AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acessa Health Inc., developer of the Acessa System®, a comprehensive, minimally invasive treatment for uterine fibroids, today announced the company has strengthened its existing leadership team through the appointment of three experts in medical device and healthcare business operations. Ryan Graver has joined the company as vice president, market access and reimbursement; Kathleen Malaspina has been named chief innovation officer and vice president of marketing; and Brian Bergeron, has been appointed chief technology officer and vice president of operations.
“Ryan, Kathleen and Brian bring vital expertise to Acessa Health at an exciting time for the company, as we recently announced Medicaid programs adding 20 million more female covered lives to our Acessa procedure,” said Kim Rodriguez, president and chief operating officer of Acessa Health. “Our expanded team is poised to drive the clinical and commercial expansion of the Acessa procedure, fulfilling our mission to improve the standard of care for women who seek uterine-sparing solutions for uterine fibroids.”
Market access expert Ryan Graver brings to the company more than two decades of diverse healthcare experience spanning care delivery, research, business development and strategy, consulting, payer policy, market access and healthcare economics. Before joining Acessa, Mr. Graver served as president of MedAxiom, where he led national strategic initiatives with more than forty industry partners spanning pharma, medtech, health IT and numerous health-related service organizations. Prior to that, he held a global leadership role with Zimmer; directed U.S. healthcare economics and reimbursement for St. Jude Medical; and held multiple positions in major health systems. Mr. Graver received his MPH in healthcare administration and pharmaceutical economics and a BA in communication and health policy from the University of Arizona.
Seasoned marketing executive Kathleen Malaspina has over 25 years of international business experience, primarily in the consumer healthcare, medical device and technology sectors. She joins Acessa after filling the same role at OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc., an innovative Houston-based start-up ranked one of the fastest-growing companies in North America for the past three years. Previously, Ms. Malaspina held international operational management positions with Motorola, Sanyo and Philips. While global marketing director at Philips, she was instrumental in the development and growth of the Sonicare brand. Later, as president of Malaspina Healthcare Consulting, Inc., she created business growth strategies for clients such as LivaNova (previously Cyberonics) and Cardiac Science. Ms. Malaspina earned her BA at University of Pittsburgh and an International MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
Experienced medical device development, manufacturing and operations executive Brian Bergeron has held senior leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies such as Boston Scientific and Abbott Laboratories. He was also a founder of two start-up companies, Genesys Orthopedics and Auspine, where he specialized in executing launch strategies for new medical technologies and became deeply involved in leading the development and commercialization of multiple diagnostic and implantable technologies. Mr. Bergeron earned a BS in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and holds an MS in engineering management from the University of Texas at Austin.
About the Acessa System
The Acessa System is the only radiofrequency ablation system cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in percutaneous, laparoscopic coagulation and ablation of soft tissue, including treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids under laparoscopic ultrasound guidance. It has been the subject of 21 peer-reviewed publications across 750 study patients. In January 2017, the American Medical Association (AMA) issued a new Category 1 CPT code specifically for Laparoscopic Radiofrequency (RF) Ablation of Uterine Fibroids, paving the way for the Acessa procedure to become the standard of care for as many as 70 million women in the United States. For more information, visit AcessaProcedure.com.
About Acessa Health Inc.
Acessa Health is a women’s health innovator dedicated to advancing minimally invasive, uterine-sparing solutions for women with symptomatic fibroids. Founded by gynecologist Dr. Bruce Lee, a pioneer in treating fibroid tumors, Acessa Health introduced the use of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of uterine fibroids and is continuing to develop technologies that will improve the lives of patients with uterine fibroids. Acessa Health’s headquarters is located in Austin, Texas.
