Meet Our People

At the head of MMI’s leadership, CEO Thomas W. Martin works with the Board of Directors, President, and senior management to develop strategic plans for advancement of MMI’s mission and position as leader in the imaging core lab industry. Thomas joined MMI in 2001 as CFO, transitioning to concurrent President and CEO roles in 2008. He served as President until October 2020 but remains CEO to date. Thomas has 30 years of experience with medical technology startups, but his career began in commercial banking, formerly serving as Executive VP and board member at a Houston-based bank holding company, as well as concurrent positions of CEO and board Chairman of that holding company’s insurance subsidiary. He is also a University of North Texas graduate with a BBA in banking and finance.

As President and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Akella oversees operations and manages profit & loss, while also serving on the company’s Board of Directors. He has served MMI for 13 years, previously holding Director and VP roles. In past management of scientific affairs, client relationships, sales, and talent acquisition/retention, he oversaw significant business growth at MMI, in both revenue and headcount. Building cross-functional teams, Dr. Akella contributed to almost 500 trials in technical, management, and business capacities. Behind his contributions are 25+ years of medical imaging experience and 20+ years of clinical research. This experience includes an assistant professorship at University of Alabama at Birmingham, published work on imaging methods and their clinical applications, and an MS and PhD in biomedical engineering.

MMI’s VP of Technology Enablement, Patrick Newman, is responsible for oversight of the company’s five divisions: Software Development, AI/ML, IT, Production Incubation, and Quality & Regulatory Affairs. These five divisions work together to develop, procure, establish, validate, and maintain MMI’s systems and process to support the company. Patrick has served MMI for over 15 years, demonstrating abilities to lead effective teams and design optimal process and software solutions. He is the founder of MMI’s AI lab and established the company’s Image and Analysis QC programs. Holding a BS in electrical and computer engineering and an MS in biomedical engineering from Baylor University with thesis research focused on computer modeling in biomechanics, Patrick offers expert knowledge on hundreds of radiographic assessments across several modalities and treatments.

As VP of Finance and Accounting, David reports financial results to MMI’s board and management, maintains accounting operations in accordance with US GAAP standards, and oversees tax generation and filings for MMI. David is an MBA graduate from Texas A&M and CPA with 20 years of experience in accounting, finance, operations, and business development. Before joining MMI in 2021, he served in executive leadership roles for startups and global business organizations including CFO, COO, Director of Sales Operations, and Director of FP&A. David’s accomplishments include development of accounting departments and processes, management of accounting and billing teams, and profit maximization

Dr. Chan is Senior Director of Client Services, helming a team of Client Services Managers who provide scientific consulting and relationship management to clients in various therapeutic areas. She manages lead pursuit, proposal development, contracting, and client relationship management. Holding a 10+ year tenure at MMI, Dr. Chan offers 15+ years of medical imaging experience and 20+ years of scientific research experience, including thesis research focused on utilizing micro-CT and statistical shape modeling techniques to investigate cartilage and bone in the hip and knee. With a BS in bioengineering from Rice University, and a MS and PhD in bioengineering from the University of California – San Diego, she is an orthopedics and spine expert, boasts 10+ peer-reviewed publications, and contributed to approximately 200 trials in technical, management, and business capacities.

As Senior Director of Technical Services, Dr. Wurm leads and oversees technical teams involved in the execution of MMI’s hundreds of concurrent, active clinical trials. This includes supervision of the Technical Services teams’ participation in all aspects of trials, from image plan development and provision of guidance for high-quality study images, to the ensuring of accuracy and soundness of study data. Dr. Wurm has been with MMI since 2012 and has been actively involved in 300+ clinical trials. Holding a BS in electrical engineering and an MS and PhD in biomedical engineering from Ohio State, she brings experience in x-ray, MRI, and CT imaging, with foundational knowledge in angiography and ultrasound. She has also worked in spine/musculoskeletal, orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular, and abdominal therapeutic areas.

