deeply involved in the development, trials, and FDA/CMS approval processes for the first cleared stroke device (MERCI device). He also has a deep focus on Aneurysm therapy, and was one of the physicians involved in the first human case of aneurysm detachable coiling.
Dr. Ausaf Bari
Clinical Advisor
Neurosurgeon at UCLA who specializes in the neurosurgical repair and restoration of brain and nerve function. He has extensive clinical and research experience in the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of both movement and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Bari's research focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to studying the neurobiology underlying movement and psychiatric disorders and expanding the frontiers of neurosurgery to treat those disorders.
Dr. Ausaf Bari
Clinical Advisor
Neurosurgeon at UCLA who specializes in the neurosurgical repair and restoration of brain and nerve function. He has extensive clinical and research experience in the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of both movement and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Bari's research focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to studying the neurobiology underlying movement and psychiatric disorders and expanding the frontiers of neurosurgery to treat those disorders.
Dr. Ausaf Bari
Clinical Advisor
Neurosurgeon at UCLA who specializes in the neurosurgical repair and restoration of brain and nerve function. He has extensive clinical and research experience in the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of both movement and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Bari's research focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to studying the neurobiology underlying movement and psychiatric disorders and expanding the frontiers of neurosurgery to treat those disorders.
Dr. Alois Zauner
Clinical Advisor
Interventional neurosurgeon in San Diego who performs over 600 combined endovascular and open cranial surgeries annually to set the pace for state-of-the-art neuroendovascular techniques and for microsurgical cranial procedures. Among the most experienced and qualified neurosurgeons in his field in the United States, Dr. Zauner actively researches the latest breakthroughs in neuroendovascular surgery. He is focused on minimally invasive approaches to the brain as well as clinical studies in cerebral oxygenation and brain metabolism in critical neurosurgical patients.
Dr. Alois Zauner
Clinical Advisor
Interventional neurosurgeon in San Diego who performs over 600 combined endovascular and open cranial surgeries annually to set the pace for state-of-the-art neuroendovascular techniques and for microsurgical cranial procedures. Among the most experienced and qualified neurosurgeons in his field in the United States, Dr. Zauner actively researches the latest breakthroughs in neuroendovascular surgery. He is focused on minimally invasive approaches to the brain as well as clinical studies in cerebral oxygenation and brain metabolism in critical neurosurgical patients.
Dr. Alois Zauner
Clinical Advisor
Interventional neurosurgeon in San Diego who performs over 600 combined endovascular and open cranial surgeries annually to set the pace for state-of-the-art neuroendovascular techniques and for microsurgical cranial procedures. Among the most experienced and qualified neurosurgeons in his field in the United States, Dr. Zauner actively researches the latest breakthroughs in neuroendovascular surgery. He is focused on minimally invasive approaches to the brain as well as clinical studies in cerebral oxygenation and brain metabolism in critical neurosurgical patients.
