The Founder's Story
SYLKE® was developed by M. Mark Mofid M.D., FACS, a practicing reconstructive and plastic surgeon with nearly 20 years of experience. Dr. Mofid sought to create a product that better addressed the needs of surgical incision care. During the early months of the COVID pandemic, with a lighter surgical schedule, he focused on designing a wound closure device using silk fibroin, a material known for its strength and biocompatibility. "I envisioned a comfortable and effective skin closure device that meets the needs of both patients and practitioners." - Dr. Mofid.
About The Founder
Still treating patients on the front lines.
M. Mark Mofid, M.D., FACS, is a clinical assistant professor of plastic surgery at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a highly regarded plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience. Motivated to address the challenges of surgical site care, he developed SYLKE®, a silk-based dressing designed with biocompatibility in mind. Dr. Mofid graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University and earned his medical degree and training at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
He is a diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Mofid also served as an Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of California, San Diego, for over a decade. He has presented his research at more than 40 national and international conferences and is the author of one of the most widely cited publications in plastic surgery.
Meet Our Team
Co-Founder, Executive Vice President of Strategic and Business Affairs, Chief Legal Officer
Sheva Mokarram, JD
Mrs. Mokarram graduated from Texas Southern University, School of Law Summa Cum Laude in 2005 and is licensed by the California State Bar. She started her legal career as a civil litigation attorney, working at some of the most prominent national law firms in Los Angeles: Krohn & Moss Ltd, Selman Breitman LLP, Michelman & Robinson LLP, and Yee and Associates. After years of working in the legal field, Mrs. Mokarram’s love of storytelling coupled with her legal background helped her transition into the entertainment industry as a Television Executive at Reveille Productions. When the company was acquired by Murdoch’s Shine Group, she departed with the managing partner to join a startup production company, INE Entertainment. For over a decade, she directed and produced thousands of hours of content across multi-media platforms; television series, digital series, social media, and commercials. Ms. Mokarram is a two-time Emmy Nominated producer for the Outstanding Culinary Program “Recipe Rehab” and Outstanding Children’s series “Everyday Health.” She is a consecutive winner of The Telly Awards for Outstanding Educational Culinary Program, “Recipe Rehab.”
Executive Vice President of Sales
Scott Flowers
Scott Flowers brings over a decade of expertise spanning sales, marketing, leadership, and operations. Most recently, Scott held the position of Southern California Sales Manager at Corza Medical, a pioneering startup specializing in wound closure, instruments, and hemostatic products. Prior to that role, he contributed to ConvaTec's success by selling wound, ostomy, skin, and critical care devices. In addition, Scott possesses experience selling biologic amniotic tissue and fluids. Throughout his career, Scott consistently demonstrated his prowess as a sales leader. He achieved numerous firsts, being the initial sales professional to introduce multiple new 510(k) technologies, pioneered innovative upstream marketing strategies targeting prominent players in the healthcare industry, and authored the playbook for countless medical professionals, guiding them through best practices for launching new medical products and services, spanning from Acute to non-Acute markets. Scott’s medical journey has cultivated robust relationships with hundreds of surgeons, clinicians, and executives across various specialties and health networks. His mission, similar to Sylke’s, centers on transforming challenges into opportunities, collectively reshaping the future of healthcare. He received his Bachelors of Science degree in kinesiology from California State University Northridge.
Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, Director of Operations
Rebecca Badowski-Platz
Rebecca joins Sylke to oversee all quality systems and regulatory & compliance affairs. She is an accomplished Clinical Trial Specialist having designed multiple investigational and experimental studies. She personally managed the delicate care of hundreds of patients through complex and strict research protocols as well as tracking and reporting thousands of individual data points. She has successfully presented research initiatives multiple times in front of IRB panels, doctors, and research scientists. She brings enthusiasm for the strict details of compliance and uncompromising ethical standards required by the medical device industry. She received her Bachelor of Science from Indiana University.
