Physical & Life Sciences

Scholars dedicating their careers to the study of living organisms and non-living systems

Kavach Shah

Kavach Shah

As a AI Research Assistant at Boston University, I’m contributing to cutting-edge computer vision and machine learning research achieving 85.80% accuracy in group classification through custom-built classifiers. Our work, focused on facial paralysis analysis, not only advances healthcare AI but also informs scalable deployment strategies for AI pipelines—aligning with my academic focus on Generative AI, Large Language Models, and their orchestration in containerized environments like KubeVirt.

As a AI Research Assistant at Boston University, I’m contributing to cutting-edge computer vision and machine learning research achieving 85.80% accuracy in group classification through custom-built classifiers. Our work, focused on facial paralysis ... Show more

Jason L. Brown

Jason L. Brown

Jason is a certified Solution Architect both in Agentic AI and Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management. He specializes in Agentic AI assisted business processes, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and low code agents, with deep experience integrating AI capabilities into Dynamics 365 F&SCM environments. He has the proven ability to align Copilot, automation, governance, security, and compliance with real world enterprise workflows. Jason is a trusted advisor to executives and delivery teams enabling responsible, scalable AI adoption alongside D365 F&SCM implementations.

Jason is a certified Solution Architect both in Agentic AI and Dynamics 365 Finance and Supply Chain Management. He specializes in Agentic AI assisted business processes, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and low code agents, with deep experience integrating AI... Show more

Otto Dobretsberger

Otto Dobretsberger

Dr. Otto Dobretsberger is a Senior Software Developer at CODE Consulting (part of the CODE Group). He holds a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Informatics from UMIT, an institution in Austria, as well as a Master's and Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Houston. His professional expertise centers on high-performance computational analysis of genetic and genomic data, with extensive experience in C and C++. He specializes in WPF, C#, and C++ development, while maintaining proficiency in multiple additional programming languages. His project portfolio spans biomedical image processing, genetic and genomic data analysis, analytical software solutions for the oil and gas industry, and the development of custom controls. Dr. Dobretsberger has authored scientific papers and magazine articles and is a regular speaker at industry conferences.

Since 2012, he has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston, where he has taught a range of programming courses, including C++, Python, JavaScript, and Java.

In addition to his technical and academic roles, Dr. Dobretsberger organizes the Global AI Houston chapter, leading a local community of AI professionals and enthusiasts focused on knowledge sharing and advancements in artificial intelligence.

Outside of his professional pursuits, he is an accomplished powerlifter, actively training and competing. He holds multiple USPA National Records and IPL World Records.

Dr. Otto Dobretsberger is a Senior Software Developer at CODE Consulting (part of the CODE Group). He holds a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Informatics from UMIT, an institution in Austria, as well as a Master's and Ph.D. in Computer Science from t... Show more

Godfrey Ogembo

Godfrey Ogembo

Software Engineer in Kenya blending biotech & code to build resilient systems. Mentor, community builder, and open-source contributor.

Software Engineer in Kenya blending biotech & code to build resilient systems. Mentor, community builder, and open-source contributor. Show more

Kiran Kaur Raina

Kiran Kaur Raina

Founder & CEO of NucleQi, Quantum Security Research Engineer & Evangelist at Vyapti Resonance, Quantum Machine Learning and Cryptography Researcher, Classiq Brand Ambassador, Consultant & EdTech Content Creator. I help companies, brands and universities through technical keynotes, high impact workshops, executive trainings, and by strengthening their brand visibility, positioning, and quantum marketing strategy.

Founder & CEO of NucleQi, Quantum Security Research Engineer & Evangelist at Vyapti Resonance, Quantum Machine Learning and Cryptography Researcher, Classiq Brand Ambassador, Consultant & EdTech Content Creator. I help companies, brands and universit... Show more

Raakesh Raajasekar

Raakesh Raajasekar

Lead Site Reliability Engineer with 7+ years of experience in optimising system reliability, automating infrastructure, and scaling cloud-based applications. Passionate about reducing manual toil and enhancing operational efficiency.

