INNOVATIVE CANCER CARE

Dr. Zwischenberger serves at the University of Kentucky as Professor of Surgery, Pediatrics, interventional radiology, and bioengineering. He is the former Chair of the Department of Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief of UK Healthcare. He has been involved in continuous research since 1987 with over 60 funded projects focused on severe respiratory failure, lung cancer, and artificial lung development. He has served on several NIH studies as review and chairman, and has over 400 peer-reviewed publications. He has an extensive background in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and Venovenous Perfusion-Induced Systemic Hyperthermia.

Roger is a Certified Clinical Perfusionist Emeritus, and he received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas in Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in Experimental Oncologic Pathology. He retired from University of Texas Medical Branch as Associate Professor of Surgery. He currently focuses all his time and energy into ®Verthermia and is the developer and innovator of the HEATT circuit and technology. Roger has more than 30 years of research in whole-body hyperthermia and Roger has conducted all preclinical animal studies in hyperthermia and all of the human trials of lung and ovarian cancer patients.

Jan is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. Jan graduated from the Cornell University Medical College, residency and served as a Chief Resident at S.U.N.Y. Jan also served a fellowship at Stanford University Medical Center where he won two National Kidney Foundation Fellowships for his research. Jan has multiple peer reviewed publications. A practicing Nephrologist for over 30 years, Jan was instrumental in the Company’s recent Phase 1 Ovarian Hyperthermia trials.

Mitchel has over 30 years of experience in complex financial transactions, investing, and operational management. He has been involved in the formation and management of over 15 successful businesses through his corporate consulting. Mitchel has assisted his high-net-worth clients with structuring deals and has been the principal investor in several successful ventures. Mitchel was instrumental in start-up businesses in health care and sports publications. Mitchel holds a JD from Fordham University School of Law as well as a Bachelor of Administration from Clark University. Mitchel started his career practicing law in New York City and is an admitted member of the State Courts of New York and The Bar Association of New York as well as the American Bar Association.

Petra Smeltzer Starke is the founder and CEO of a global growing hot yoga healthy lifestyle brand SweatNGlow. She partners nationwide with businesses and charities to promote yoga, fitness, skincare, and nutrition. She is the author of a bestselling book on her journey from Communism growing up in Czechoslovakia to her times in the Obama White House. Her book highlights how Yoga was her means of mental and physical support. Previously, Petra graduated at the top of her class from Georgetown Law before practicing law at the firm of O’Melveny & Meyers, LLP. At the firm, she represented political nominees and appointees during the Bush Administration. She was subsequently recruited for the Obama Presidential Transition. Later she worked in the Obama White House where she served as General Counsel to the White House Council of Economic Advisors and Senior Advisor to the President. More recently she served as a member of the Biden-Harris Transition Team.

Roger is a Certified Clinical Perfusionist Emeritus, and he received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas in Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in Experimental Oncologic Pathology. He retired from University of Texas Medical Branch as Associate Professor of Surgery. He currently focuses all his time and energy into ®Verthermia and is the developer and innovator of the HEATT circuit and technology. Roger has more than 30 years of research in whole-body hyperthermia and Roger has conducted all preclinical animal studies in hyperthermia and all of the human trials of lung and ovarian cancer patients.

Jan is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology. Jan graduated from the Cornell University Medical College with a residency, and then he served as a Chief Resident at S.U.N.Y. affiliated hospitals at Buffalo, N.Y. Jan also served a fellowship at Stanford University Medical Center where he won two National Kidney Foundation Fellowships for his research. Jan has multiple peer-reviewed publications and has been a practicing Nephrologist for over 30 years. Jan was instrumental in the company’s Phase 1 ovarian hyperthermia trials.

Jay was a certified public accountant with a large national firm and has over 30 years of experience as a financial executive. Jay has successfully established and managed businesses in manufacturing, distribution, importing, and agriculture. Jay initially joined the company as the interim CFO and helped support capital raising efforts. Jay holds a BS and an MBA from the University of Southern California.

We are dedicated to preserving the memory of our beloved friend and colleague, Gary Keeling. Though he may be gone, his legacy lives on through the impact he had on those around him. We invite you to join us in celebrating Gary’s life, sharing your own memories, and keeping his spirit alive in our hearts. Please read some of the incredible contributions Gary made during his time with us.

Gary was active in the hyperthermia sector from 1992-2023 and received the first FDA IDE to treat AIDS patients with whole-body hyperthermia in 1995. Gary’s company received the first FDA clearance for an intraperitoneal hyperthermia device in 1999 and has been commercially operating the HIPEC Procedure. This procedure is used by surgical oncologists to treat advanced abdominal cancer and is a standard of care in over 172 prestigious hospitals, including Mass General, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, MD Anderson, and the Mayo Clinic. Gary has invented and patented two abdominal drainage catheters which are used in surgery every day throughout the world. He developed and patented a chemotherapy-sensitizing solution and co-wrote in-vitro and in-vivo study protocols for the solution. Gary attended the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and received a BS in Economics.

Petra Smeltzer Starke is the founder and CEO of a global growing hot yoga healthy lifestyle brand SweatNGlow. She partners nationwide with businesses and charities to promote yoga, fitness, skincare, and nutrition. She is the author of a bestselling book on her journey from Communism growing up in Czechoslovakia to her times in the Obama White House. Her book highlights how Yoga was her means of mental and physical support. Previously, Petra graduated at the top of her class from Georgetown Law before practicing law at the firm of O’Melveny & Meyers, LLP. At the firm, she represented political nominees and appointees during the Bush Administration. She was subsequently recruited for the Obama Presidential Transition. Later she worked in the Obama White House where she served as General Counsel to the White House Council of Economic Advisors and Senior Advisor to the President. More recently she served as a member of the Biden-Harris Transition Team.