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
Jack Ferrier
Jack combines his dynamic expertise as a full-stack developer, AI engineer, and accomplished medical device sales leader to drive Sylke's mission forward. Passionate about leveraging innovative technologies, he has consistently surpassed sales targets and set new industry benchmarks in key roles at Nevro, PolyNovo, and ConvaTec. Drawing on his international sales experience, Jack led the development of ConvaTec's new Inside Sales Team through the "New Normal Pilots" initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing digital strategies that transformed nationwide sales operations and earned him multiple national awards. His commitment to using cutting-edge technology to enhance patient care aligns perfectly with Sylke's vision of revolutionizing surgical outcomes. Jack holds a Bachelor's degree in Film Scoring from Berklee College of Music.
Chief Scientific Officer
Daniel S. Rouhani
Daniel Rouhani is an entrepreneur, scientist, and 3D design engineer whose work has been referenced in Forbes magazine, over 50 scientific news articles, and on the front cover of 10 peer-reviewed scientific journals including the journals of Science, Nature, and Cell. He was one of the first scientists to characterize and develop a comprehensive 3D model of the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein which was published and recognized internationally. He has presented his research at national and international research conferences and has spoken on a variety of research discussion panels. Rouhani is also the founder of ExonScientific, a 3D design company that pushes the boundaries of how science can be visualized through advanced 3D innovation. He has collaborated with over 30 institutions including the NIH, Harvard, Yale, and Northwestern on topics ranging from protein visualization, SARS-CoV-2 glycosylation, and genetic engineering. Rouhani is also a graduate of the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps program, has served as a judge for investor pitch competitions, and has taught courses in research and scientific writing. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Genetics and completed a year-long clinical research fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is currently completing his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.
Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel
Alexander Graham, JD
Alex brings more than a decade of combined legal and financial experience to his role at SYLKE. Alex joins SYLKE from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, where he advised life-sciences companies and startups at all stages of growth. His practice focused on corporate governance, venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, and helping clients navigate the legal and strategic challenges of scaling their businesses. Prior to practicing law, Alex worked at KPMG where he specialized in economic and valuation services, advising multinational corporations on transfer pricing and business valuations. He earned a JD from the University of Michigan Law School and a BA in Finance from Michigan State University.
Director of Quality and Innovation
Allen Castro
Allen is an experienced leader in quality management and innovation with extensive experience across big pharma, small pharma, medical devices, and startup environments. He excels in quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and product development, consistently driving safety and innovation within the life sciences sector. In his previous role, Allen spearheaded the design and development of novel RNA therapeutics, effectively bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and practical application. He oversees all aspects of quality management and product development, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to uphold high standards throughout design and manufacturing processes. Allen is dedicated to delivering safe, effective, and innovative products to market, ensuring both regulatory compliance and market success. Allen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Vanguard University and a Master’s degree in Biotechnology from Rush University.
Sales Operations Specialist
Bryan Orosz
Bryan joins SYLKE® as a Sales Operations Specialist, overseeing and optimizing day-to-day sales operations to ensure the efficiency and success of the sales team. With 24 years of experience in sales support and customer service, Bryan brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, particularly within the medical device sector. Bryan’s career began in technical support, where he honed his skills in industries such as telecommunications, calibration, and digital video security. He later transitioned into the medical device field, spending 13 years specializing in supporting reconstructive surgery and soft tissue repair device sales. During his time at ACell, Inc., Bryan played a key role in supporting the sales team and contributed to the design and continuous improvement of the company’s CRM system. Most recently, Bryan managed the Customer Relations department at Kerecis, collaborating closely with the sales team on Value Analysis and Credentialing to ensure smooth and effective communication between sales and healthcare providers. Driven by a passion for patient care, Bryan remains committed to improving outcomes through strategic operations and support. He holds an Associate Degree from Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Executive Assistant, Human Resource Manager
Kelsea Amos
Kelsea Amos brings over a decade of experience in the plastic and reconstructive surgery field. With a wealth of knowledge and deep understanding of patient care, she holds a proven track record of outstanding administrative support. In her current role at Sylke as the Executive Assistant and Human Resource Manager, Kelsea is responsible for supporting executive leadership, managing human resource functions and ensuring seamless day-to-day operations. With her innate skills and experience she proficiently navigates both the healthcare and corporate landscapes, making Kelsea an instrumental and vital part of the Sylke team. Over the past 10+ years, Kelsea has built a diverse and successful career in the field of plastic surgery. Holding roles such as Certified Medical Assistant, Surgery Scheduler, Insurance Coordinator, and Assistant Manager. Her expertise in coordinating patient care and building key relationships with medical teams has been an invaluable asset to her current position. Kelsea’s approach in her role at Sylke brings a unique perspective and work ethic, one that blends operational proficiency with a genuine commitment in providing the best in customer care. Creating a positive workplace culture and supporting her colleagues reflects Kelsea’s dedication to the well-being of the team and the success and mission of Sylke.
