Our Management Team
Francesco Viola, PhD, has more than 10 years of experience in the area of medical ultrasound imaging, advanced signal processing and development of medical instrumentation.
Viola has published his research in numerous engineering and biomedical peer-reviewed journals and he is the co-inventor in a number of patents in the field of ultrasound imaging and sensing. He is also the first recipient of The Emerging Technologies and Healthcare Innovations Congress (TETHIC) Award for achievements in scholarship and contributions to healthcare technology translation. Viola holds a Laurea in Biomedical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy, and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia.
Manuel Mayer Joined HemoSonics International in 2022 as the company’s General Manager. He brings more than 30 years of expertise commercializing diagnostics products in the field of thrombosis and hemostasis.
In 1990, Manuel started his career in a medical laboratory in Normandy, France as Technical Manager. He joined the Stago group a few years later to serve in commercial functions being successively Regional and National Sales Manager, Director of Sales and Director of Operations. In 2012, he led the creation of 8 new European affiliates and 3 corporate offices worldwide. Manuel is currently Executive Director for International Business and Customer Support Operations, as well as General Manager for HemoSonics International.
Raymond L Szafranski Jr (Ray) has more than 30 years of finance and accounting experience as well as manufacturing, human resources, and operations.
Prior to HemoSonics, he was VP of Finance for Panacea Biomatx, manufacturer of personalized nutrition from 2014-2020. Before that, he held various positions in Finance in industries such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, personalized nutrition, and laboratory robotics. Szafranski earned an Accounting degree from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Duke University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (NC License) and Certified Management Accountant.
Andy Suresh brings over 20 years of experience in leading Operations and Supply Chain within the Medical Device industry. He has contributed to the success of a number of medical device start-ups/early commercial companies, leading the transition of products from design to manufacturing and commercialization. He has also led the successful transition of manufacturing and Supply Chain processes into scalable enterprises. Additionally, Andy is committed to continuous improvement, lean initiatives, and waste reduction, all aimed at enhancing process efficiency and profitability. His customer-focused, servant leadership style has consistently empowered teams and driven success.
Andy holds a Master’s degree in industrial engineering and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Deborah Winegar has more than 20 years of experience managing clinical and discovery research efforts at a variety of healthcare, medical device and pharmaceutical organizations.
She has led multi-disciplinary project teams focused on the discovery and development of therapeutic agents, biomarkers and diagnostic products in the cardiovascular and metabolic disease areas. Prior to joining HemoSonics, Winegar served in multiple roles at GlaxoSmithKline, as Director of Research at Surgical Review Corporation and as Senior Director of Clinical Trials at LipoScience. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Notre Dame College and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Virginia.
Joseph Thomas brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience spanning clinical practice, healthcare operations, strategic partnerships, business development, and commercial leadership. As Senior National Director of Strategic Partnerships and New Business Development and a member of the HemoSonics executive leadership team, he leverages extensive expertise in Patient Blood Management, transfusion safety, clinical optimization, and the implementation of innovative healthcare solutions that improve patient outcomes and operational performance.
Prior to joining HemoSonics, Thomas held senior leadership roles at Accumen, including Vice President and General Manager of Clinical Optimization and Vice President of Clinical Partnerships, where he led national clinical initiatives, developed strategic partnerships, and supported significant business growth. Beginning his career in critical care nursing at Cleveland Clinic, he has maintained a strong clinical foundation throughout his leadership journey.
Thomas is a recognized leader in the advancement of Patient Blood Management and has served on professional committees for AABB and the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management (SABM), including service on the SABM Board of Directors. He has authored publications and presented at numerous national and international conferences. Joseph brings a unique combination of clinical insight, operational expertise, and strategic leadership to HemoSonics, supporting the organization's growth initiatives and commitment to advancing technologies that enhance patient care.
Jennifer Foster brings more than 23 years of comprehensive Human Resources experience across manufacturing, higher education, clinical research, and medical device industries.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM SCP). Jennifer is also OSHA-certified and a Notary Public in the state of North Carolina. Before joining HemoSonics, Jennifer spent over 7 years with a Clinical Research Organization (CRO), where she supported organizational growth and HR infrastructure development. Jennifer is dedicated to being a strategic partner, supporting employees' diverse needs, and building a people-first culture that attracts, engages, and retains top talent.
Shylah Quast brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience spanning clinical practice, healthcare operations, quality improvement, patient safety, education, and performance optimization.
Throughout her career, she has worked with leading healthcare organizations, including Cleveland Clinic, Atrium Health, Advocate Health, Cedars-Sinai, and Edward-Elmhurst Health (now Endeavor Health). She has partnered with more than 125 health systems and over 200 hospitals to advance Clinical Excellence initiatives focused on process improvement, quality outcomes, patient safety, workforce education, and operational efficiency.
She has extensive expertise in Patient Blood Management and has led programs that generated more than $30 million in annual cost savings and cost avoidance while supporting improved patient outcomes. She is passionate about building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of excellence through mentorship, collaboration, professional growth, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.
Brian Buckett brings nearly 20 years of experience developing embedded systems and software for medical devices and other regulated industries.
As Director of Research and Development, Brian leads HemoSonics' engineering teams responsible for the development and support of the Quantra® Hemostasis Analyzer platform. During more than a decade with HemoSonics, he has progressed from software engineer to engineering leader, playing a key role in the development and regulatory clearance of the company's products, including FDA De Novo and 510(k) clearances. He has extensive experience in medical device software development, quality systems, and regulatory compliance, supporting adherence to FDA regulations and international standards.
Prior to joining HemoSonics, Brian developed embedded firmware and control systems for high-power electric vehicle charging technology. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Engineering from Ohio Northern University.
Thomas Givens has 30 years of experience leading interdisciplinary engineering teams and developing medical devices.
He has developed in vitro diagnostic devices based on a variety of detection technologies for multiple clinical laboratory areas. Givens earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from The University of Tennessee and a Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University.
Catherine Pedrosa joined HemoSonics International in 2020 as the company’s Marketing & Clinical Applications Director. She brings more than 25 years of experience in In-Vitro Diagnostics, Corelab and Point-Of-Care markets. Capitalizing on her extensive experience in Sales & Marketing, Catherine is in charge of developing Quantra’s sales and its product awareness in Europe.
Catherine started her career at Randox in 1995 where she was in charge of Sales. She joined Stago in 2000 and developed her expertise of upstream / downstream marketing and a large track-record of product launches. In 2015, she led the diversification of the group into Point-Of-Care testing. Catherine is also Country Manager for Stago BioCare, the official distributor of HemoSonics in France.
Explore the System
Learn more about the features of our next-gen device designed for the POC and how it empowers clinicians to quickly assess coagulation characteristics.
Explore Scientific Publications
See articles on clinical studies and sonorheometry as well as the full list of guidelines calling for point-of-care coagulation analysis.