As Senior Director of Operations, Michal assumes a range of responsibilities comprising oversight of major business functions in the Operations department, as well as identification and direction of initiatives to improve the quality, cost, and efficiency of operational services. She also supervises project management and day-to-day conduct of trials, research studies, and projects. Michal has 5+ years of service at MMI and 10+ years of experience in healthcare and clinical research. Her experience includes work in oncology, rare disease, orthopedic, and cardiovascular therapeutic areas. CAPM certified with an MS in health policy and bioscience from Rice University, Michal is experienced in study support, including preclinical, phase I-IV, and post-market.

As Director of Imaging Services, Kim designs business processes and tools to ensure high quality imaging is received for every study. She also advises internal staff on image collection techniques, assessment methods, and measurement protocols. She liaises with physician subject matter experts  on imaging-related aspects of a trial. Kim possesses a diverse range of imaging and radiology experience that spans 20+ years. Kim obtained both her General Medical Certification and Radiology Technologist certifications from the US Army Academic of Health Academy of Health Sciences. She is ACLS/BLS certified and licensed by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists in radiography, mammography advance certification, and cardiac interventional advance certification.

Sara is the Director of MMI’s HR and Administration department managing human resources and administrative functions, which entails working closely with other senior managers to coordinate the various administrative aspects of the business. Her myriad of responsibilities include financial and quality system support, office management, vendor relations, event planning, employee recruitment and management, benefits and compensation, and much more. Sara joined MMI in 2014 and holds 10+ years of experience in human resources and administration in healthcare. Bolstering this work experience is her BA in communication studies from the University of Houston and Master of Arts in Organizational Management (MAOM) specializing in human resources from Ashford University.

Dr. Chan is Senior Director of Client Services, helming a team of Client Services Managers who provide scientific consulting and relationship management to clients in various therapeutic areas. She manages lead pursuit, proposal development, contracting, and client relationship management. Holding a 10+ year tenure at MMI, Dr. Chan offers 15+ years of medical imaging experience and 20+ years of scientific research experience, including thesis research focused on utilizing micro-CT and statistical shape modeling techniques to investigate cartilage and bone in the hip and knee. With a BS in bioengineering from Rice University, and a MS and PhD in bioengineering from the University of California – San Diego, she is an orthopedics and spine expert, boasts 10+ peer-reviewed publications, and contributed to approximately 200 trials in technical, management, and business capacities.

Director of Client Services, Vijay, manages strategic relationships with client partners, CROs, and KOLs. In addition, Vijay’s primary responsibilities comprise proposal development, scientific consulting, contracting, and oversight of MMI’s post-market surveillance initiative. Vijay is a medical image analysis expert experienced in spine, orthopedic, neurology, and ENT therapeutic areas. His experience includes 20+ years in medical imaging, 15+ years in clinical trials, and 10+ years in preclinical trials in academia, government, and industry, notably 5 years of service as a senior MR engineer studying neurotoxicity effects with the FDA. An MBA graduate of the University of Arkansas with a medical product development focus, Vijay also holds a BS in electronics and communications engineering from the University of Madras, and an MS in electrical engineering from the University of Houston.

As a Director of Client Services, Dr. Auger builds strong, strategic partnerships with MMI’s clients and consultants. He is responsible for proposal and contract development and management, leadership of consulting opportunities, and technical advising of MMI partners in their studies. Dr. Auger offers 12+ years of medical imaging experience; this includes an MMI portfolio comprising a variety of clinical trial types, from first-in-human to post-market, and a diverse range of therapeutic areas, such as peripheral vascular and body imaging. Featured in 16+ peer-reviewed publications, he was a biomedical engineering research associate at the University of Virginia and has done research focused on development of clinical/preclinical cardiovascular MRI. Dr. Auger holds a PhD in biomedical engineering from the University of Cape Town, and BsC degrees in biomedical and electrical engineering from the University of Witwatersrand.