Advisory Board Members
Advisory Board Member
Robert S. Gorab, MD
Robert S. Gorab, MD is the Tom & Mayumi Adams Endowed Chair in Orthopedic Surgery and the Immediate Past Chief Medical Officer of the Hoag Orthopedic Institute (HOI) in Irvine, CA. He is the Program Chairman of the Adult Reconstruction & Joint Replacement Fellowship Program at that institution. As a founding member of HOI, Dr. Gorab is actively involved in research, surgeon education, and the design and development of orthopedic implants and procedures. Dr Gorab received his undergraduate education at Colgate University. After graduating from medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Gorab completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at UCI Medical Center, followed by fellowship training in adult reconstructive surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. He has served as an associate professor of orthopedics at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine and is a member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, the American Orthopedic Association, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the California Orthopaedic Association and the Western Orthopaedic Association. He and his wife, Lisa, a pediatrician, have two adult children. A former collegiate soccer player, Dr. Gorab continues to enjoy sports and the outdoors. He is an avid cyclist and downhill skier.
Advisory Board Member
Steven Barnett, MD
Steven Barnett, MD is the Chief Medical Officer as well as a board member of the Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Irvine, California and a managing partner of the Orthopedic Specialty Institute in Orange County. He is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training specializing in Adult Reconstructive Surgery. His practice is limited to joint replacement and arthritis surgery of the hip and knee, and he performs over 600 joint replacement surgeries per year. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley. Subsequent to this, he attended Boston University School of Medicine for his medical degree. He then went on to complete his orthopedic residency at University of California, Irvine. Following residency, he completed an additional fellowship year in joint replacement and adult reconstructive surgery at the Institute for Bone and Joint Disorders in Phoenix, Arizona. He is currently an active participant in both implant and instrument design as well as research and physician education through the Hoag Orthopedic Adult Reconstruction Fellowship program. Dr. Barnett holds membership in the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons as well as the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
Advisory Board Member
Li Poa, MD FACS
Li Poa, MD is a Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and a former Associate Professor at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees at Northwestern University where he also holds a Masters in Management from the Kellogg Business School. Dr. Poa completed his cardiothoracic surgical fellowship at UCLA and is board certified. He is most well known for his pioneering work in the fields of beating heart minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery, endoscopic cardiac surgery, mitral valvular repair, and thoracoscopic ablation surgery. He currently serves as the Chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the Garfield Medical Center and Centinela Hospital in Los Angeles.
Advisory Board Member
Mark Figgie, MD MBA
Mark Figgie, MD is a Professor of Surgery and Chief Emeritus of the Surgical Arthritis Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He received his Chemical Engineering and Economics degrees from Bucknell and his medical degree from Case Western Reserve University. He received his MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business. He is the Chairman of the Board of Wishbone Medical, Inc.
Advisory Board Member
Curt J. Welker, CPA
Mr. Welker began his public accounting career in 1982, after serving as an assistant controller and later Chief Financial Officer for international trading firms, as well as spending four and a half years with a Big Four firm. His tax specialties encompass real estate, hospitality, manufacturing, individual taxation—including estate tax planning—and corporate tax planning. An active member of several professional organizations, Mr. Welker is frequently sought after for his insights and has been quoted on accounting and tax matters in both local and national publications. Mr. Welker received his Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State University, subsequently undertaking graduate coursework in taxation.
