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Meet Our Expert Advisors

Leading specialists advancing diabetes treatment and research
Harry Kraemer

Harry Kraemer

Advisor

 Harry M. Jansen Kraemer, Jr. is an executive partner with Madison Dearborn Partners, a private equity firm based in Chicago, Illinois and a Clinical Professor of Strategy at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He was named the 2008 Kellogg School Professor of the Year. Harry is the author of two bestselling leadership books: “From Values to Action: The Four Principles of Values-Based Leadership” and “Becoming The Best: Build a World-Class Organization Through Values-Based Leadership”. 

He is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Baxter International Inc., a $12 billion global healthcare company. He became Baxter’s chief executive officer in January 1999, and assumed the additional responsibility of chairman of Baxter’s board of directors in January 2000. 

Mr. Kraemer joined Baxter in 1982 as director of corporate development. His twenty three year career at Baxter included senior positions in both domestic and international operations. In 1993, he was named senior vice president and chief financial officer, responsible for financial operations, business development, global communications, and European operations. Over the next several years, he assumed additional responsibility for Baxter’s Renal and Medication Delivery businesses. He was elected to Baxter’s board of directors in 1995, and was named president of Baxter International Inc. in 1997. 

Before joining Baxter, Mr. Kraemer worked for Bank of America in corporate banking and for Northwest Industries in planning and business development. 

Mr. Kraemer is active in business, education and civic affairs. He serves on the board of directors of Leidos Corporation, Sirona Dental Systems, Sage Products Inc., and Catamaran Corporation and on the board of trustees of Northwestern University, The Conference Board, NorthShore University Healthsystem and the Archdiocese of Chicago Finance Committee and School Board. 

He is a member of the Dean’s Global Advisory Board of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and the Economics Club of Chicago. He is a past member of the Business Roundtable, the Business Council, and the Healthcare Leadership Council. 

Mr. Kraemer graduated summa cum laude from Lawrence University of Wisconsin in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics. He received an MBA degree in finance and accounting from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 1979 and is a certified public accountant. For his outstanding leadership and service, he received the 1996 Schaffner Award from the Kellogg School of Management. Harry enjoys jogging, tennis, skiing and reading, especially world civilization. Harry, his wife Julie, and their five children live in Wilmette, Illinois. More info on Harry at www.harrykraemer.org .

Peter G. Stock, M.D., Ph.D. is Professor of Surgery at UCSF, Surgical Director of the Pediatric Renal Transplantation Program and Surgical Director of the Pancreas Transplant Program. He was trained at the University of Minnesota, completing a surgical residency before coming to UCSF for a transplant fellowship. He joined the UCSF faculty in 1992. 

Recently, a clinical investigation on which Dr. Stock served as principal investigator led the passage of the Hope Act lifting the ban on research for transplanting organs between HIV-positive donors and recipients. 

Highly respected by his peers, Dr. Stock was named to the list of U.S. News “Top Doctors,” which denotes the top 10% of physicians within a region practicing a given specialty. He is a frequent presenter on issues related to transplantation and immunosuppression, and holds membership in numerous professional and honorary societies. Dr. Stock specializes in liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation. 

Peter G. Stock, M.D., Ph.D.

Peter G. Stock, M.D., Ph.D.

Advisor

W. Ed Tyler

W. Ed Tyler

Advisor

An experienced executive, Ed Tyler brings a long track record in leadership and entrepreneurial positions to his role. Mr. Tyler served as Chairman of the Board of First Industrial from January 2009 to January 2016. He also served as Lead Director and Interim CEO of First Industrial from October 2008 through January 2009. 

Mr. Tyler is CEO of Ideapoint Ventures, an early stage venture fund that focuses on nanotechnologies.

Prior to joining Ideapoint, Mr. Tyler served as President and CEO of Moore Corporation Limited, a provider of data capture, information design, marketing services, digital communications and print solutions. During his tenure at Moore, he led a worldwide repositioning and restructuring of the company. 

Earlier, Mr. Tyler worked for 24 years with R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company in Chicago, beginning his career as an electronics engineer and ultimately serving as Executive Vice President, Sector President, and 50 Chief Technology Officer. He also was responsible for 77 Capital, an early stage venture capital subsidiary of Donnelley, where he was directly responsible for investment decisions and worked closely with the portfolio companies while participating on many of their boards. 

Mr. Tyler is a director of Nanophase Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: NANX). He is a former Chairman of the American Red Cross (Mid-America Chapter) and Campaign Chairman of the United Way of Lake County, and serves as a director for several small, private companies. Mr. Tyler is a member of the Board of Directors of Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, where he is also an adjunct faculty member. 