Dr. Murphy is one of MMI’s Client Services Managers who serves as primary point of contact for client relationships. She provides study support to clients while developing and delivering comprehensive, technically sound proposals and presentations. This support entails helping in various projects at MMI, from preclinical to post-market, as she dually leverages experience in orthopedic and cardiovascular technologies. Dr. Murphy has 12 years of research experience in academia and industry in biomaterials, cardiovascular biomechanics, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, and wound care. Her industry experience includes a role as Senior Biomedical Engineer at Ethicon, Inc.’s Preclinical Center of Excellence, and a co-op in regenerative therapies for degenerative disc disease at DePuy Spine. The co-author of 8 peer-reviewed publications is a biomedical engineering MS and PhD graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

As Senior Director of Operations, Michal assumes a range of responsibilities comprising oversight of major business functions in the Operations department, as well as identification and direction of initiatives to improve the quality, cost, and efficiency of operational services. She also supervises project management and day-to-day conduct of trials, research studies, and projects. Michal has 5+ years of service at MMI and 10+ years of experience in healthcare and clinical research. Her experience includes work in oncology, rare disease, orthopedic, and cardiovascular therapeutic areas. CAPM certified with an MS in health policy and bioscience from Rice University, Michal is experienced in study support, including preclinical, phase I-IV, and post-market.

Summer manages the daily operational and tactical sides of several projects large in size, risk, and complexity. She establishes expectations, target delivery dates, and milestones for client deliverables. In the first four of her six years at MMI, Summer served as a Clinical Project Manager who supported clinical trials both domestically and internationally, creating ISO-compliant SOPs/processes, and maintaining sponsor/client relations. With 19 years of experience in academic/clinical research and GCP, she boasts a strong therapeutic background of work in oncology, namely inflammatory breast cancer and translational research. Her experience includes co-authorship on 40+ peer-reviewed articles and abstracts on metastatic breast cancer and circulating tumor cells. Summer obtained her BS in biology from Benedictine College and her MPH from Benedictine University.

Cindy is a Senior Clinical Project Manager who manages the overall responsibility and accountability of projects. She oversees the day-to-day operational and tactical aspects of large-scale projects simultaneously, including projects with high-level risk and complexities. Cindy possesses 14 years of tenure at MMI, with past roles of CRC, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Research Manager, and Research Director. Overall, she boasts 25 years of research experience, as well as 17+ years in spine research trials and 8+ years in pharmaceutical trials. Cindy has also worked in orthopedics, cardiology, and pulmonary medicine. Bolstering Cindy’s experience is her Shared Care Standardization of Blood Pressure Measurements certification, and membership in the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Association of Clinical Research Professionals, and the Health Care Compliance Association.

As a Senior Clinical Project Manager, Amber is responsible for the management of everyday operational and tactical responsibilities of large-scale projects simultaneously, including those with high risk and great complexity. She oversees the responsibility and accountability of projects. Amber has been part of the MMI team for two years. She offers 10+ years of experience in device and pharmaceutical clinical trials, which includes support for various study types, specifically preclinical, phase I-IV, and post-market trials. Coming from a neuroscience background, she has also worked in the neurosurgical, emergency medicine, stroke, and cardiac research therapeutic areas. Amber is a Certified Clinical Research Professional with a BS in biology from the University of Texas at Austin and an MHA from Texas Women’s University.

As MMI’s Senior Data Processing Manager, Steven oversees functions pertaining to image receipt/shipping, image import/export, and discrepancy resolution. He trains department personnel and assigns duties requested by project managers and the technical production team. Steven has been a member of the MMI team for 17 years, previously serving as a production associate who performed administrative database tasks, investigated discrepancies, and provided support to the project manager. From his 20+ years of work experience, Steven has proven managerial aptitude, with work history serving in roles that entailed inventory stock management, duty delegation, and customer complaint management. Steven holds a BBA in healthcare administration from the University of Houston-Victoria.