Advisors
Advisor
Dino Montagner
Dino Montagner was an expert in the manufacturing and distribution of the finest silk textiles in the world, establishing a global business across Italy, China, and India. Over 40 years ago, Mr. Montagner fell in love with silk; however, he decided to pursue a different direction than his high-fashion contemporaries. Mr. Montagner devoted his life and career to the discovery and use of silk fibroin as a biomaterial. From this vision, he developed a full range of therapeutic undergarments to aid dermatology patients and forged new pathways for gentle skin regeneration of wounds with silk and antimicrobial combinations. Backed by over 20 Clinical Studies and global patents for multiple medical devices and applications, Mr. Montagner was as professional as he was passionate about the healing properties of silk.
Advisor
Navin Singh, MD, MBA, MS
Dr. Navin Singh is an award-winning dual-board-certified plastic surgeon. He has received prestigious credentials from Brown and Harvard and formerly served as a director for cosmetic surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Being an expert in his field, Dr. Singh is also a board examiner for both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. As one of the top plastic surgeons in Northern Virginia, his expertise is evident through his multifaceted involvement in the field as he continues to author numerous medical publications and lecture medical professionals nationally to discuss his surgical knowledge and insight. Dr. Singh is featured on numerous media outlets such as CBS News, ABC News, and The Doctors on NBC. He has been consistently voted as a Top Doc in Washingtonian, Bethesda, and Northern Virginia magazines to discuss his medical insight and surgical expertise.
Advisor
Adah Almutairi, PhD
Dr. Almutairi is one of Forbes's top ten most influential female engineers in the world, a scholar of science and engineering, an inventor, and an entrepreneur. Dr. Almutairi is a professor of pharmaceutical chemistry; faculty in the departments of Bioengineering and NanoEngineering; and director of the Center for Excellence in Nanomedicine and Engineering at the Institute of Engineering in Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Her work focuses on nanomedicine, nanotechnology, chemistry, and polymer science. Almutairi is a 2016 Kavli Fellow and has received numerous honors and awards such as the NIH director's new innovator award in 2009 for her work on "Chemically Amplified Response Strategies for Medical Sciences". Almutairi's groundbreaking work was highlighted by U.S. NIH director Francis Collins to Congress as one of the 4 most important American technology breakthroughs of the year 2012. Almutairi holds 13 U.S. patents issued, some of which are currently licensed in the Industry. She is a consultant for Fortune 500 companies (IBM, BASF, Roche, Pfizer, Merck) in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical industry and is the Founder of eLux Medical Inc. She is a Technology Investment Advisor to Angel groups, family offices, and venture funds. Almutairi also holds 10 years of experience as a U.S. government Science policymaker (NIH, NSF, AAAS, U.S. Army) with a focus on Research & Development and Innovation for a Knowledge-based economy.Dr. Almutairi received her Bachelor of Science from Occidental College and her PhD from the University of California, Riverside
Advisor
Jason D. Toranto, MD
Dr. Jason Toranto is a dual board certified plastic surgeon with fellowship training in craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery. He began practice at the University of California, Irvine where he was an Assistant Professor, Co-Director of Research, and Director of Craniofacial surgery. He then became the Chief of Plastic Surgery at a multi-disciplinary clinic, where he focused on complex facial reconstruction, and now is in private practice. His current practice focuses on the interplay between plastic surgery and other surgical subspecialties, providing tailored reconstructive and aesthetic options to his patients. Dr. Toranto has published numerous articles on a variety of subjects, including fat grafting, hypertrophic scarring, hernia repair, and lower extremity reconstruction. He is also the CEO and Co-Founder of Health Allies Clinic (HAC), a multi-disciplinary medical group that focuses on providing specialized surgical services to American College of Surgeons (ACS) Level One - Three Trauma Centers. Under Dr. Toranto’s leadership, HAC has successfully stabilized emergency healthcare delivery across a significant region of San Diego County. Dr. Toranto received his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) with honors from Stanford University and his Medical Doctorate (M.D.) from the University of Michigan.