Lead Site Reliability Engineer with 7+ years of experience in optimising system reliability, automating infrastructure, and scaling cloud-based applications. Passionate about reducing manual toil and enhancing operational efficiency. Show more

Armanas Povilionis

Armanas Povilionis

Armanas Povilionis is a technologist and systems strategist whose work focuses on how intelligent systems reshape organizations, markets, and human societies. His background spans biotech, healthcare, enterprise technology, and scientific research, giving him a systems-level view of how frontier ideas move from concept to adoption. He works at the intersection of AI, infrastructure, biology, governance, and incentive coordination, with a focus on translating ambitious technical ideas into real-world systems. His current interests include intelligent multi-agent systems, verifiable computation, cognitive systems, and the institutional primitives needed for autonomous software.

Armanas Povilionis is a technologist and systems strategist whose work focuses on how intelligent systems reshape organizations, markets, and human societies. His background spans biotech, healthcare, enterprise technology, and scientific research, g... Show more

Brian Daza

Brian Daza

Brian is a skilled data professional with a strong academic background. During his career, he has always dealt with data in some way or the other. With a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Utrecht University), he originally focused on developing drug discovery tools but shifted his focus to data analytics.

During his PhD at KU Leuven Brian developed 3D-printed chips that allowed to grow of stem cells on a chip, that could further be analyzed using state-of-the-art sequencing tools. He had to integrate many different types of data (microscopy images, genetic sequencing, etc.) to be able to validate the results. He often used scripting tools (R, Python) to develop and integrate these pipelines.

He always had an affinity with information technology and he decided to follow his passion for data with a focus on data engineering. Brian worked on multiple projects since then with Immoweb, Accenture, and Orange Business to grow further in data engineering. He implemented orchestration tools for ELT client workflows and co-developed a prediction application.

Brian has experience in Microsoft Azure, extensive expertise in open-source tooling (Python, R, Airflow, Kubernetes, etc.), and is a (AWS) certified cloud practitioner.

He enjoys spending time outdoors, climbing, and playing his bass guitar outside of work.

Brian is a skilled data professional with a strong academic background. During his career, he has always dealt with data in some way or the other. With a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Utrecht University), he originally focused on developing drug... Show more

Bhaskardeep Khaund Khaund

Bhaskardeep Khaund Khaund

Bhaskardeep Khaund is a highly accomplished Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft with over 20 years of experience in building secure, scalable, and compliant cloud-native systems. He currently leads a Security Green Team focused on implementing systemic security solutions for Microsoft’s massive Kubernetes infrastructure, which supports Microsoft 365 and other mission-critical services. Bhaskardeep specializes in Kubernetes security, container identity management, and secret lifecycle automation, working closely with Red and Blue teams to proactively close security gaps and ensure end-to-end policy enforcement. His leadership plays a key role in passing major audits like FedRAMP, SOC, IRAP, and GDPR. Holding a Master’s degree in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity from Florida Institute of Technology and an advanced certificate in Information Security from Stanford University, Bhaskardeep combines deep technical knowledge with strategic oversight. He holds multiple Microsoft certifications and patents related to cloud secret management and serverless security. Over his 15-year tenure at Microsoft, he has held engineering and leadership roles across Office 365, Exchange, and Azure-based platforms, consistently driving innovations in DevOps, compliance automation, and large-scale system resilience. His career also includes prior experience at Accenture and other firms, where he led teams developing enterprise software for sectors ranging from airlines to government manufacturing. A published blogger at nerdbackbone.blog, Bhaskardeep is an active voice in the cybersecurity and cloud engineering community.

Bhaskardeep Khaund is a highly accomplished Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft with over 20 years of experience in building secure, scalable, and compliant cloud-native systems. He currently leads a Security Green Team focused on imp... Show more

Josephine Eskaline Joyce

Josephine Eskaline Joyce

Josephine Eskaline Joyce is a cloud architect at IBM India Software Labs. With over two decades of invaluable experience and the esteemed title of IBM Master Inventor, she possesses an extensive background in application architectures, cloud security, and the design and development of numerous IBM products. Additionally, she is actively engaged as a research scholar, focusing on container performance management. She has several patents and research papers to her credit. 

