Our Team

Management Team

CEO and Founder
Norm Furbush

Joining the US Navy in 1982, Norm “Fuzzy” Furbush spent six years on active duty as a Hospital Corpsman. He began his medical career working on the wards and then in the ICU/CCU, then served with the US Marines and finally finishing up at Cardio-Pulmonary school located in Bethesda, MD. Norm was honorably discharged in 1988.

Norm took his hands on experience to the cardiac catheterization lab at Children’s Hospital DC. He spent 12 years as the Chief Technologist working with the kids, during his tenure he was part of the physician fellowship training program for interventional cardiologists and technologists. He has been part of multiple mission trips to other countries offering his expertise.

For over ten years, Norm held various roles in the medical device industry and collaborated with marketing, product development and provided case coverage for the research team on three different studies.

Over Norm’s 30 year career, he has been developing products in his sketchbook as he watched interventionalists and surgeons struggle with the handling and preparation of multiple medical devices.

Executive Board Member
John Laird, MD

Dr. Laird is the Medical Director of the Adventist Heart and Vascular Institute, St. Helena, CA. He was previously the Medical Director of the Vascular Center and Professor of Medicine at UC Davis Medical Center. He specializes in Cardiovascular Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, Endovascular Therapies, and Vascular Medicine.

He is an Internationally renowned interventional cardiologist who has lectured and performed endovascular procedures around the world. His practice focuses on interventions for carotid artery disease, abdominal and thoracic aorta aneurysmal disease, renal artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and limb salvage techniques.

Among his many areas of leadership and innovation are the investigation of new stents for carotid and peripheral vascular applications, drug coated balloons and drug eluting stents for peripheral artery disease and the development of laser angioplasty.

Dr. Laird is known for innovation, teaching vascular interventions to other physicians, and his role in organizing and conducting clinical trials of new therapies for vascular disease.

Executive Board Member
John Register

Mr. Register’s business career began with Litton Industries in the 1970’s where he gained extensive knowledge and experience in finance, contracts and pricing, program management, mergers and acquisitions, engineering and manufacturing. Mr. Register took that experience and an entrepreneurial drive to a small defense contractor (Technology Applications, Inc. or TAI) in 1985 that was generating approximately $6 million in revenues and lead that firm to over $65 million in revenue prior to the sale of the firm in 1993.

After a short hiatus, Mr. Register joined another small defense firm (Advanced Concepts, Inc. or ACI) in 1995 which consisted of 2 people and $250 thousand in revenue and lead the growth to $45 million before again selling the business in 2007.

Mr. Register is a graduate of the University of Maryland.

Medical Advisory Board

George Adams, MD

Dr. George Adams is an Interventional Cardiologist at Rex Hospital affiliated with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He completed his Internal Medicine Internship and Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern and his General Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology and Masters of Health Sciences at Duke University.  He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is the Director of Cardiovascular and Peripheral Vascular Research at Rex Hospital.

Dr. Adams is well published in the field of complex peripheral vascular interventions in critical limb ischemic patients, development of regional systems of care for STEMI, and nuclear cardiology techniques.  He currently leads a robust clinical research program enrolling patients in approximately 20 peripheral, carotid and coronary trials and is involved with device development for the management of coronary and peripheral vascular disease.

Ehrin Armstrong, MD MSc

Ehrin Armstrong MD MSc is an internationally renowned expert in interventional cardiology and endovascular interventions. Dr. Armstrong’s clinical practice includes the endovascular treatment of advanced peripheral artery disease, including carotid artery stenting, endovascular aortic repair, and complex techniques for limb salvage in patients with critical limb ischemia. His research interests include comparative outcomes of endovascular interventions and the development of novel coronary and endovascular techniques. He runs a large clinical trials group that conducts multiple trials of novel endovascular devices.

Dr. Armstrong has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles in major cardiovascular journals. Dr. Armstrong holds a number of leadership positions in national societies, including being a board member of VIVA, a multidisciplinary nonprofit dedicated to the care of patients with vascular disease. He regularly speaks at national and international cardiovascular meetings and is currently involved in the oversight and conduct of multiple clinical trials.

Robert M. Bersin, MD

Robert M. Bersin, MD, MPH is Emeritus Medical Director of Structural Heart and Endovascular Services, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Stanford University in 1976. He then attended the University of California, Los Angeles, Schools of Medicine and Public Health and received a Doctor of Medicine and a Master of Public Health in Health Services Administration in 1981.

Dr. Bersin has a long history of basic and clinical research involvement. He was as a doctoral researcher at the World Health Organization in Lausanne, Switzerland and was a recipient of the Physician-Scientist Award of the National Institutes of Health, and of the National Center Research Award of the American Heart Association. He has authored more than seventy abstracts, book chapters, and original articles, and has directed or participated in more than eighty clinical trials.

