Ken Charhut, President and C.E.O.
When he helped launch Orqis Medical in 1997, Ken Charhut brought more than two decades of senior level management experience with some of the world’s largest medical device, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. This experience included more than 16 years with Baxter Healthcare Corporation, where he most recently served as president of the Bentley Division and president of new business initiatives for the Cardiovascular Surgery Division. Earlier in his tenure at Baxter, he spent four years in Japan as managing director of the company’s Tokyo-based Cardiovascular Division. During that time, he also served as the chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan – a position that enabled him to focus on negotiating healthcare issues with the Japanese Government. Other prior experience included leading Baxter’s pharmaceutical capital equipment business, and overseeing manufacturing management for the General Electric Company. Mr. Charhut earned a BSME degree from Cornell University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Marvin A. Konstam, M.D., Medical Director
Marvin A. Konstam, MD is a cardiology specialist with vast experience in academic medicine and research. In addition to his post as Orqis’ Medical Director, he currently serves as Chief of Cardiology and Director of Cardiovascular Development at New England Medical Center. He is also Professor of Medicine (cardiology) and Professor of Radiology at Tufts University, Trustee of Tufts-New England Medical Center and Immediate Past-President of the Heart Failure Society of America. Dr. Konstam’s research has been published extensively in leading peer-reviewed medical journals, and he has lectured throughout the world on such topics as ventricular remodeling in heart failure, drug treatment and strategies for improving the quality of care. He served as lead author and committee chair of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (presently AHRQ) Clinical Practice Guideline on the care of patients with heart failure. Most recently, Dr. Konstam served as a member of the Cardiovascular and Renal Advisory Panel of the Food and Drug Administration. He has also consulted for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with regard to their programs for improving quality of care in heart failure. Dr. Konstam earned his medical degree at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, and performed post-graduate training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s' Hospital.
John M. Markovich, C.F.O.
Mr. Markovich joined Orqis Medical in July 2004 and is responsible for managing the company’s finance, accounting, legal and information technology functions. He has more than 15 years of executive financial management experience in assisting rapidly-growing public and private technology based companies develop through all phases of maturity. During his career, Mr. Markovich has negotiated, structured and closed more than100 corporate financing transactions and seven acquisitions exceeding $1.5 billion in value including two IPO efforts. Prior to joining Orqis Medical, Mr. Markovich was CFO of Pictos Technologies, Inc., a privately-held, venture-backed semiconductor company. Previously, he served as CFO of Relera, Inc., Tickets.com, Inc., Autobytel, Inc. and Optical Coating Laboratories, Inc. Earlier in his career, Mr. Markovich served as Vice President and Treasurer of Western Digital Corporation and managed Citibank’s high tech corporate banking business in Southern California. Mr. Markovich earned an undergraduate degree in business from Miami University and an M.B.A. in finance from Michigan State University. He is also a graduate of Stanford University’s Financial Management Program.
Brad Sharp, Executive V.P.
When he joined the Orqis Medical team, Brad Sharp brought more than 17 years of experience in medical device marketing, sales, business development and general management with a focus on international business. Immediately prior to joining the company, he served as vice president of strategic planning for Edwards Life Science. Before that, he was vice president and general manager of Baxter Asia, where he was also director of marketing for the company’s operations in Japan. Other relevant experience includes serving as director of international sales for Newport Corporation. Mr. Sharp earned undergraduate degrees in applied physics from the University of California, San Diego and in electrical engineering from California State University, Long Beach.
Irene Parker, V.P. Regulatory and Clinical Programs
Over a two decade period, Irene Parker amassed extraordinarily diverse senior management, medical device and hands-on clinical healthcare experience. After starting her career as a board-certified registered nurse, she transitioned to the medical device industry, serving in a variety of clinical and quality assurance positions at C.D. Medical, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow Chemical). While at C.D. Medical, she ascended to become the company’s technical services supervisor for product development. She then joined Baxter Healthcare’s CardioVascular Group, where she became manager of regulatory affairs and clinical programs. Immediately prior to joining Orqis, she served as director of medical affairs for Biopsys Medical. Ms. Parker earned a Bachelor of Health Science and Administration degree from Florida International University, and an MBA from Pepperdine University. She is a board certified registered nurse and certified hemodialysis nurse.