Josephine Eskaline Joyce is a cloud architect at IBM India Software Labs. With over two decades of invaluable experience and the esteemed title of IBM Master Inventor, she possesses an extensive background in application architectures, cloud security... Show more

John Ajera

John Ajera

John Ajera is responsible for GeoNet’s platforms, security, and remote networks, ensuring the reliable delivery of critical geoscience information to emergency management agencies, the public, and the global scientific community.

John Ajera is responsible for GeoNet’s platforms, security, and remote networks, ensuring the reliable delivery of critical geoscience information to emergency management agencies, the public, and the global scientific community. Show more

Stephanie Nash

Stephanie Nash

Dr. Stephanie Nash, PhD, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist, intuitive practitioner, and the founder of Paradigm Expansions, where she helps high-achieving empaths, women, and especially those who have spent a lifetime over-functioning for others find their way back to themselves. Her work sits at a rare intersection: clinical neuroscience and rehabilitation science meet chakra-based and intuitive frameworks, giving the analytical mind permission to step aside so the soul can be heard.
Dr. Steph speaks on the science and spirituality of intuition, what it really means to choose yourself without being selfish, and why we need an expanded paradigm of who we are as both spiritual and human beings. Drawing on her own journey from self-abandonment to self-reclamation, chronicled in her forthcoming book The D Word, she brings audiences a rare combination of clinical credibility and lived experience.
Her talks leave audiences with both a framework and a felt sense of permission, whether she's speaking to a room of women rebuilding after loss, empaths learning to set boundaries, or teenagers beginning to ask who they are beneath who they were told to be.

Dr. Stephanie Nash, PhD, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist, intuitive practitioner, and the founder of Paradigm Expansions, where she helps high-achieving empaths, women, and especially those who have spent a lifetime over-functioning for others fi... Show more

Jeanette & Frode Josepha-Hveding

Jeanette & Frode Josepha-Hveding

Sepha Soul was created by Jeanette and Frode Josepha‑Hveding - partners in life, in vision, and in the belief that the future of wellbeing begins with reconnecting to ourselves. Jeanette brings the intuitive, soulful dimension of the project, while Frode brings the technical imagination and engineering mindset. Together, they form the heart and structure of Sepha Soul.

Sepha Soul was created by Jeanette and Frode Josepha‑Hveding - partners in life, in vision, and in the belief that the future of wellbeing begins with reconnecting to ourselves. Jeanette brings the intuitive, soulful dimension of the project, while F... Show more

Christian Weymann

Christian Weymann

Dr. Christian Weymann is a Senior Consultant at TNG Technology Consulting with broad experience across the full lifecycle of data in a large enterprise context.

At one of Europe's largest commercial data lakes, he contributed to backend services scaling across thousands of cloud accounts, designed metadata synchronization platforms, and created blueprints for ingesting streaming data. Currently, he focuses on making enterprise data actionable through AI. He develops production-ready AI agents that enable non-technical users to answer quantitative business questions using natural language, including RAG-based chatbots, semantic catalog search, and Copilot-integrated tools for data analysis.

Before joining TNG, Christian earned a PhD in experimental solid state physics from the University of Geneva. In his free time, he practices Japanese martial arts, holding a black belt in both Judo and Aikido.

Dr. Christian Weymann is a Senior Consultant at TNG Technology Consulting with broad experience across the full lifecycle of data in a large enterprise context. At one of Europe's largest commercial data lakes, he contributed to backend services s... Show more

Dick Dijk

Dick Dijk

Java developer for 25 years, Frontend (React and Angular) developer for 5 years. Fan of Test Driven Development. Cycling fan.

Java developer for 25 years, Frontend (React and Angular) developer for 5 years. Fan of Test Driven Development. Cycling fan. Show more

Paul Bouscaren

Paul Bouscaren

Paul has a long history with Progress starting with Version 7. He is eager to incorporate new technologies and methods, and is happy to share his experiences.

