Chicago CEOs, executives added to MATTER governing board

MATTER, the new health care tech incubator for next-generation health IT, medical device, diagnostics and biopharma companies, today announced the election of 10 national healthcare and business leaders to its governing board.

 

Chicago-based board members include: David Ormesher, founder and CEO of closerlook inc, Rishi Shah, CEO of ContextMedia, Ellen Rudnick, clinical professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, James O’Connor Jr., managing director and global head of venture capital at William Blair & Company, James Madara, M.D., executive vice president and CEO of the American Medical Association, Sheli Rosenberg, consultant to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and principal of Roselin Investments and Laura Ferris Anderson, chief of staff, office of the Midwest chairman for JPMorgan Chase & Co. Other executives include Rajeev Venkayya, president of global vaccine business unit at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Peter McNerney, founder and senior advisor of Thomas, McNerney & Partners and Thomas DeRosa, CEO of Health Care REIT Inc.

 

“The caliber of individuals joining the board signals the momentum that continues to build from our opening just a few weeks ago,” Steven Collens, CEO of MATTER, said in a statement. “These first-class leaders will help us accelerate our mission and foster the collaboration that is critical to launching new businesses that matter.”

 

MATTER, which opened in February, aims to bring together health care innovators in a centralized place to communicate. They focus on next-generation health IT, medical device, diagnostics and biopharma companies with an extensive mentor network, as well as by hosting classes and events. The space currently houses 80 health tech startups and has raised more than $8 million in funding.

 

“This announcement is a big win for Chicago’s healthcare community,” Timothy Walbert, co-chair of MATTER and chairman, president and CEO of Horizon Pharma, said in a statement. “We’re honored to have these top healthcare leaders joining the board at MATTER.”

 

The new board members will offer strategic leadership to guide MATTER as it works to accelerate the formation and growth of new businesses to revolutionize healthcare.