Nick Cavros, MD

Dr. Nick Cavros is a Cardiologist at the Cardiovascular Institute of the South, practicing at Lafayette General Hospital. Dr. Cavros is board certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. He is fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

Dr. Cavros specializes in performing coronary and peripheral interventional procedures to treat coronary and peripheral arterial disease. Dr. Cavros has participated in multiple studies and written, researched and served as a faculty member at multiple US and International conferences on these topics.

Eric J Dippel, MD

Eric J. Dippel, M.D. is the Founder and President of the Vascular Institute of the Midwest, P.C. in Davenport, IA. He is a private practice-based cardiovascular and peripheral vascular interventionist who specializes in comprehensive Vascular Medicine. Vascular Institute of the Midwest is a world-class state of the art regional referral center for the complete evaluation, treatment and management of arterial and venous disease. 

Dr. Dippel received his undergraduate degree with departmental honors in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University. He completed his medical school and Internal Medicine residency at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. He completed his general fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. An advanced fellowship in coronary and peripheral vascular intervention was completed at the Ohio Heart Health Center, and the University of Cincinnati. 

Dr. Dippel is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Medicine, and Interventional Cardiology. He is a Fellow of the Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention, a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and member of the American Heart Association Council of Clinical Cardiology and Peripheral Vascular Disease, the American Medical Association, and on the Board of Directors for the Outpatient Endovascular Interventional Society. He is a Board Member of New Cardiovascular Horizons and a founding member of the Horizons International Physicians Group.

Gan Dunnington, MD

Dr. Dunnington is currently the Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery for Adventist Health St Helena Hospital. As a product of Duke University (undergrad), the Medical college of Virginia (medical school), Stanford University(surgery residency), and the University of Virginia (cardiothoracic surgery fellowship), he has trained with many of the greatest medical minds in the nation. For the last ten years, he has developed a busy practice focusing on valvular and arrhythmia surgery, aortic surgery, as well as all aspects of thoracic surgery. He has been a national leader in atrial fibrillation surgery and has mentored and proctored dozes of surgeons across the nation. He has been a frequent invited speaker and has presented at meetings both in the US and internationally, mostly about his efforts to treat atrial fibrillation with hybrid ablation.

As a collaborator, he teams with electrophysiologists to offer minimally invasive and team based approaches to ablation and management of the left atrial appendage. Additionally, Dr. Dunnington has contributed to the testing and development of numerous medical devices, primarily in the cardiac valve space. Outside of his passion for surgery, he also breeds Labrador Retrievers , makes olive oil and wine in Napa Valley, and enjoys riding his electric skateboards to work daily.

Kelly W. Elliott, RN, MS

Kelly has more than 20 years of experience in the medical device industry and more than 12 years of experience in global medical device clinical research. She has a strong clinical background from her positions as a Medical-Surgical ICU RN, Open Heart Surgery ICU RN, and Cardiac Cath Lab RN early in her career. Previously, Kelly has held multiple Vice President of Clinical Affairs positions for medical device companies where she strategized, designed, and executed global clinical trials including international multi-center FDA-regulated IDE / NSR studies for new device approvals, double-blind randomized controlled device trials, and post-market studies.

Kelly holds a B.S.N. degree from San Jose State University, and M.S. from UC San Francisco. Kelly is now President and CEO of a premier consulting organization providing expertise in clinical, regulatory, and quality consulting.  The clinical and data management operations focus on expert design and conduct of research with a personal approach to meet medical device companies’ corporate goals and promote successful execution of all medical device trials from FIH to feasibility to pivotal trials to post market studies

Robert Gallino, MD

Dr. Rob Gallino is the Director of Peripheral Vascular Interventions at Medstar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney, MD and a Cardiologist specializing in coronary and peripheral interventions..

He practices in the Washington Metropolitan area and has received numerous awards for his work in cardiology, including the Washingtonian Magazines “Top Doctor” award. Dr. Gallino has participated in multiple studies and written, researched and served as a faculty member at multiple US and International conferences on these topics.

Lawrence Garcia, MD

Dr. Garcia received his training in Cardiology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa and as an interventional cardiologist at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. Further, he received his peripheral vascular training at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Garcia then served at the Beth Israel Hospital as a full time interventional cardiologist and Director of the Peripheral Cardiovascular Program and Peripheral Interventions at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as well as the Director of the Interventional Fellowship Program and has now returned to St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center as Chief of the Section of Interventional Cardiology and Vascular Medicine Programs.

Dr. Garcia continues his research interests in a wide variety of studies including peripheral vascular interventional trials and has served as national or global principal investigator on several trials. He is widely regarded as an expert in peripheral vascular disease and specifically in atherectomy for lower extremity revascularization. His work has been presented in numerous manuscripts, abstracts, textbooks and textbook chapters.