Paul has a long history with Progress starting with Version 7. He is eager to incorporate new technologies and methods, and is happy to share his experiences. Show more

Daniel Albinsson

Daniel Albinsson

Daniel Albinsson is a product designer and design engineer with 20+ years building complex systems where interfaces have real consequences — from cardiac arrest training tools to marine surveillance for the Swedish Coast Guard. He's currently at Forefront (Sweden), and recently published Agentic UX — a lifecycle framework of 11 patterns for designing interfaces where humans supervise AI agents.

Daniel Albinsson is a product designer and design engineer with 20+ years building complex systems where interfaces have real consequences — from cardiac arrest training tools to marine surveillance for the Swedish Coast Guard. He's currently at Fore... Show more

Ben Fields

Ben Fields

I am a data leader covering aspects of data science, data engineering, and analytics. I currently do this as the Head of Data at Laka, a bicycle insurance start up with a unique customer-centric model of insurance. Some time ago I completed a PhD with the Department of Computing at Goldsmiths, University of London. This work focused on merging social and acoustic similarity spaces and using these notions of similarity to drive playlist creation and related user facing systems, principally autonomous group-request radio. My academic interests include in large (music) collection navigation, (music) recommenders, playlist construction and social music in general. I also DJ, mostly Drum and Bass, a bit of breaks and other things..

I am a data leader covering aspects of data science, data engineering, and analytics. I currently do this as the Head of Data at Laka, a bicycle insurance start up with a unique customer-centric model of insurance. Some time ago I completed a PhD wit... Show more

Jeff Hammond

Jeff Hammond

Jeff Hammond is a Distinguished Engineer in the NCCL team at NVIDIA focused on user education and research outreach. His background is in parallel application and algorithm development, open-source software, and supercomputing architecture. Jeff has made significant contributions to open standards, especially MPI.

Jeff Hammond is a Distinguished Engineer in the NCCL team at NVIDIA focused on user education and research outreach. His background is in parallel application and algorithm development, open-source software, and supercomputing architecture. Jeff ha... Show more

Becky Pike Pluth

Becky Pike Pluth

Becky Pike Pluth is the CEO of The Bob Pike Group, where she has spent more than 20 years immersed in Creative Training Techniques, the participant-centered methodology built on how the brain actually learns. She has helped organizations including Target, Bose, Coca-Cola, FedEx, and Wells Fargo achieve real cost savings and training efficiencies, and she moves easily between classroom, virtual, and blended e-learning.
Named to Training Magazine's Top 40 Under 40, Becky is also one of fewer than 600 speakers worldwide to earn the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation. She is the author of numerous professional development books and training resources, including Creative Training: A Train-the-Trainer Field Guide and Webinars with WOW Factor.cc

Becky Pike Pluth is the CEO of The Bob Pike Group, where she has spent more than 20 years immersed in Creative Training Techniques, the participant-centered methodology built on how the brain actually learns. She has helped organizations including Ta... Show more

Tiara Jamison

Tiara Jamison

Tiara Jamison is the Founder and CEO of AnnieGuard, a causal intelligence company focused on understanding the hidden systems that drive biological threats, disease, environmental risk, and complex human outcomes.

Her work centers on a simple but powerful idea: events do not happen randomly. Whether the outcome is a disease diagnosis, a public health crisis, an environmental disaster, or a system failure, there are underlying causes that can be reconstructed from the data that already exists.

Drawing on experience across Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, Tiara combines systems thinking, threat detection principles, artificial intelligence, and biological research to help organizations move beyond prediction and toward understanding why events happen.

After losing her mother, Annie, to sarcoma, Tiara founded AnnieGuard to challenge conventional approaches to disease detection and risk assessment. Today, her work explores how causal intelligence can be applied across healthcare, biological security, environmental systems, public safety, and critical infrastructure.

Tiara speaks on causal intelligence, biological and environmental threats, systems failure, healthcare innovation, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, resilience, and the future of decision-making in complex environments.