As a Clinical Project Manager, Amanda manages the day-to-day operational and tactical aspects of multiple projects concurrently, ranging in scope, complexity, and risk. In nurturing her projects, she establishes expectations, delivery dates, and milestones for deliverables. Amanda has been with MMI since July of 2022 and brings 4+ years of experience in preclinical and clinical studies. She has a background in preclinical oncology studies focusing on growth kinetics, tolerance and efficacy studies in combination with drug therapy, immunotherapy, and viral therapy. Amanda graduated with a BS in Biology from the University of Western Ontario.

As a Clinical Project Manager, George manages the day-to-day operational and tactical aspects of multiple projects concurrently, ranging in scope, complexity, and risk. George has been with MMI since August of 2022 and brings 5+ years of experience in Business Administration & Management. George graduated with a BA in Business Administration from the University of Houston.

As Shipping and Receiving Manager, Dylan monitors and reports on the status of packages, monitors on-hand quantities and consumption of materials/supplies, and trains/supports shipping staff. He has been with MMI for 13 years, previously serving 10 years as a shipping and receiving coordinator who managed fulfillment tasks, troubleshooted incoming package issues, and maintained the shipping recipient database and paperwork. Also previously serving MMI as a Level I analyst, Dylan holds 16 years of diverse professional experience that includes technical work in medical image review/analysis, radiographic data collection/management, and imaging design/execution.

Betty Rutherford manages independent consultants for clinical trial services. She recruits physician consultants, coordinates physician scheduling with multiple departments, and monitors data analysis integrity throughout clinical trials. Betty boasts 15+ years of experience in management, healthcare, and clinical trial operations. Before MMI, she served 15 years at Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas in various managerial and coordinator roles. Betty holds CPCS and Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certifications. She earned her BS in management, MBA, and MHA from the University of Houston – Clear Lake.

As Senior Director of Technical Services, Dr. Wurm leads and oversees technical teams involved in the execution of MMI’s hundreds of concurrent, active clinical trials. This includes supervision of the Technical Services teams’ participation in all aspects of trials, from image plan development and provision of guidance for high-quality study images, to the ensuring of accuracy and soundness of study data. Dr. Wurm has been with MMI since 2012 and has been actively involved in 300+ clinical trials. Holding a BS in electrical engineering and an MS and PhD in biomedical engineering from Ohio State, she brings experience in x-ray, MRI, and CT imaging, with foundational knowledge in angiography and ultrasound. She has also worked in spine/musculoskeletal, orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular, and abdominal therapeutic areas.

Priya is a Senior Scientific Consulting Services Manager. She is the senior member of the image review charter development team, provides scientific consulting for clinical trials, and supports various external/internal research initiatives. An MMI member for 10+ years, Priya has also performed various simulation and pilot studies at the company. She possesses 15+ years of clinical trial imaging experience, with extensive work in advanced MR image analysis, and has also developed algorithms for automated image labeling, image acquisition parameter checks, and advanced MR image analysis. In addition, Priya has worked in spine, orthopedic, neurology, ENT, neuro- and peripheral vascular, urology, and oncology therapeutic areas. Priya holds a BS in medical electronics engineering from Visvesvaraya University, and an MS in biomedical engineering from the University of Alabama - Birmingham.

Senior Data & QA Services Manager, Matt Bosch, leads the development of clinical trial analysis databases and data QA/QC processes at MMI. In coordination with physician reviewers, he supports the acquisition and reporting of trial data in accordance with trial protocols. In addition, Matt provides clients with MMI software support and technical feedback to support interpretation of analysis data. With 10+ years of experience in clinical trials and medical device industries, Matt assists with clinical trials across all phases, from preclinical to post-market surveillance. He lends his clinical trial support in an increasing range of therapeutic areas that include spine, orthopedics, cardiovascular, neurovascular, and ENT. Behind Matt’s extensive experience is an MBE in biomedical engineering earned from Rice University, and a BS in biomedical engineering obtained at the University of Texas at Austin.

