Susan Aldridge, PhD

President, Thomas Jefferson University

Susan C. Aldridge, PhD, a groundbreaking higher education leader, strategist and thought leader, was appointed as President of Thomas Jefferson University on May 7, 2024, having led the institution as Interim President since June 2023. Dr. Aldridge also served as a member of the Thomas Jefferson University Board of Trustees from July 1, 2022 to July 21, 2023.

Previously, she served as a senior executive at Drexel University, University of Maryland and Troy University; as a Senior Fellow at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; and as an executive consultant in higher education.

At Drexel University from 2013 to 2019, Dr. Aldridge served in the dual roles of President of Drexel University Online and the university’s Senior Vice President for online learning. While directing the expansion of Drexel’s online presence to more than 100 programs, she led development of a system of comprehensive services addressing the unique needs of online students, and guided implementation of new approaches that resulted in improved retention and learning outcomes. She also spearheaded a research project around innovative practices in technology-enhanced education, which resulted in the award-winning, open-source website, Virtually Inspired.

As President of the University of Maryland Global Campus from 2006 to 2012, Dr. Aldridge was responsible for the institution’s vision, strategic initiatives, management and sustainable growth strategy. She led a doubling of both enrollment — to 97,000 in 28 countries — and annual revenue to more than $400 million. And under her leadership, the organization completed the largest capital campaign in its history and received dozens of national and international awards.

As Vice Chancellor of Troy University, Alabama from 2001 to 2006, she served as chief executive officer of the university's Global Campus. It served ~18,000 students on satellite campuses in 17 U.S. states and 14 countries, and an additional 9,000 students through the online eCampus.

In addition, Dr. Aldridge has served as a higher education consultant and as a Senior Fellow at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. In those roles, she counseled university leaders on topics ranging from student access, enrollment and retention to technology-mediated and hybrid education. She co-authored the book Wired for Success, which provided university presidents with a wealth of innovative, research-driven, technology-enhanced models for student success and strategic business growth. As well, she has been Principal Investigator for several U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) grants and served as a national proposal reviewer for the agency.

Dr. Aldridge earning outstanding service awards from both HHS and the U.S. Social Security Administration; was recognized by the Governor of Colorado for exceptional leadership in healthcare service planning and delivery; was twice included in the list of Washington DC’s Top 100 most powerful women; and received awards from the US Distance Learning Association, Women in Technology and Campus Technology.

Having received her Bachelor’s degree from Colorado Women’s College, Dr. Aldridge earned both a Master’s degree and PhD in public administration at the University of Colorado.

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David Briel

Senior Managing Director, International Trade and Investment, BusinessPA, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development

In his current position as Senior Managing Director, International Trade and Investment, BusinessPA, David oversees a team of five development specialists in Harrisburg and a network of twelve overseas authorized representatives, whose mission is to attract foreign direct investment to Pennsylvania and create employment for Commonwealth residents. David joined the Office of International Business Development at the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development in 2007.

Since 2007, this network has created and retained more than 3,500 jobs and attracted more than $500 million of capital investment.

Before working for the Commonwealth, David worked for six years in Japan for ITOCHU, a large Japanese trading firm, and the Japanese Ministry of Education. After returning to the U.S., he worked with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Embassy in Washington working with US businesses expanding into the Japanese market. David has passed the top level of the Japanese language proficiency examination.

David serves on the Board of the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia and the Board of the French-American Chamber of Commerce. He is also the volunteer treasurer for the Catholic Worker House in Harrisburg. David has also volunteered in Haiti and helped raise money for Fonkoze, a Haitian microfinance fund.

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Michele Cully, PhD

Life Sciences Economic Development Specialist, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development; Technology and Entrepreneurship

Michelle Cully is passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship in life sciences and healthcare. In her role as the Life Sciences Economic Development Specialist for the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), she leverages her experience as a scientist to provide strategic guidance to statewide executive leadership on the life sciences industry. She leads initiatives to promote innovation and drive the growth of life sciences businesses across the Commonwealth. Michelle brings diverse product development experience spanning medtech, diagnostics, and AI-enabled tools, and holds a doctorate in Immunology from the University of Pennsylvania. She offers a perspective on how policy and public-private collaboration can strengthen and scale a more resilient life sciences ecosystem in Pennsylvania.