Tiara Jamison is the Founder and CEO of AnnieGuard, a causal intelligence company focused on understanding the hidden systems that drive biological threats, disease, environmental risk, and complex human outcomes. Her work centers on a simple but ... Show more

Jaydeep Taralkar

Jaydeep Taralkar

Jaydeep Taralkar is an Executive Director and Senior Data Science Leader with expertise in platform strategy and financial technology. With over 15 years of experience in the financial technology sector, he specializes in artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and cloud engineering solutions.
Throughout his distinguished career at leading financial institutions including Credit Suisse and Barclays, Jaydeep has consistently delivered innovative data platforms and ML solutions that drive business optimization and cost savings. His notable achievements include developing advanced fraud detection tools, creating explainable AI models for credit risk assessment, and architecting strategic data platforms that enhance cross-functional collaboration.
Currently pursuing a PhD in Artificial Intelligence at Capitol Technology University, with research focused on predictive analytics for climate-resilient crops and sustainable food production, Jaydeep combines academic rigor with practical industry expertise. He holds a Master's degree in Business Intelligence & Analytics from Stevens College of Technology and maintains multiple certifications in AI, ML, and cloud technologies from MIT, IBM, Microsoft, and Google.
Jaydeep is known for his visionary leadership, technical innovation, and ability to build high-performing teams that deliver transformative business solutions in the rapidly evolving landscape of financial technology and data science.

Jaydeep Taralkar is an Executive Director and Senior Data Science Leader with expertise in platform strategy and financial technology. With over 15 years of experience in the financial technology sector, he specializes in artificial intelligence, mac... Show more

David Schmudde

David Schmudde

David is a technologist practicing at the intersection of computing and culture. He has worked on problems related to digital identity, reproducible data science, and software preservation, exhibited interdisciplinary art across Europe and the United States, and taught at Stevens Institute of Technology and the Illinois Institute of Art. He currently opines on technology in the public interest at Beyond the Frame and applies those ideas as the CTO of Yorba.

David is a technologist practicing at the intersection of computing and culture. He has worked on problems related to digital identity, reproducible data science, and software preservation, exhibited interdisciplinary art across Europe and the United... Show more

Sharona Dayan

Sharona Dayan

Dr. Sharona Dayan's lectures focus on the clinical connection between nutrition, airway stability, sleep health, tooth loss and peri-implant disease. Her programs help clinicians understand how metabolic and inflammatory factors influence oral health outcomes and provide practical strategies they can immediately apply in practice.
Dr. Sharona Dayan, DDS, DMSc, is a Harvard-trained, board-certified periodontist, oral medicine specialist, and published author dedicated to redefining how we approach oral and systemic health. Founder of Aurora Periodontal Care in Beverly Hills, Dr. Dayan is a nationally recognized expert in laser dentistry, tissue regeneration, implantology, and the oral-systemic connection.
After completing her undergraduate degree at UCLA, she earned dual specialty degrees in Periodontology and Oral Medicine from Harvard University, along with a Doctor of Medical Sciences in Oral Biology. Her NIH-funded research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital led to the first genetic test for periodontal disease.
Dr. Dayan has been awarded prestigious grants and fellowships, including an NIH Institutional Grant and a National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship for her groundbreaking work in oral biology. She has served as a Clinical Instructor at both Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry, shaping the next generation of dental professionals.
With over five years of advanced specialty training beyond dental school - including certifications from the Misch International Implant Institute, the Kois Center, and the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry - Dr. Dayan blends rigorous science with compassionate patient care. She lectures nationally, serves as a consultant for dental professionals seeking to elevate patient outcomes, and is the author of Keep Your Teeth: A Practical Guide for Everyone, available on Amazon.
Through her dynamic presentations, Dr. Dayan empowers dental professionals with integrative strategies for improving implant success, periodontal health, and patient outcomes by addressing the overlooked roles of nutrition, airway health, and sleep. She is a frequent guest on podcasts, a sought-after expert for media outlets, and has led a dental study club focused on integrating oral health with whole-body wellness.
At the heart of her work is a deep respect for the body’s natural healing ability. Her approach weaves modern scientific advocacy with the enduring wisdom of nature and tradition, offering a truly integrative path to oral and systemic healing.

