Leadership
Good things come from those with passion.
PeriGen’s management team is fluent in health information technology, patient care management, obstetrics and medical informatics. The team combines expertise in healthcare information systems, decision support technology, clinical care, service delivery, and executive management. They lead an organization dedicated to engineering and delivering the industry’s most advanced perinatal and fetal monitoring systems
Matthew Sappern – Chief Executive Officer
Matthew Sappern is a healthcare and technology executive with over 28 years of experience. Since joining PeriGen in 2012, he has led the company through a period of innovation and growth resulting in a doubling of market share and revenue, significant earnings growth, the introduction of an artificial intelligence patient safety platform and adding a number of patents to its expansive IP portfolio. At PeriGen, Sappern has led two successful fund raising rounds and acquired and successfully integrated a national competitor. Prior to leading PeriGen, Mr. Sappern served as a corporate officer for Eclipsys Corporation before and through its merger with Allscripts, at various times leading product development, remote hosting, consulting services and client sales. He has also served in leadership roles at WebMD and Home Box Office. Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
To read Matt’s most recent interview with HIStalk.com please CLICK HERE.
Brian Bishop – Chief Product Officer
As PeriGen’s Chief Product Officer, Brian has responsibility for all aspects of the product line, as well as quality and regulatory matters. Previously, he led the NaviCare Watchchild electronic fetal monitoring business for Hill-Rom Inc. Brian enjoys entrepreneurial ventures and inspiring teams to construct solutions that have not been built before. Brian and his wife have three daughters, two in college and one in high school. He enjoys sports, friendly games of pool, and spending in time in the mountains. Prior to joining Hill-Rom, Brian spent four years helping to start a ‘smart-home’ company in Louisiana. Before that he worked for multiple start-up companies as a software developer, quality manager and product director. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from North Carolina State University.
John Parker, MD – Chief Medical Officer
An innovative specialist in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Parker brings a remarkable blend of experiences to the team with professional interests in software, obstetrics, and patient safety.
Beginning his career as a software engineer, Dr. Parker spent nine years in various roles within the software industry, including software development, pre-sales support, and consulting services. He even established his own software company while earning a Master of Science degree in engineering management.
Driven by a deep passion for education and a desire to make a difference in healthcare, he transitioned into the field of medicine. He completed his medical education at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, followed by a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Riverside Methodist Hospital. With 16 years of experience in obstetric and gynecology, he also served as the associate program director at Riverside Methodist Hospital, nurturing the future of healthcare professionals.
With a background that spans software engineering and medicine, he embodies innovation and a commitment to healthcare excellence.
Karen Kolega, DNP, MSN-CNL, RNC-OB, C-EFM, C-ONQS – Chief Nursing Officer
With a rich history of perinatal experience, Dr. Kolega “KK” is responsible for leading nursing strategies that support PeriGen’s mission and vision. She works with leaders in the company, industry partners, and thought leaders to foster collaborations across the obstetric care continuum to improve outcomes for moms, birthing families, and babies.
Prior to joining PeriGen, Karen served as Divisional Director of Clinical Care at Universal Health Services(UHS) in Florida where she developed and implemented the nursing clinical standards for all acute care service lines to improve patient outcomes. She led the Grow Your Own initiative which successfully improved nurse retention through reward and recognition programs and influencing changes to foster healthy work environments. Her prior leadership positions included the Director of Women’s and Children’s Clinical Practice with a focus of developing safety cultures of high reliability resulting in significant improvements in care and reduction in obstetric claims.
Dr. Kolega earned her DNP from the University of Central Florida in Nursing Executive Leadership, and her master’s in clinical Nurse Leadership from the University of South Florida. She holds certifications in Inpatient Obstetric Care, Electronic Fetal Monitoring, and Obstetric and Neonatal Safety. Karen is a member of Sigma Nursing, serves as an American Nurses Association Mentor, is the AWHONN Florida State Chair, serves on the AWHONN National Membership Committee, and is a designated instructor for AWHONN EFM Intermediate and Advanced courses. She prides herself in building exceptional teams through empowering innovation and driving evidence-based care.
KK’s experience and expertise provides the PeriGen community with valuable resources for optimization.
Edward Thompson, CPA – Chief Financial Officer
As CFO, Ed provides strategic direction for the financial growth and management of PeriGen. He is responsible for managing all aspects of Finance and Accounting, Legal, and HR to ensure the company’s growth, efficiency and financial integrity.
