Our Team

Leadership Team

The Calyxo leadership team is passionate about bringing innovative medical device technologies to market that meet important clinical needs. The team has an unparalleled track record of success and extensive experience with medical device startups, the field of urology, product development and commercial launch.

Joe Catanese III, PhD

President and Chief Executive Officer

Full Bio

Joe has dedicated his career to using innovation to improve care for patients. He is a co-founder of NeoTract, Inc. where he was one of the inventors of the UroLift System, a revolutionary treatment for BPH that has helped over 400,000 patients to-date. Joe is a named inventor on over 40 patents. He earned his PhD in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco and his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University.

Jee Shin

Founder and Chief Business Officer

Full Bio

Jee is a 25-plus year healthcare veteran who has spent over 12 years in healthcare venture, investing in innovative medical device and biopharma companies prior to founding Calyxo. Jee earned her MBA from Stanford University and BA in International Studies from the University of Washington.

Doug Hughes

Chief Financial Officer

Full Bio

Doug is a highly experienced CFO who partners with executive teams to build best-in-class organizations and execute high growth commercialization strategies. He has been instrumental in four successful medical device exits including the acquisition of NeoTract by Teleflex for $1.1B. Doug earned his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BS in International Finance from San Francisco State University.

Chris Buchko, PhD, JD

General Counsel

Full Bio

Chris has nearly 30 years of experience in medical devices and life sciences as an executive, attorney, and engineer with companies ranging from industry giants to startups. Most recently, he was a member of the NeoTract executive team during commercialization, high growth, and acquisition. He holds a JD from Santa Clara University, a PhD in Materials Science from the University of Michigan, and a BS in Physics from Stanford University.

Lisa Campbell

Vice President, People

Full Bio

Lisa is a leader with over 30 years of progressive experience in the medical device, aesthetics, insurance, and legal industries. She has a passion for leading people teams in start-up organizations and building the infrastructure and programs to support rapid growth while ensuring high levels of engagement. Lisa earned her MBA from Strayer University and her BBA from University of Illinois, Springfield.

Ryan Connolly

Senior Vice President, Research and Development

Full Bio

Ryan is an experienced engineering leader with 23 years in product development, including 19 years dedicated to medical device R&D. His expertise spans the development of implants and delivery systems, endoluminal devices, and complex medical platforms, with a focus on innovation and design for high-volume manufacturing. Ryan fosters innovation and teamwork through his collaborative leadership approach to drive meaningful results and lasting relationships. He is committed to advancing scalable, effective medical technologies that improve outcomes for both patients and healthcare providers. Ryan earned his BS in Manufacturing Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and his MS in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Stanford University.

Yash Kolambkar, PhD

Vice President, Marketing

Full Bio

Yash is a results-driven business leader with multidisciplinary strengths in Commercial Marketing, Innovation and Strategy. He has a track record of developing and marketing disruptive technologies in various disease states and most recently held Marketing leadership roles at Imperative Care and NeoTract / Teleflex. He earned his PhD in Bioengineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Cincinnati, and a BE in Mechanical Engineering from Pune University (India).

Erika Martinez

Vice President, Finance

Full Bio

Erika is a people-first leader with over 20 years of diverse experience leading teams in Finance, Strategy, and Business operations across various industries. Her broad experience ranges from small cap and Fortune 50 companies along with a track record of collaborating across teams to drive profitable growth. Erika earned her BA in Economics and Sociology from Stanford University.

Dave Messina

Vice President, Sales

Full Bio

Dave Messina has over two decades of experience in the Medical Device space, with a focus on helping to commercialize and grow early-stage companies. Throughout his career, Dave has been dedicated to championing innovative technologies that have the potential to revolutionize patient care. With a proven track record of success, Dave has played a pivotal role in the growth and expansion of numerous early-stage companies, leveraging his expertise to navigate complex market landscapes and forge strategic partnerships. Dave received his BS in Management Information Systems and his MBA, both from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Michael Nevares

Vice President, Quality

Full Bio

Michael is an accomplished Quality and Regulatory professional with over 25 years of experience in the medical device industry. He has a proven track record of building and scaling medical devices quality systems, leading high-performing teams, developing people, and driving results across organizations – from early-stage startups to large-scale commercial businesses. Michael has played a key role in advancing new technologies and helping companies grow through various stages of development.

Prior to joining Calyxo, Michael held senior Quality and Regulatory positions with various medical device companies including Avive Solutions, NeoTract (acquired by Teleflex), Ventus Medical, AngioScore, Abbott Diabetes Care, TheraSense (acquired by Abbott), and Baxter-Novacor. Michael earned his BS in Industrial Technology from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo.

Eric Steuben

Senior Vice President, Operations

Full Bio

Eric is an energetic leader with 30 years of progressive achievements from hands-on engineering to executive management. He has broad corporate experience ranging from high-growth start-ups to world-leading corporations and has held executive leadership roles in manufacturing, operations, regulatory affairs and quality assurance. Eric earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering and MBA from Santa Clara University.

Ling Tong

Vice President, R&D

Full Bio

Ling is an experienced research and development leader who has dedicated over 25 years spearheading the development of innovative and game changing products. As the Vice President of research and development, Ling is committed to giving physicians best in class tools in order for patients to achieve outcomes that simply were not previously possible. Ling’s leadership style is characterized by his collaborative spirit, commitment to excellence, and unwavering dedication to improving patient outcomes. Ling obtained his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Jacqueline Welch, MD, PhD

Vice President, Medical and Clinical Affairs

Full Bio

Jacqueline is a strategic, team-oriented executive with over 15 years of medical device development experience and leadership across medical, clinical and scientific affairs within complex, highly regulated environments. She brings a proven track record of focusing on patient outcomes to drive sustainable growth through cross-functional collaboration. Jacqueline’s background spans both start up and S&P 500 companies where she has successfully navigated diverse business landscapes to support innovation and execution in dynamic healthcare settings. She holds an MD and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

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