Dr. Sharona Dayan's lectures focus on the clinical connection between nutrition, airway stability, sleep health, tooth loss and peri-implant disease. Her programs help clinicians understand how metabolic and inflammatory factors influence oral health... Show more

Anwar Ahmad

Anwar Ahmad

Anwar Ahmad is a distinguished technology leader and enterprise architect with over 16 years of experience transforming complex financial systems and pioneering AI-driven automation solutions. Currently serving as Vice President of Enterprise Architecture at Newrez LLC, one of America's leading mortgage lenders, Anwar has architected systems that process over 30 million transactions daily and has successfully migrated more than 3 million customer identities to modern platforms.
As a recognized expert in AI and intelligent automation, Anwar has developed groundbreaking solutions that have revolutionized customer service operations. His AI-powered intelligent inquiry routing system processes over 1,25,000 monthly customer communications with 93% reduction in manual processing time, while his knowledge-assist chatbot has transformed customer support across multiple departments. His work in AI-driven email classification has reduced customer response times from 15+ days to less than 24 hours, demonstrating measurable impact on customer experience and operational efficiency.
Anwar's expertise spans the complete spectrum of enterprise modernization, from legacy system transformation to cloud-native AI solutions. He led the modernization of a proprietary loan origination platform that has funded hundreds of billions in loans, implementing microservices architecture that reduced hardware costs by 65% while dramatically improving scalability. His architectural frameworks and internal development platforms have become enterprise standards, enabling rapid development and deployment across multiple business units.
A thought leader in regulated industry automation, Anwar's research on AI-driven process automation and human-AI collaboration has been published in academic journals and industry publications. His work demonstrates how financial institutions can achieve significant cost reductions and efficiency gains while maintaining strict regulatory compliance. His implementations have saved millions in operational costs while improving customer satisfaction and regulatory adherence.
Anwar holds a Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology and brings deep expertise in Microsoft technology stack, AI/ML platforms including Azure OpenAI and Cognitive Services, microservices architecture, identity management, and cloud-native solutions. His unique combination of hands-on technical expertise, enterprise architecture vision, and proven business impact makes him a sought-after speaker on digital transformation, AI automation, and modernization strategies in regulated industries.

Anwar Ahmad is a distinguished technology leader and enterprise architect with over 16 years of experience transforming complex financial systems and pioneering AI-driven automation solutions. Currently serving as Vice President of Enterprise Archite... Show more

Andrea Spacagna

Andrea Spacagna

Hello everyone! I'm Andrea, I left high school in June 2022, I've always had a great passion for computer science and digital innovation.

During my education, I discovered the world of Microsoft Azure and began experimenting with this versatile and powerful cloud platform. Through this experience, I have developed a solid understanding of the cloud infrastructures and integration solutions that Azure offers.

In parallel, I had the opportunity to work with Microsoft CSP (Cloud Solution Provider), gaining practical skills in managing and implementing Microsoft cloud solutions for enterprises.

Hello everyone! I'm Andrea, I left high school in June 2022, I've always had a great passion for computer science and digital innovation. During my education, I discovered the world of Microsoft Azure and began experimenting with this versatile an... Show more

Michael Vukelic

Michael Vukelic


Michael – Professional Bio:

Michael Vukelic is a professional speaker bringing a rare blend of corporate experience, deep personal transformation, and cutting edge inner work to high achieving professionals. Through his proprietary Generational Freedom Protocol he supports leaders and teams break free from inherited limits, reactive patterns, and emotional barriers that quietly erode performance, culture, and pipeline. Drawing on certifications and coaching, advanced studies in metaphysical philosophy and more than a decade in professional Hypnosis and mindset re-patterning, Michael delivers practical, neuroscience aligned strategies that create calm under pressure, and more cohesive, resilient teams. His keynotes combine real world stories, actionable tools, and grounded inspiration to engage the heart and mind.