Marsha Holton, CCRN

Marsha has been a registered nurse since 1979. During her nursing career she has met many who individuals who have been willing to help her learn how to take care of patients in the cardiac cath lab (CCL). Marsha’s commitment has led to active participation on the Board of Directors for the Society of Cardiovascular Professionals, and she helped compile the Orientation Guidelines for Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (CCL) field, which significantly impacts the development of cardiac cath lab professionals throughout the United States.

Marsha has also served as the Resource Nurse for the American Association of Critical Nurses for Cardiac Catheterization in the Greater Washington Area Conference (GWAC) Resource for the Cath Lab nurses with the AACN.

She has been invited as a faculty member to a number meetings and key scientific sessions in the cardiovascular field. Marsha feels her life has been truly blessed, with good friends, smart people, all looking to the achieve the same goals and that is to give patients the best care possible.

John Laird, MD

Dr. Laird is the Medical Director of the Adventist Heart and Vascular Institute, St. Helena, CA. He was previously the Medical Director of the Vascular Center and Professor of Medicine at UC Davis Medical Center. He specializes in Cardiovascular Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, Endovascular Therapies, and Vascular Medicine.

He is an Internationally renowned interventional cardiologist who has lectured and performed endovascular procedures around the world. His practice focuses on interventions for carotid artery disease, abdominal and thoracic aorta aneurysmal disease, renal artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and limb salvage techniques.

Among his many areas of leadership and innovation are the investigation of new stents for carotid and peripheral vascular applications, drug coated balloons and drug eluting stents for peripheral artery disease and the development of laser angioplasty.

Dr. Laird is known for innovation, teaching vascular interventions to other physicians, and his role in organizing and conducting clinical trials of new therapies for vascular disease.

Julie Logan, RN, BS

Ms. Logan is a world leader in cardiovascular education.  She brings extensive clinical, research and business expertise to the cardiovascular field.  Julie previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Foundation for Cardiovascular Medicine an organization dedicated to education and clinical research in cardiovascular disease. She has over 20 years of experience in the medical field, performing complex coronary, vascular and structural interventions.

Julie has served on the scientific advisory boards of several large Cardiovascular Corporations and consulted in a variety of Cardiovascular projects including, New Stent Designs, Percutaneous Valve Therapy, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Vascular Closure and Brachytherapy, to name a few.

Julie holds several medical patents and continues to work with many thought leaders around the world developing new technology to advance the field of Cardiovascular Medicine.

Robert Martin, DO

Dr. Robert Martin is an orthopedic surgeon treating a wide range of orthopedic problems with a special interest in advanced arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine, knee and should problems.

He is associated with Carolina Regional Orthopedics and  board certified by The American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. Dr Martin is a retired US Navy Captain.

Erin Murphy, MD

Dr. Erin Murphy is an esteemed Vascular Surgeon affiliated with Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute, a distinguished division of Atrium Health in Charlotte, NC where she serves as the Director of the Venous and Lymphatic Center. She is an internationally renowned venous surgeon, with expertise in pelvic venous disorders, pelvic venous imaging, and the full breadth of lower extremity venous disorders. She specializes in the treatment of post-thrombotic iliac and IVC occlusive disease. 

Dr. Murphy earned her medical degree from Georgetown University and completed her General Surgery Residency at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center. She holds dual board certifications in General and Vascular Surgery and is a member of the Societey for Vascular Surgery (SVS).

Jihad A. Mustapha, MD

Dr. Mustapha is a board-certified interventional cardiologist.  He specializes in minimally invasive, non-surgical therapy for heart and peripheral vascular disease (PAD), specifically critical leg ischemia (CLI).  He has advanced training in coronary stent and complex peripheral vascular disease treatments including laser, atherectomy, and totally occluded arteries.

Dr. Mustapha graduated from Wayne State University and St. George University School of Medicine.  He has completed Fellowships in both Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology at Louisiana State University School of Medicine.

He is currently in practice at Advanced Cardiac & Vascular Centers for Amputation Prevention, Grand Rapids, MI, where he is President and Chief Executive Officer, Director of Endovascular Interventions.

Dr. Mustapha serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and is the Founder and Director of the AMPutation Prevention Symposium (AMP) and Founding Board Member of the CLI Global Society.   He has authored multiple publications, including those on critical limb ischemia and amputation prevention.

Wava Truscott, PhD. MBA

Dr. Truscott is President of Truscott MedSci Associates, LLC., that specializes in infection
prevention, microbiology, medical device reprocessing, biocompatibility, educational course
development and presentations. Her doctorate is in Comparative Pathology with emphasis in
Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology of human and animal disease systems from the
University of California, Davis. Her professional career started before her doctorate at MIDECO
(precursor to Nelson Laboratories) where she performed sterility and shelf-life testing, bio-
aerosol studies, established the Ames Mutagenicity assay for the lab, and performed many
other safety and efficacy evaluations – both at the bench and in a supervisory role.

