Paul Yock, MD is the Martha Meier Weiland Professor of Medicine and Director of the Stanford Center for Research in Cardiovascular Interventions. He is also Professor of Mechanical Engineering, by courtesy. Dr. Yock began his faculty career as an interventional cardiologist at UC San Francisco and moved to Stanford in 1994. He is internationally known for his work in inventing, developing and testing new devices, including the Rapid Exchange balloon angioplasty system, which is now the dominant system in use worldwide. He also developed a Doppler-guided hypodermic needle system: the Smart Needle and P-D Access. The main focus of Dr. Yock's research program has been in the field of intravascular ultrasound. He authored the fundamental patents for intravascular ultrasound imaging and founded Cardiovascular Imaging Systems, now a division of Boston Scientific. He has authored a textbook on intravascular ultrasound and has published over 250 papers and chapters in the area of interventional cardiology.

The Center for Research in Cardiovascular Interventions, which Dr. Yock began at Stanford in 1994, is a core facility for development and testing of new devices in cardiovascular medicine. The center focuses on early-stage concepts for new technologies, providing a clearinghouse where these ideas can be refined and tested in animal models and clinical studies.

In 1997, Dr Yock and several colleagues developed a new interdepartmental and inter-school program, the Medical Device Network (MDN). He is also leading the School of Medicine initiative to develop new, collaborative programs in bioengineering.

Sandra Miller brings over 10 years of experience to the innovation program, in working with pioneering medical device physicians, inventors and entrepreneurs, to her current position as Program Coordinator for the Medical Device Network (MDN) at Stanford University. Miller's focus with MDN is to develop educational programs and materials as they relate to medical technologies in the areas of biomedical engineering, patenting, entrepreneurship, licensing and technology transfer.

Prior to her work with MDN, Sandra Miller's chief activity was the development and production of educational programs for physicians using new cardiovascular medical device technologies and procedures (specifically, Intravascular Ultrasound and Directional Coronary Atherectomy). She has produced or coordinated three physician education video series and a CD- Rom and has organized several international symposias and conferences. Sandra Miller is a founding member of the Stanford Entrepreneurship Task Force, whose mission is to support entrepreneurship, education, research, and collaboration campus-wide.

Phyllis Gardner, M.D. has been a staunch supporter for SSB since its embryonic days. In addition to bringing prominent industry and academic scientists to present at SSB meetings, Dr. Gardner has advised many SSB members, from undergraduates to graduate and post-docs.

Dr. Gardner is currently a tenured associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine since 1984. She has conducted extensive research in cell biology, including gene therapy, with particular emphasis in the area of cystic fibrosis. She is widely published in the field of cell biology and pharmacology, and has co-authored a pharmacology textbook, which is now in its fourth edition. She has received numerous national awards and honors, including the Faculty Development Award from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association Foundation and Burroughs Wellcome Faculty Scholar in Clinical Pharmacology.

In addition to her academic affiliation, Dr. Gardner recently served as the Vice President for Research and Head of ALZA Technology Institute (ATI) and Principal Scientist. In addition, she served on the Executive Committee at ALZA. Currently Dr. Gardner serves on the Board of Directors of several companies, including Aerogen., BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Health Hero Network, and CambriaTech. Dr. Gardner is a co-founder and Director of Xeragen, and also a co-founder of Genomics Collaborative. Dr. Gardner serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Vical. and as an advisor to Essex Woodland Health Ventures.

Dr. Gardner earned her M.D. from Harvard Medical School. She trained in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, followed by a Chief Residency at Stanford University Hospital. She then completed research fellowships in ion channel biophysics and pharmacology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University and the University College, London.