Dr. Zhang is currently the Professor of Anatomy and Neurology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is also current the Group Coordinator for the Molecular and Genetic Sciences Group at the Waisman Center in Madison, Wisconsin. The Waisman Center is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases throughout the lifespan. The center is one of 15 national facilities that includes a Eunice Kennedy Shriver Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center and a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Zhang obtained his M.D. from the Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, and PhD from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. 

Su-Chun Zhang, MD, PhD:

Su-Chun Zhang, MD, PhD:

Advisor

Dr. Alan Lewis currently serves as an advisor to biotech companies. He has served as President, CEO and Director of Ambit Biosciences, a privately held biotech company. He has also served as President and CEO of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Novocell (ViaCyte). Prior to joining 

Novocell, he was President of Celgene’s Signal Research, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Celgene Corporation. He was President, CEO and Director of Signal Pharmaceuticals, where he guided the company to its successful acquisition by Celgene. He previously was Vice President of Research at Wyeth. Dr. Lewis completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University after obtaining a PhD in pharmacology from the University of Wales in Cardiff. Dr. Lewis serves as a director on the boards of Biomarin, Ctyochroma and Biotica. 

Alan Lewis, PhD

Alan Lewis, PhD

Advisor

Tommy G. Thompson

Tommy G. Thompson

Advisor

Tommy Thompson is a special advisor to RMS. Previously, as secretary of health and human services, Mr. Thompson was the nation’s leading advocate for the health and welfare of all Americans. In this role, Thompson launched major initiatives to urge all Americans to prevent disease by focusing on critical health areas such as obesity, diabetes, and health disparities. Thompson served as governor of Wisconsin, making state history when he was re-elected to office for a third term in 1994 and a fourth term in 1998. During his 14 years as governor, Thompson focused on revitalizing Wisconsin’s economy. He also gained national attention for his leadership on welfare reform, expanded access to healthcare for low-income people, and education. Thompson earned a BS in 1963 and a JD in 1966 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

linda Martin

linda Martin

Advisor

Linda Martin has been a serial entrepreneur, corporate executive, consultant, and board member for more than 30 years. She has launched, managed and advised dozens of companies in the mobile telecom and “Internet of Things” industries. Linda is the founder and president of Martin Strategic Solutions helping early and growth stage companies with corporate/business development, creating and implementing new strategies and making introductions to strategic partners and customers in the US and abroad. She has also conceived and coordinated a successful impact investment in innovative cancer research and therapies.

In mid-2017, Linda’s daughter was diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis and Linda began researching available treatments and cures. She quickly discovered that pancreatitis is not widely understood and that there is a need for new approaches and models to discover more effective treatments with better outcomes. Linda also saw an urgent need for advocacy, funding, research, education and collaboration in the mission to find a cure to enable pancreatitis patients to live better, healthier lives.

Dr. Spyros Mezitis, MD, PhD

Dr. Spyros Mezitis, MD, PhD

Advisor

Dr. Spyros Mezitis, MD, PhD is a board-certified Physician specializing in Internal Medicine/Adult Endocrinology and affiliated with New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

He is in private practice at 220 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021 for over 20 years, has extensively published, and treats patients with diabetes, thyroid disorders, and metabolic diseases.

Dr. Spyros Mezitis holds a PhD in Neuropathology/Cell Biology from the University of Pennsylvania where he identified with monoclonal antibody technology the first organelle specific protein of the Golgi apparatus, the major traffic center of the cell.

His distinguished medical school and medical residency training were at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. 

His subspecialty training was at the rigorous combined endocrine program of New York Hospital, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Hospital of Special Surgery in New York City. 

He is currently Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine/Endocrinology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/ Weill Cornell Medical Center and Attending Physician at Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health.

Dr. Spyros Mezitis and his brother adult endocrinologist Dr. Nicholas Mezitis have collaborated extensively with the pharmaceutical industry in office based clinical trials of new diabetic medications.

Dr. Spyros Mezitis is very involved in community affairs and investments.

He is a leader of the Hellenic American community and serves as President of the Federation of Hellenic Medical Societies of North America, Past-President of the Hellenic Medical Society of New York, Founding Member of the World Hellenic Diaspora, and Principal of the Birthright Movement of Hellenes Abroad.  His investments include securities and real estate.

Dr. Spyros Mezitis grew up in Athens, Greece where he excelled at the renowned private school Athens College and did part of his college and medical studies in Heidelberg, Germany.  He is married and has three children in high school.

Website: DrMezitis.com