As a Technical Services Manager, Anwar serves as liaison for MMI’s KOLs, SMEs, physician collaborators, and advisors. He consults with clients on image collection techniques, assessment methods, and measurement protocol. Anwar also oversees specialized consulting assignments and develops image review charters. Anwar has an extensive research background spanning 10+ years. He is experienced in research project management, CT, MRI, and fMRI image processing, and data analysis. He is a proven efficiency driver, boasting past job accomplishments including automation code writing that saved 80% time in MRI data processing, and neuroimaging pipeline development that improved work efficiency by 30%. Anwar is a University of Manitoba graduate with an MSc in biomedical engineering. He earned his BSc in electronic engineering from the Islamic University of Technology.

As Research Manager, Dr. Rooney works to develop statistical quality control processes to ensure high quality data analysis for our sponsors. She also provides statistical data analysis, scientific consulting, and interrogation of imaging outcomes to help our clients better understand their imaging data and what the results mean for their trial. With 9+ years in orthopedic and biomechanics research, her primary areas of expertise include osteoarthritis and spine studies, with additional experience in many other therapeutic areas. Dr. Rooney earned her BS in biomedical engineering from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, and her MS and PhD in biomedical engineering from Cornell University. Her thesis research utilized microCT image analysis to investigate osteoporosis treatments and skeletal biomechanics, and she has co-authored 6+ peer-reviewed publications.

As a Data & QA Services Manager, Kelsey manages MMI’s team of in-house analysts. Kelsey manages work prioritization and capacity planning for active quantitative analysis projects, oversees the training of new analysts, and works with other Technical Services management to put together training materials for novel quantitative analysis methods. Kelsey received her BS in Bioengineering from Rice University and has been with the MMI team since 2017. In her time at MMI she has worked through many different facets of the project life cycle: drafting contracts, developing protocols, and most recently configuring projects in MMI’s proprietary software and performing quality control of radiologist analysis.

MMI’s VP of Technology Enablement, Patrick Newman, is responsible for oversight of the company’s five divisions: Software Development, AI/ML, IT, Production Incubation, and Quality & Regulatory Affairs. These five divisions work together to develop, procure, establish, validate, and maintain MMI’s systems and process to support the company. Patrick has served MMI for over 15 years, demonstrating abilities to lead effective teams and design optimal process and software solutions. He is the founder of MMI’s AI lab and established the company’s Image and Analysis QC programs. Holding a BS in electrical and computer engineering and an MS in biomedical engineering from Baylor University with thesis research focused on computer modeling in biomechanics, Patrick offers expert knowledge on hundreds of radiographic assessments across several modalities and treatments.

Dr. Ziegler is responsible for software architecture development for analysis support, software application development for medical image analysis, and implementation of CFR Part 11, HIPAA, and GxP compliance policies. With 23 years of tenure at MMI, Dr. Ziegler offers over 40 years of experience in engineering, software development, biomechanics, and computer analysis/modeling. In past roles, he conducted biomechanics and injury causation analyses for various environments and developed simulation models of numerous human activities as well as for two USAF projects: Design of an Active Neck Protection System for Crewmembers of High Performance Aircraft and a Concept Feasibility Analysis for a Large Radius Track Centrifuge. An author/co-author of 10 publications, he is an expert researcher with studies in musculoskeletal systems, computational algorithms, and voluntary/involuntary human motions. Dr. Ziegler earned his BS in mechanical engineering and MS and PhD biomedical engineering degrees at the University of Texas at Austin.

Kirk Johnson is charged with overall responsibility and accountability for regulatory, quality, and CSV functions. He oversees regulatory and compliance programs for regulated clinical trial and research study participation in medical device and pharmaceutical industries in the US, EU, and other jurisdictions. A seasoned leader with 35+ years of experience and expert knowledge of ISO/cGMP standards, Kirk has led 510(k) submissions for medical devices, implemented manufacturing environments for SaMD production and ISO-compliant QMS systems, managed facility design control processes, and trained Quality department personnel. He has a diverse educational background including biology/chemistry at St. Mary’s University, quality management at San Antonio College, and professional education on business and quality/regulatory topics.

