Unparalleled Expertise

Dr. Chan is a world leader in healthcare technology and innovation. He has been an advocate of Worrell’s research and design for many years. He partners with Dr. Killeen on many of the projects that are transforming the quality of emergency medical care around the world. He currently focuses on how to advance value-based care to meet the needs of the growing geriatric population in America. His ideas have led to meaningful results for an incredible amount of people due to his ability to develop partnerships with many local, state, and federal agencies, and his success winning funding from the NIH, HRSA, NSF, and many more.

Dr. Ellsworth is committed to improving people’s lives through plastic surgery. As the medical director of the plastic and reconstructive surgery program at Houston Methodist and owner of his own practice, he uses his expertise in reconstructive surgery and microsurgery to transform the lives of his patients. He shares his expertise with the world by prolifically publishing his latest research in academic journals. Dr. Ellsworth has been appointed to many leadership positions within the field of plastic surgery. He currently serves as a Diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Hashimoto is transforming the world of surgery. Instead of building walls to protect his position as the winner of the American College of Surgeon’s TOP GUN Laparoscopic skills competition, he is working to break the barriers that make surgical expertise a scarcity. He is committed to advancing the idea of a ‘Collective Surgical Consciousness’ where data from every surgery is collected and distributed to surgeons everywhere. To start making his vision a reality, he co-founded the Harvard Surgical Program in Innovation with the hopes of using artificial intelligence to improve the quality of surgical training and democratize access to surgical expertise. Arguing that the future of surgery will not be defined by machine automation but rather humans will work side by side with machines to create the best possible surgical outcomes.

Dr. Hutchins is a leader in pain reduction research. His research has paved the way for the FDA approval of new, cutting edge pain-reducing pharmaceuticals. As the Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer of the University of Minnesota Health Ambulatory Surgery Center he oversees the clinical, operational, and financial strategy of a high performing academic, outpatient surgery center. He specializes in opioid reduction, acute pain, regional anesthesia, and ambulatory anesthesia. Mpls. St. Paul Magazine has recognized Dr. Hutchins as a “Top Doctor – Rising Star” in 2017, 2018, and 2019. As an Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, he also teaches at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Dr. Killeen is a world leader in healthcare innovation and technology, and (along with Dr. Ted Chan) has been a long-time friend and collaborator with Worrell. He has helped facilitate Worrell’s access to UCSD for many research projects and was a key advisor and supporter of Geneva Health Solutions, the startup successfully launched out of Worrell. Dr. Killeen’s research, creativity, and ability to secure large grants has led to the creation of many technology systems, such as drones that fly blood samples between hospitals, that have improved the quality of healthcare for the San Diego region.

With his work at Mayo Clinic and Children’s Minnesota, Dr. Lillegard is leading the way in ex-vivo and in-utero cell and gene correction strategies. He has an extensive research background, having earned an MD and a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Nevada. As the Research Director of the Midwest Fetal Care Center at Children’s Minnesota, his genetics research is paving the way for new understandings of how to treat congenital diseases in babies before they are even born. He puts his research into action by regularly conducting some of the most complex surgeries in healthcare as a pediatric general and thoracic surgeon at Children’s Minnesota.

Dr. Steel is an experienced anesthesiologist, hospital leader, and expert on the economics of value-based healthcare and rural medicine. He has a true passion and enthusiasm for research and innovation. He once described his participation in a Worrell co-creation as, “One of the most fun days of my life.” His work as the Chief of Staff and Chief Quality Officer at White River Medical Center led to the facility being named as one of the Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals in America by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. He is dedicated to aligning the incentives of administrators, physicians and patients, and advocates for progressive models of care that can be customized to meet the unique needs of each patient.

Qui Vo, RN is a nursing director with experience supporting a wide variety of surgeries. His close contact with patients, empathetic style of caring, and fourteen years of experience has led to his expert understanding of the current state of the patient experience in the operating room and how it can be improved. At the Hayes Valley Surgery Center in San Francisco, California he currently is involved with plastic, urological, podiatry, and orthopedic surgeries. Having worked in both county hospitals and upscale surgery centers, Qui possesses a unique perspective about the differences in patient experiences within the healthcare system.

Dr. Dai is renowned for his expertise in joint surgery and sports medicine. As an orthopedic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Dai has collaborated with multiple institutions, such as Hospital for Special Surgery, the University of Pittsburgh Sports Medicine Center, and UCLA. In his distinguished career, he has always demonstrated extraordinary clinical skills, and is uncommonly explorative, both in work and life. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Youth Committee of Chinese Society of Sports Medicine (CSSM), editorial board of the Chinese edition of The American Journal of Sports Medicine and is widely regarded as a respectful key opinion leader in domestic and international orthopedic conferences.

With over 25 years as a practicing surgeon, Dr. Lu specializes in cardiovascular diseases and is particularly well-known for his rich experiences in diagnosis and treatment, as well as surgery techniques with heart valve disease. He earned an M.D. in 1996, and afterward, engaged in the clinical work and studies in the Affiliated Hospital of Kyoto University. Interviewed by researchers from global leading companies in healthcare, he contributes to many innovative and actionable ideas, such as for suture and dressing design, SSI (surgical site infection) control, catheter, and valve design. Among the first 10 surgeons in China, he’s also the first surgeon to conduct transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in his hospital. He co-invents a new procedure approach and corresponding tools/devices based on TAVI to improve patient safety and procedure success and now serves as a country-wide trainer to teach surgical techniques across China.

As the Vice-Director of the Nursing Department at Shanghai Children’s Medical Center, Ms. Shen holds her reputation not only for her expertise in clinical hematology/oncology nursing practice but her open-mindedness and eagerness for knowledge-sharing as well. Even with a heavy load of clinical work and research after medical school, she proceeded to earn her Masters of Nursing Management from Australian Catholic University. Her sensitiveness as a compassionate human-being, inquisitiveness, and team spirit as a professional, paved the way to her career as a highly-experienced nurse and researcher.

Specialized in laparoscopic gastrectomy and weight-loss surgery, Dr. Zhou has always impressed patients and colleagues with his expertise in disease diagnosis & treatment, as well as sophisticated surgical techniques. Dr. Zhou received his M.D. from the Medical College of Soochow University in 2010, and since then visited Juntendo University, the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at Ohio State University and the University Hospital Dresden for joint research. With more than 20 years of experience, he is continuously pursuing clinical innovations throughout his career. Exploring every possibility to offer even seemingly inconspicuous improvements that could contribute to better clinical outcomes and patient experience.