T. Ray Stapleton is the former Chief Budget Officer of the world's most preeminent International Labor Organization: the AFL-CIO. He previously served as Secretary-Treasurer of the American Postal Workers Union and was also a Vice Chair of the AFL-CIO Executive Council Committee on State and Local Strategies. He also served as a Trustee for the trailblazing CBTU: Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. When Mr. Stapleton retired from the AFL-CIO he was recruited by one of America's Largest Health Care Underwriters providing affordable health care to those Americans living below the poverty line.

Paul J. Manafort is a political consultant and government affairs professional whose career spanning five decades has been devoted to furthering the interests of the United States on the world stage. As campaign chairman for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, Paul put into place the structure that delivered the nomination and eventually the general election for Donald J. Trump. Between 1975 and 1980, Paul worked on both the Ford and Reagan campaigns, playing a key role in the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980. In 1981, Paul cofounded Black, Manafort and Stone, establishing the model used in government affairs and public affairs today. In 2009 Paul founded DMP International and focused on cutting edge technology with strategic consulting in both the business and political spheres. During this time, Paul became active in Ukraine, where he built a political practice helping the Party of Regions become a modern, western political party, and laying the foundation for Ukraine to become a member country of the European Union. Paul presently serves on the boards of directors of a number of private companies in the technology and telecommunications arenas. Paul has also served on the Board of Directors of the Brain Trauma Foundation.

Mr. Marek Stubley is a Founding Partner at the highly specialized boutique law firm in Prague of A3K. A3K caters to a select group of successful executives and corporate clientile. Mr. Stubley handles a specialized group of clients in the areas of: private equity; real estate; hospitals; and entertainment. He has overseen complex litigations in the European Union and in the United States. He is a lifelong devoted cyclist and skier. His passion for cycling and skiing is only surpassed for his love of his daughter and son, whom he and his wife, Tereza, are proudly raising outside of Prague. Marek brings to Verthermia a strong desire to help expand the company's operations outside of the United States to Europe. He was also recruited to help facilitate the company accessing both capital markets and private equity globally.

Louis Lang is a former 32-year member and Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives, as well as one of Illinois premier Government Affairs attorneys. With decades of experience and a proven track record, Lou specializes in developing and implementing successful strategies, and troubleshooting obstacles. His history, in government, politics and the practice of law, working on many fronts, has made him a highly sought after and effective communicator who has earned the respect of government and business leaders. His relationships, expertise, and known ability as a problem solver who can navigate the most challenging and perplexing public policy and business issues. In these areas, his record is unmatched. Lou is the former Deputy Majority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives. In this role he has been the Chair and member of multiple House Committees, and has developed legislation and background in dozens of public policy areas, including being the author of Illinois’ medical cannabis law, improving the quality of life for many who suffer from serious and debilitating illness, capital infrastructure investment, opioid and other addiction treatment and reform legislation, mental health reform, insurance and utility reform, passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, and economic development through gaming expansion. He has served as a respected and outspoken elected Democratic Party Leader for many years. In this role, he has been responsible for the election of many current and former elected officials all over Illinois, and beyond its borders as well. Lou is also the proud parent of 3 children and 4 grandchildren.

Dr. Bartlett is the Chair of the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute. Prior to that, he served as the Vice Chairman of Surgical Oncology and Gastrointestinal Surgical Services at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Bartlett is internationally recognized for his revolutionary findings, as he has published over 300 research papers. He has continued to be elected as one of Pittsburgh's best doctors since 2016.

Dr. Chi has been an attending surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for more than 25 years. Since 2010, he has served as Deputy Chief of the Gynecology Service, and he has been Head of the Ovarian Cancer Surgery Section since 2014. Dr. Chi specializes in gynecologic oncology for cervical cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer. He additionally has extensive experience in minimally invasive cancer techniques.

Dr. Cusack serves on the Harvard Medical School faculty, Massachusetts General staff, and the consulting staff at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. At Massachusetts General, Dr. Cusack is the Director of the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy (HIPEC) Program and Surgical Oncology Laboratories. He was additionally Chair of the SSO Scientific Program Committee and served on the Executive Council of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO).

Dr. DeBernardo is a Cleveland Clinic Gynecologic Oncologist and is also the Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Cleveland Clinic’s Ob/Gyn & Women’s Health Institute. Dr. DeBernardo has over 26 years in the medical field with extensive knowledge in Gynecologic Neoplasms and Gastrointestinal Neoplasms. He additionally has contributed largely to research and technological development for gynecologic cancer treatment.

Dr. Labow is the Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery at Mount Sinai. He is additionally the Vice Chair of Quality for the Department of Surgery and is a board-certified surgeon who specializes in Surgical Oncology. He has worked at Mount Sinai since 2004 and has since been promoted to Professor of Surgery. He has conducted extensive research and trials for metastatic malignancies of various cancer types.

Dr. Zwischenberger serves at the University of Kentucky, Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, and he is the former Chair of the Department of Surgery. He has been involved in continuous research since 1987 with over 60 funded projects focused on severe respiratory failure, lung cancer, and artificial lung development. He has served on several NIH studies as review and chairman and has over 400 peer-reviewed publications. He has an extensive background in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and Venovenous Perfusion-Induced Systemic Hyperthermia.