Gary JohnsonGary Johnson has over 20 years of experience with the dedicated and determined team at Applied Medical, where he currently serves as Surgical Group President. Gary joined this progressive organization in 1992 and has served as Division President and General Manager of several product divisions, Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Clinical Development and Vice President of Research and Development.
Gary holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO.
Gary was born in Long Beach, California and currently resides in Orange County with his wife, Deena, and four wonderful children, Jordan, Jessica, Joel and Jacob.
Howard FriedHoward received his undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec in 2003. He started his professional career working in the field of clinical epidemiology at McGill University assisting two Faculty researchers in the preparation of manuscripts, grant applications and study coordination relating to pain and global health. Howard made the leap the world of sales and marketing with a position in Business Development at IsaiX Technologies, also headquartered in Montreal. After 7 years of growing IsaiX’s business among North America’s leading pharmaceutical companies by developing and implementing cutting-edge solutions Howard joined CAE Healthcare in the summer of 2010 in the role of Product Manager for the Endoscopy and Laparoscopy virtual reality training platforms. Howard’s many responsibilities have included defining the evolution of the products, future development plans, liaising with CAE’s global partners, professional societies and physician key opinion leaders, and leading the sales training of CAE’s surgical solutions. Most recently Howard has taken on an expanding role to lead CAE’s discussions with medical device companies to develop custom training solutions for internal and external clients. Howard was named to the Board of Directors of the Foundation of the Association For Surgical Education in 2012 with a term beginning in Spring 2013.
Daniel M. Bethencourt, M.D.Dr. Bethencourt is a graduate of MIT and Yale Medical School. He completed General Surgery Residency at the University of Texas, Houston and Cardiothoracic Surgery at UCLA. He is certified by the American Board of Surgeons and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Bethencourt specializes in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Since 1996 he has performed Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacements, Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass, and Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair. He has led the Robotic Cardiac Surgery Program at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center since 2006, completing over 550 Da Vinci Cardiac procedures to date. Currently all isolated valve procedures are done with minimally invasive approaches, including DaVinci. Dr. Bethencourt has a special interest in mitral valve repair operations.
Mel Marks, M.D.Mel Marks, MD is Executive Vice President of MemorialCare Health System Research, a six-hospital system, including Long Beach Memorial, Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center, Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, and San Clemente General Hospital. He is also a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine.
Dr. Marks received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine Degrees from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, his pediatric training at Montreal Children's Hospital and his fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Colorado Medical Center. He received his certificate in Executive Management from UCLA.
Dr. Marks is the current Chair of the City of Long Beach Board of Health and Human Services, and President-Elect of the Guidance Center Board of Directors. His hospital board memberships include the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Board of Trustees, Memorial Medical Center Foundation, and board committees on academics and strategic planning. A founding member and current trustee of the Starlight/Starbright Board of Directors, Dr. Marks is an advisory board member of The Children's Clinic, as well as a member of the Medical Advisory Boards of the Painted Turtle Camp, the Beckstrand Foundation, and, the National Children's Study. He is also trustee of the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House Board and member of the Stramski Center Advisory Board.
Nick Sramek – ModeratorNick Sramek is a senior project leader in system engineering for The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, where he has worked for over 30 years primarily on military satellite systems. He is an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics associate fellow and a Computer Systems Technical Committee member. In July 2007, Mayor Bob Foster appointed Mr. Sramek to a six-year term on the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, the Port of Long Beach governing board. He also served on the City of Long Beach Planning Commission for seven years prior to his Harbor Commission appointment. Mr. Sramek represents the port on the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility Joint Powers Authority's governing board. He is the founder of the West Long Beach Business Association, serves as a member of the Long Beach Police Memorial Trust Fund trustee. Mr. Sramek earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University, Long Beach. In addition, he serves on the CSULB College of Engineering's Dean's Advisory Council and was named "2010 Distinguished Alumnus" for the College of Engineering.