After receiving her doctorate, she became Manager of Divisional Biological Laboratories for the
Pharmaseal Division of Baxter Health Care over medical device safety and sterilization. She later
became their Director of Regulatory Affairs. Thereafter, Dr. Truscott was the Vice President of
Scientific Affairs for the Safe Skin Corporation until it was acquired by Kimberly-Clark
Healthcare. As their Director of Medical Sciences and Clinical Education, her team developed
Knowledge Network, the successful accredited education platform for Kimberly-Clark.

Dr. Truscott is known for her years of work investigating natural rubber latex protein allergens,
reducing their levels through altered glove manufacturing processes and for her efforts that
helped to reduce and then ban glove powder in all U.S. healthcare facilities. She continues to
address infection prevention in Device Reprocessing, Surgery, and patient care throughout the
healthcare environment.

In addition to infection prevention, Truscott is a passionate advocate and educator preventing
other post-surgical complications including amplified inflammation, poor wound healing,
granulomas, adhesions, immune distraction, capsular contracture, periprosthetic infections,
biofilm entrenchment, and foreign-body emboli, as well as ophthalmic and other
organ/structure-specific complications. She has presented hundreds of courses in 18 countries,
written over 90 articles and 6 book chapters including the Microbiology chapter of the
IAHCSMM Endoscope Reprocessing Manual.

Craig Walker, MD

Dr. Craig Walker, a native of Bourg, Louisiana, is a graduate of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, completing his pre-med degree in two years and receiving the Pre-Medicine Award.  He earned his doctorate from the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans.  He began his postgraduate training with an internship and residency at Lafayette Charity Hospital in Lafayette, Louisiana.  He continued his training with a cardiology fellowship at Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans and a research fellowship at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

In 1983, Dr. Walker returned to Houma to establish the Houma Heart Clinic as a center for the development of new and improved techniques for the treatment of both coronary and peripheral vascular disease.  The clinic grew to be Cardiovascular Institute of the South, a world-renowned practice with more than 80 physicians and 1,050 team members throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Illinois.

Dr. Walker is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and interventional cardiology.  He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Physicians, the American Society of Cardiovascular Interventionists, the International College of Angiology, the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions, the American College of Chest Physicians and the Council on Clinical Cardiology.

Dr. Walker founded and is the chairman for one of the largest cardiovascular conferences in the nation, New Cardiovascular Horizons, to educate and train medical professionals on the latest techniques to treat coronary and peripheral vascular disease.  He also maintains the distinction title of primary investigator for several cardiovascular and peripheral devices.  Through his extensive knowledge and research in peripheral vascular disease, Dr. Walker provides educational training courses to physicians from around the world.

Dr. Walker serves as a clinical editor of Vascular Disease Management (VDM), a web-based platform that delivers timely clinical information on peripheral vascular disease published by HMP Communications, LLC.  He is also an editor for JAVELIN, and he serves on the editorial boards for both publications.

Dr. Walker has received many accolades, including the Honorary Doctorate of Nursing Practice Degree from the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions at University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Nicholls State University.  He was also named a Health Care Hero by New Orleans City Business for his industry achievements and community involvement.  Dr. Craig Walker was presented with the James J. Buquet Jr. Award by the Terrebonne Foundation of Academic Excellence (TFAE) for his vision, accomplishments, and service.

Additionally, he was selected as one of the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Ten Outstanding Young Americans for proving that world-class medicine could be provided in small communities and for his work as a clinical investigator and medical inventor.  He is also among only a handful of physicians in the world to sit on medical advisory boards for a variety of major corporations.

Dr. Walker is the author and co-author of more than 300 published articles and more than 30 book chapters.  He has delivered hundreds of presentations and lectures to both lay and medical audiences.  He is the co-author of “Something Old & Something New, Louisiana Cooking With a Change of Heart,” a heart-healthy cookbook developed in conjunction with internationally-renowned Chef John Folse.

James Patrick Zidar, MD

Dr. Zidar is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Additionally he is Corporate Chief, Department of Cardiology, Rex Healthcare and he serves as Consultant in Cardiology, Rex Hospital, and Consultant in Cardiology, Duke Raleigh Hospital. He is board certified by National Board of Medical Examiners, American Board of Internal Medicine ABIM, Cardiovascular Disease and ABIM, Interventional Cardiology.

His current research interests include: complex coronary interventions, renal artery stenosis, innovative endovascular technologies to treat cardiovascular disease, carotid revascularization, peripheral arterial disease, management of refractory hypertension, and evaluation of critical limb ischemia. He has authored over 60 manuscripts, 15 book chapters, 100 abstracts and was the SCAI representative for the writing committee of the 2011 and 2012 NonSTEMI/Unstable angina guidelines.