Ed’s experience includes accounting and financial leadership roles in medical devices and biotechnology companies in various funding stages ranging from Series A through Series D, with experience in process improvement, systems implementation, and M&A activities. Prior to joining PeriGen, Ed served as Controller and Interim-CFO for Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, where he served as a key member of the executive team through a period of significant growth, and successful fundraising of $235 million in outside investment. Prior to Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Ed was the Corporate Controller for TearScience from 2016 through 2018, where he guided the company through an acquisition by Johnson & Johnson. At both companies, Ed’s experience included financial planning and analysis, supporting sales and implementation teams, communicating with investors, and managing outside supporting resources such as legal, audit and tax.
Before joining TearScience, Ed began his career as an auditor with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and later, Grant Thornton. Ed is a graduate of the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business, where he earned a BS in Business Administration and Masters in Accountancy.
Emily Hamilton, MDCM – Senior Vice President of Clinical Research
An experienced obstetrician, Emily has held various academic appointments at McGill University, including Director of the Residency Education Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Director of Perinatology. Currently, she is as an Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at McGill. With over 20 years of experience as a practicing obstetrician, Emily has served on various Canadian National Task Forces defining Clinical Practice Guidelines for fetal surveillance. Her research team has included members with diverse backgrounds such as mathematics, computer science and engineering along with experienced nursing and medical clinicians. They were successful in creating mathematical models to be used at the bedside to help the clinical staff assess fetal heart rate patterns, labor progress and risk of shoulder dystocia. This research was applied to the development of the PeriCALM® suite of fetal monitoring technologies. Emily presents regularly at academic conferences focusing on patient safety or risk management for obstetrical services, and holds 37 issued US and international patents related to obstetrics.
Bruno Bendavid – Senior Vice President of Product Management
During his healthcare technology career, Bruno has held positions of ever-increasing seniority and responsibility. In 2009, as interim COO and CTO for LMS Medical Systems , Bruno helped to oversee the Company’s acquisition by PeriGen, and the subsequent integration of LMS’ CALM suite with PeriGen’s advanced clinical decision support solution. Bruno has served as the Company’s VP of Product Development, VP of Technical Operations, and Development Manager, as well as Software Developer, the position Bruno held when he joined the nascent LMS in 1997. With an in-depth understanding of the development and design of the CALM platform, as well as its underlying research, Bruno is an integral part of PeriGen’s technology, leadership and development teams. Bruno holds a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from Concordia University and brings proven leadership abilities to PeriGen through his extensive experience as an army officer from 1983 to 1988.
Natan Blanks – GM Israel Operations and Senior Vice President Research & Development
Natan has been with PeriGen since 1996, serving as chief design and software architect. Prior to joining PeriGen, Natan managed the software development division of CDI Systems, a company specializing in information publishing, and also acted as an independent software consultant, developing projects in Israel, the US, and Europe. Natan holds patents in information management and retrieval, and in 1987, he earned both the PC Magazine Editor’s Choice Award and the Best Business Software Award from the US Software Publishers Association for his IZE information management program. Natan received a BS in Psychology from the University of New South Wales.
Zach Schooler – Director, Client Development
Zach Schooler leads PeriGen’s commercial efforts focusing on revenue growth, increasing client satisfaction, and expanding PeriGen’s market presence in current and new geographies. As an accomplished sales professional with 12 years of software sales and healthcare industry experience, Zach’s expertise lies in strategic sales planning and techniques, mentoring sales personnel, client relationship management and competitor analysis. Specifically, Zach has spent the last 6 years at PeriGen as a top performer serving in various individual contributor and management roles. He remains relentless in the pursuit of pushing PeriGen to new boundaries.
Before arriving in software sales, Zach earned the distinction of a Level 1 Sommelier, alongside several other wine competency certifications. He also holds his BBA with a focus in Marketing and Logistics from the University of North Florida and will be receiving his MBA from Jacksonville University in early 2024.
Halma plc
In 2021, PeriGen was acquired by Halma, plc.
Halma is a global group of life-saving technology companies focused on growing a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day. Their companies provide innovative solutions to many of the key problems facing the world today.
PeriGen now has access to a supportive network and additional resources so that we can continue to expand perinatal safety technology to the U.S. and beyond.