Neema Mayhugh, PhD

Managing Partner

Neema Mayhugh is a healthcare innovation expert who helps large academic medical centers and biotechnology incubators bridge the gap between research and product delivery. Neema designs and executes a comprehensive strategy to take technology from bench to bedside -- engaging partners, securing capital, and delivering desired outcomes, always with an eye toward ensuring the highest quality patient care and enhancing the patient experience.

Built on a solid foundation of clinical innovation, Neema’s expertise stems from strong basic research training and early positions in healthcare management consulting and with Pfizer, Inc. Her specialization then grew rapidly when she joined the industry-leading Cleveland Clinic, where her roles and responsibilities expanded to include:

~ Start-up formation
~ Licensing
~ Intellectual property portfolio prioritization
~ Clinical trial management and execution
~ Sponsored research program negotiation
~ Management of commercialization projects
~ Strategic portfolio oversight

As Chief Operating Officer of Mobile Hyperbaric Centers, Neema expanded her expertise base again, overseeing operations for seven hospital centers and all corporate functions including insurance authorization, billing, documentation, compliance, human resources and center safety and maintenance.

Neema holds a Doctoral degree in Pharmacology & Toxicology from Dartmouth College and a Bachelors of Science in Human Physiology from Boston University.

Matt McBride

Operating Partner

Matt is a dynamic healthcare leader that has spent the last decade guiding early-stage technologies to the commercial market, managing start-ups, and driving innovation policy and process at large academic institutions. Matt actively leverages Wave’s extensive network to make meaningful introductions that expedite the development of cutting-edge technologies through strategic enterprise partners, healthcare systems, industry influencers, and entrepreneurs. 

Prior to joining Wave, Matt was the VP of Strategic Partnerships at BioEnterprise, where he oversaw the continued development, promotion, and execution of promising healthcare innovation in the thriving biomedical sector in Northeast Ohio. Matt began his career in healthcare innovation at the Cleveland Clinic, where he spent seven years, translating medical breakthroughs into patient-benefiting products that reached the commercial market. As the Director of Inventor Services, Matt established and implemented a process that was used to evaluate early-stage technologies and usher them toward a commercial outcome.  At CCI, Matt also held the position of Director of Business Development, where he aided start-ups with IP strategy formulation, product development guidance, and value proposition refinement. 

Matt also served as a Naval Officer at several commands throughout the world. As a Naval Officer he served as Executive Officer of the Military Sealift Command in Diego Garcia, Program Manager for the V-22 Osprey in Philadelphia and Contract Administrator for Forward Operating Base, Camp Leatherneck, in Afghanistan

Matt also plays a role at the following organizations: Board of Directors for Challenge America (President), NE Ohio Naval Academy Association (Trustee).

Matt received a B.S. in political science with a focus in engineering, math and science from the United States Naval Academy and an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University.

Bill Flickinger

Senior Consultant

Bill is a 30-year medical device veteran who holds more than 50 U.S. and international patents. He co-founded and served as managing partner of MedInvent, which commercialized new technologies to treat chronic sinusitis, and led it through its acquisition by Trudell Medical International. Following that transaction, he served as president of the spinout company NasoNeb. His past experience in the medical device market also includes positions with private and public companies, including Medtronic and Stereotaxis. Bill graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences and a Master of Science in Biology.

Mary Kander

Senior Consultant

Mary is a licensing expert with 18 years of experience as the General Manager of Technology Commercialization at the Cleveland Clinic. Previously, Mary was the Vice President at Invacare Corporation and held various finance roles at Procter & Gamble.

Mary received her MBA from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and her Bachelor’s from John Carroll University.

Andrew caprariello

Senior Consultant

Andrew is a brain scientist seeking to bridge the gap between basic and applied research. With a keen eye for win-win opportunity, he has led worldwide research collaborations, chaired preeminent conferences, and has advised companies both for-profit and not. For Wave Strategy, Andrew performs scientific due diligence and business development, always with the goal of bringing value to patients.

Andrew did his Postdoctoral training in Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine (Canada). He holds a PhD in Physiology & Biophysics from Case Western Reserve University and a BA in Neuroscience from Oberlin College.

William Detki

Director of Operations

Will provides advanced financial, operations and administrative support to Wave. Will is also responsible for coordination and communication with clients and management of Wave’s vast vendor network. Prior to joining the company he served as office manager with Mobile Hyperbaric Centers, a company providing hyperbaric medical services for leading hospital centers. Will attended Cleveland State University and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication, with a minor in Sociology. While in school he was involved with nonprofits such as Esperanza, Inc., promoting Hispanic education.

Zack Eschweiler

Project Manager

As a business development/commercialization analyst at Theta Squared and then BioEnterprise, Zack has worked closely with early stage technologies evaluating patentability and commercial potential, as well as completing projects focused on market research and development and execution of marketing strategies.  Zack completed his Master of Science in Entrepreneurial Biotechnology from Case Western Reserve University in 2017 and previous to that his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Grove City College in 2014.  During his time at CWRU, Zack became involved in high-tech startups with a focus on nanoparticles and inorganic molecule detection, which helped him develop his master's thesis on the technology and its commercial potential.  Zack continues to work on the technology through CWRU's Transitional Fellows Program.

Jamie Longacre

Project Manager

Jamie is responsible for managing Wave’s marketing projects as well as working on various engagements with Wave’s vast network. Jamie earned her Master of Business Administration with concentrations in Healthcare and Entrepreneurship, Design, & Innovation from Case Western Reserve University in 2021. During her time at CWRU she earned Beta Gamma Sigma honors. Prior to her MBA, Jamie earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from John Carroll University in 2018.

Matt atala pleshinger

Project Manager

Prior to his role at Wave Strategy, Matt was a Postdoctoral Researcher at Case Western Reserve University. He holds a PhD in Pharmacology from CWRU and a BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from The College of Wooster.

Trenton Szmania

Analyst

Prior to his current role, Trent joined the Wave Strategy team as a summer intern and is beginning his career in the healthcare and medical device industries. He provides market research analyses and is engaged in various projects for Wave clients. Trent received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biological studies with a focus in Botany from Miami University in 2022.

Aakash Sudini

Project Analyst

Aakash is currently pursuing a double major in Biology and Finance at Case Western Reserve University, where he also serves as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant.

Veda Machiraju

Project Analyst

Veda is currently pursuing a Masters in Biomedical and Health Informatics from Case Western Reserve University and holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology from George Mason University.