Advisor
Bill Ruehle, MBA
As a CFO, Mr. Ruehle has led 2 very successful IPOs in the tech sector, having joined both companies when they were small private entities. In 1987 he became CFO of Silicon Valley-based SynOptics Communications, a network equipment co, as employee #30 with a $2M annual revenue run rate. 7 years later he led the merger of the then $700M rev SynOptics with Wellfleet creating Bay Networks. When he left Bay in 1997 it had grown to $2B annual revenue with over 6K employees WW & a multi-billion $ market cap. In 1997 he was recruited as CFO into Orange County-based Broadcom Corporation which, at the time, had 150 employees & an annual revenue run rate of $20 million. He led the wildly successful IPO in 1998 & helped the company reach the $1B revenue level in 2000, his 3rd year with the company. When he left Broadcom in 2006 the company was the leader in the broadband communications semiconductor sector with revenues of $3.6B, over 5K employees, 22 business units & a market cap of $20B. During his tenure, he oversaw over 25 acquisitions. While at Broadcom he also served on the Board of privately held Matrix Semiconductor Corporation, a Benchmark-funded company that completed a successful sale to SanDisk Corporation, and in May 2014 elected as the Chairman of the Board for Kineteks corp. Since leaving Broadcom, he has been running his own advisory business called Ruehle CFO Advisory Services, LLC. In April 2015, he joined Clariphy corporation as the CFO and completed a successful exit as a sale to an NYSE-listed company, Inphi Corporation in December 2016. Bill was Invited to join the Board of Directors of Inphi in March 2017.Mr. Ruehle received his MBA from Harvard
Advisor
Alberto J. Arguello, MD
Dr. Alberto J. Argüello is a Costa Rican board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He graduated with honors from the University of Costa Rica and then from the University of Guadalajara, Mexico in March, 2005.He is the founder and CEO of the Advanced Center of Plastic Surgery in San José, Costa Rica. He has also served as the Assistant Chair of National Secretaries and belonged to the Patient Safety Committee of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He is a three time President of the Costa Rican Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons as well as a member of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Editorial Board. For the past 14 years, Dr. Argüello has served on the Board of Directors of American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities.He has been a visiting professor to many plastic surgery meetings worldwide and is regularly invited to appear on morning Television shows in Costa Rica’s Channels 6, 7, and 8.
Advisor
Thomas Mitchell, MBA
Thomas M. Mitchell is the managing partner of Crestmont Ventures, providing venture assistance and strategic advice to entrepreneurs working on breakthrough technologies that solve identifiable problems. At Crestmont, Thomas has invested in over 50 companies and created 5 billion dollars in value with 15 successful exits. He has over 50 years of experience consulting for global start-up ventures. Thomas is a U.S. Air Force veteran with a BA from Yale University and an MBA from the University of Denver.
Advisor
James Chao, MD, PhD, MBA
James J. Chao, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon and the CEO of Prime Plastic Surgery, Prime Med Spa, and Oasis MD Lifestyle Healthcare. Dr. Chao is a fellowship-trained hand and microvascular surgeon who specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the hand and upper extremity, aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, body contouring surgery, and the development of new technologies in the field of plastic surgery. Four years ago, Dr. Chao left his tenured position as a Clinical Professor of Surgery at UCSD and started Peak Healthcare Alliance (PHA) in response to the changing healthcare landscape. Along with co-founders George Scopetta and Dr. David Chao, he currently has amalgamated multiple companies and established strategic partnerships into a vertically integrated healthcare delivery platform with assets in excess of $250M. PHA is specifically designed to leverage the economics of today’s healthcare environment into a sustainable premium consumer-driven brand of lifestyle medicine for the future.Dr. Chao received his Bachelor of Science from Stanford and his MD degree from NYU
Advisor
Alain Schreiber, MD
Alain Schreiber, MD served as Managing Partner of Proquest Investments, a healthcare venture firm with over $900M in assets under management from 2000 to 2021. In this capacity, he served on over 20 boards including 7 public companies and oversaw 17 exits by merger or public offerings. Prior to Proquest Dr. Schreiber was the CEO of Vical, a public vaccine biotechnology company, from 1992-2000. Previously he served as Senior VP of Research at Rhone Poulenc Rorer (now part of Sanofi) and Department Head of Biochemistry at Syntex (now Roche). Dr. Schreiber received a B.S. in chemistry, summa cum laude, and an M.D., summa cum laude, from the Free University in Brussels, Belgium. Subsequently, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.