Michael Vukelic
Outrageous Success LLC
2112 Broadway St NE
Minneapolis, MN. 55413
773.899.1881

Michael – Professional Bio: Michael Vukelic is a professional speaker bringing a rare blend of corporate experience, deep personal transformation, and cutting edge inner work to high achieving professionals. Through his proprietary Generational ... Show more

Kari Adams

Kari Adams

Kari Adams is a recognized leader in inclusive education, systems change, and equity-focused leadership. As the Inclusive Leadership Center Director at Chapman University’s Thompson Policy Institute, Kari leads the Coalition of Inclusive School Leaders, partnering with school administrators to develop inclusive systems that center students with disabilities, particularly those most marginalized. With nearly two decades of experience, Kari’s work has focused on dismantling barriers, building educator capacity, and improving outcomes for diverse learners. Her previous role as a special education coordinator at Newport-Mesa Unified School District involved district-wide initiatives in inclusion, literacy, and leadership development. Kari’s expertise lies in aligning systems for meaningful change, fostering safe and supportive school environments, and amplifying the voices of students often pushed to the margins. She currently serves as President of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 17, continuing her mission to advance equitable opportunities for all students.

Kari Adams is a recognized leader in inclusive education, systems change, and equity-focused leadership. As the Inclusive Leadership Center Director at Chapman University’s Thompson Policy Institute, Kari leads the Coalition of Inclusive School Leade... Show more

C. A. Fillekes

C. A. Fillekes

C. A. Fillekes is an IBM Red Hat partner engineer, actively porting and testing Kubernetes and OpenShift add-ons and features on the s390x architecture to run on the LinuxONE and System Z platforms.

C. A. Fillekes is an IBM Red Hat partner engineer, actively porting and testing Kubernetes and OpenShift add-ons and features on the s390x architecture to run on the LinuxONE and System Z platforms. Show more

Raj Devarajan

Raj Devarajan

Raj Devarajan grew up in India with a steady sense of purpose and an early commitment to medicine. At fifteen, he entered Madras Medical College, beginning medical school while many students were still deciding what to study. That early step reflected the focus that would guide his long professional path.

After completing medical school, Raj moved to the US for advanced training. He completed residencies in adult psychiatry at Yale University, child psychiatry at Harvard University, and internal medicine and gastroenterology at Tufts University. By the time his fellowship ended in 1994, he had developed a broad clinical background that enabled him to understand patients' needs across both physical and behavioral health.

In 1994, Raj founded Middlesex Gastroenterology, PC. Over the next 29 years, he helped grow one of the busiest gastroenterology practices in Massachusetts. Before retiring from clinical medicine in 2023, he performed more than sixty thousand endoscopic procedures. He also founded the ERCP program at Emerson Hospital and Nashoba Valley Medical Center, supporting treatment for problems involving the bile ducts and pancreas.

Raj Devarajan, MD, worked closely with Emerson Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, and Yale New Haven Medical Center. In 2005, he established ASC Middlesex Endoscopy Center, LLC, to help provide patient care more efficiently outside the hospital setting. He served as the facility's President until 2023.

Raj's leadership included serving as President of the Medical Staff at Emerson Hospital from 2015 to 2017 and as a Board member from 2015 to 2019. He also served as Past President of the Massachusetts Gastroenterology Association and the American Association of Gastroenterologists of Indian Origin. Beyond healthcare, he founded several companies in other sectors.

Raj served as a speaker for Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Forest Pharmaceuticals, and AstraZeneca. He also worked as a consultant for Boston Scientific and Pentax Corporation and served on the Medical Advisory Board of Cristcot Corporation and Allurion Corporation. He appeared in television interviews to explain common gastrointestinal diseases in clear language. He also holds a share of a patent for an HCA drug formulation tested worldwide and currently awaiting FDA approval.

Outside work, he enjoys golf, tennis, chess, bridge, and skiing. He is a father of two adult children and values charitable service, including supporting a school in India and volunteering at the Acton Food Pantry.

Today, Raj Devarajan serves as Global Medical Monitor at Cristcot, leveraging his clinical and regulatory experience to support drug development programs and advance medicine more broadly.

Raj Devarajan grew up in India with a steady sense of purpose and an early commitment to medicine. At fifteen, he entered Madras Medical College, beginning medical school while many students were still deciding what to study. That early step reflecte... Show more

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