Annual Member Meeting 2024

Wendy Harris is a seasoned healthcare industry professional with a remarkable 33-year career marked by her leadership and expertise in various aspects of the medical technology field. She has excelled in roles encompassing medical technology, imaging service, clinical training, operational and program management, and business leadership. Wendy’s career has been dedicated to gaining a comprehensive understanding of all facets of the business and identifying opportunities for improvement. Her skill set includes strong leadership, education and training, service, sales, clinical applications, operations, marketing, business management, and P&L leadership. Wendy’s extensive experience also highlights her proficiency in process improvement.

Andrew S. Nencka, PhD is an Associate Professor of Radiology and the Operational Director of the Center for Imaging Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin. The Center for Imaging Research leads advanced clinical MRI in the Milwaukee region and supports over 200 ongoing imaging research projects. He received his BS in Physics & Mathematics from Marquette University in 2004 and his PhD in Biophysics from MCW in 2009. Dr. Nencka’s research focuses on advancing MRI techniques and applications, including image acquisition acceleration, image reconstruction, metal artifact reduction in MRI, and deep learning. He oversees research imaging informatics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and is, with Drs. Mara Lord and Kevin Koch, one of the architects of the CAREScan project of the EDA application.

Jay Hill is an experienced business and technology executive with a strong background in business leadership, advanced technology, product development, and research. He is responsible for leading global teams of engineers in the development of new technologies for the world-leading diagnostic imaging business of GE HealthCare.

Kurt J. Zimmerman’s portfolio includes management of Conflict of Interest for physicians and faculty and collaborations with UW-Madison’s academic health system, UW Health, in support of medical innovation.

Zimmerman also serves as director of the Master of Science in Biotechnology Program at UW-Madison, a cross-disciplinary program with nearly 500 alumni and students working across the biotechnology industry.

Zimmerman serves on the leadership team of the Site Accreditation and Standards Institute (SASI), which is affiliated with the Alliance for Clinical Research Excellence and Safety (ACRES). In this role he leads the SASI Quality Accelerator Program, supporting clinical research sites as they move towards accreditation under the first global quality standard for clinical research.

Dr. Mark Thomas has served Madison College for the past decade, overseeing the college’s policy, strategy, finances, administration, and operations. He currently is the college’s Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President for Institutional Policy and Strategy. Prior roles at the college include Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, as well as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance and Administration.

Prior to working at the college, Dr. Thomas held executive leadership positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors in Chicago and southwestern Michigan for 20 years, serving in roles such as Chief of Staff, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, and Budget Director. He has lectured on finance and administration at the University of Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, and the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Lisa Johnson is a seasoned leader in Wisconsin’s biohealth sector, currently serving as the CEO of BioForward Wisconsin. With a background in finance and a degree from UW-Madison, Lisa’s journey in the industry began in 1989 when she co-founded the life science reagents company, Novagen. Her extensive experience includes global roles at Merck KGaA/EMD, where she worked closely with brilliant scientists, providing her with invaluable insights into the life sciences field. In her current role as CEO of BioForward Wisconsin, Lisa is dedicated to the growth and development of Wisconsin’s biohealth ecosystem. She is a strong advocate for action-oriented individuals who exhibit positive energy in driving the state’s economy.