Nirvana Healthcare Ventures

Frank A. Papay is a biomedical engineer and surgeon who holds dozens of U.S. patents and is double board-certified in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, with fellowship training in skull base and craniofacial surgery. He is professor of surgery at the Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and Chairman of the Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. He co-founded several Cleveland Clinic startups and earned degrees from Ohio University, Case Western Reserve University, and Northeast Ohio Medical University.

Raymond Rackley is a pelvic reconstructive surgeon and biomedical engineer who serves as a Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic's Glickman Urology Center for Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. He has invested in health science and technology since 2002, holding board advisor, investment committee, and limited partner roles with organizations such as Serial Stage Venture Partners, The NDI Medical Fund, BioEnterprise's Medical Growth Fund, and NorthCoast Angels Funds II & III. He earned a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Duke and an MD from Case Western Reserve University Medical School.

Gayle Pekkola has over 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, public relations, and client services at high-growth and entrepreneurial companies. She most recently served as Sr. Partner of Marketing and Communications at JumpStart, a nonprofit venture capital development organization, and previously held marketing leadership roles at OnX Enterprise Solutions and MCSi (now MCPc). She holds a BA from The College of Wooster and an MBA from Cleveland State University.

Has 30 years of global management experience in biomedical and healthcare sales, marketing and operations; founder/CEO of Realeve and Neuros Medical.

Former President and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic and recipient of multiple clinical and innovation awards; holds an MD from the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

William J. Leonard (Bill) is a financial executive with over 40 years of experience in finance and operations. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Oswald Companies and sat on its board for 12 years, was CFO of a heavy highway construction firm, and earlier was a senior manager at Arthur Andersen & Co. serving financial services clients. He currently works as an Executive Vice President and as a fractional CFO and advisor to startup companies. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from The Ohio State University and is a CPA and CFP.