As Director of Information Technology, Chris Vaughn ensures optimal operation and security of all servers, storage, and network equipment for MMI. With 28 years of IT experience, Chris is an expert in network/server deployment, SQL, AI, SANs, and hardware/software including Linux, Microsoft, Dell, and more. Chris obtained his bachelor’s degree in IT from American Intercontinental University and associate degree in drafting from North Harris College.

Dr. Grieco leads projects for the design and deployment of diagnostic and clinical decision support technologies. He crafts strategies to develop software applications into medical devices, also overseeing clinical product post-market activities. Previously at MMI, he served as Clinical Analysis Engineer II, Clinical Research Operations Manager, and Diagnostics Enablement Manager. Dr. Grieco is a proven leader in biomechanics and medical device development, with 20+ research publications and academic proceedings to his name. He boasts 10+ years of experience that includes orthopedic investigations, medical device/experiment design, and medical imaging. Dr. Grieco earned his BS in biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering MS and PhD degrees from the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

At the head of MMI’s leadership, CEO Thomas W. Martin works with the Board of Directors, President, and senior management to develop strategic plans for advancement of MMI’s mission and position as leader in the imaging core lab industry. Thomas joined MMI in 2001 as CFO, transitioning to concurrent President and CEO roles in 2008. He served as President until October 2020 but remains CEO to date. Thomas has 30 years of experience with medical technology startups, but his career began in commercial banking, formerly serving as Executive VP and board member at a Houston-based bank holding company, as well as concurrent positions of CEO and board Chairman of that holding company’s insurance subsidiary. He is also a University of North Texas graduate with a BBA in banking and finance.

As President and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Akella oversees operations and manages profit & loss, while also serving on the company’s Board of Directors. He has served MMI for 13 years, previously holding Director and VP roles. In past management of scientific affairs, client relationships, sales, and talent acquisition/retention, he oversaw significant business growth at MMI, in both revenue and headcount. Building cross-functional teams, Dr. Akella contributed to almost 500 trials in technical, management, and business capacities. Behind his contributions are 25+ years of medical imaging experience and 20+ years of clinical research. This experience includes an assistant professorship at University of Alabama at Birmingham, published work on imaging methods and their clinical applications, and an MS and PhD in biomedical engineering.

As VP of Finance and Accounting, David reports financial results to MMI’s board and management, maintains accounting operations in accordance with US GAAP standards, and oversees tax generation and filings for MMI. David is an MBA graduate from Texas A&M and CPA with 20 years of experience in accounting, finance, operations, and business development. Before joining MMI in 2021, he served in executive leadership roles for startups and global business organizations including CFO, COO, Director of Sales Operations, and Director of FP&A. David’s accomplishments include development of accounting departments and processes, management of accounting and billing teams, and profit maximization.

Sara is MMI’s Director of HR and Administration department managing human resources and administrative functions, which entails working closely with other senior managers to coordinate the various administrative aspects of the business. Her myriad of responsibilities include financial and quality system support, office management, vendor relations, event planning, employee recruitment and management, benefits and compensation, and much more. Sara joined MMI in 2014 and holds 10+ years of experience in human resources and administration in healthcare. Bolstering this work experience is her BA in communication studies from the University of Houston and Master of Arts in Organizational Management (MAOM) specializing in human resources from Ashford University.

As Director of Imaging Services, Kim designs business processes and tools to ensure high quality imaging is received for every study. She also advises internal staff on image collection techniques, assessment methods, and measurement protocols. She liaises with physician subject matter experts  on imaging-related aspects of a trial. Kim possesses a diverse range of imaging and radiology experience that spans 20+ years. Kim obtained both her General Medical Certification and Radiology Technologist certifications from the US Army Academic of Health Academy of Health Sciences. She is ACLS/BLS certified and licensed by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists in radiography, mammography advance certification, and cardiac interventional advance certification.