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Andy Hay

Chairman, Sysmex America, Inc.; President and CEO, Medicaroid Inc.

Andy became Chairman of Sysmex American in 2024, after serving as CEO from 2021 to 2024, to focus on Medicaroid’s hinotori™ Surgical Robotic System.

He began his career with Sysmex over 35 years ago as a founding member of Sysmex United Kingdom. Andy has served in various commercial operations roles, including Vice President of Sales, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer (starting in 2018), and CEO

Andy is a graduate of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

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Nathan Josephsohn, PhD

Vice President of Alliance Management and Business Development, Sumitomo Pharma America

Nathan Josephsohn, now VP of Alliance Management and Business Development, has served in various roles at Sumitomo Pharma, including Executive Director of Business Development (2019-2025). He was also the Founder and CEO of Regenerate Therapeutics Inc. (2019-2023).

Nathan earned a PhD in organic chemistry from Boston College, where he conducted research in the Hoveyda Lab.

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Atsunobu Kasagi

Director, Innovation Specialist
City of Kobe

Atsunobu Kasagi serves as Director and Innovation Specialist at the Silicon Valley Office of the Kobe City Government, where he promotes Kobe’s global innovation ecosystem by building partnerships with U.S. technology companies, universities, startups, and public-sector organizations. His work focuses on strengthening Kobe’s international competitiveness, attracting foreign businesses and investment, and creating cross-border opportunities in AI, life sciences, MedTech, advanced manufacturing, and innovation ecosystem development.

Since 2019, Kasagi has played a leading role in expanding Kobe’s startup ecosystem internationally. He has supported Kobe-based entrepreneurs in accessing global markets while attracting U.S. West Coast technology companies, startups, accelerators, and innovation partners to Kobe. One of his major accomplishments was helping launch the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab in Kobe, a collaborative initiative with Microsoft and Kawasaki Heavy Industries that supports corporate innovation through AI.

More recently, Kasagi has advanced industry–academia–government collaboration in Kobe, working with Kobe University, local companies, and overseas partners to develop U.S.–Japan partnerships in medical engineering, life sciences, AI, and digital talent development. He also promotes Kobe as a gateway for international innovation collaboration through strategic connections with U.S. universities, research institutions, and regional innovation ecosystems.

Before joining the City of Kobe, Kasagi served as Manager for International Affairs at the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, Keizai Doyukai, where he helped strengthen U.S.–Japan economic relations. He organized senior business delegations to Washington, D.C. and Silicon Valley, supported dialogue with U.S. policy and business leaders, and helped develop policy proposals for the Japanese government.

Kasagi began his career at NTT DOCOMO, gaining broad experience in domestic marketing, global business strategy, M&A, and human resource development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Tsukuba and earned an Executive Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington in March 2026.

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Masashi Kiyomine

Founder and Managing Partner
Kicker Ventures

Masashi Kiyomine is Founder and Managing Partner of Kicker Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in healthcare and life sciences innovation. He has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare venture capital, working with startups, corporations, research institutions, and investors globally.

Prior to founding Kicker Ventures in 2021, he spent 13 years with Mitsui & Co. Global Investment, where he led and supported investments in digital health, medical devices, biotechnology, and other healthcare technologies, serving as Global Head of Life Sciences Venture Investments. He is actively involved in initiatives supporting U.S.–Japan life sciences collaboration and the international expansion of Japanese healthcare startups. He received his engineering degree from Dartmouth College.

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Yoshihiro Muragaki, MD, PhD

Professor, Kobe University

Yoshihiro Muragaki received the M.D. degree from Kobe University, in 1986, and the Ph.D. degree in medical science from Tokyo Women’s Medical College, in 1997. Since 1992, he has been a Certified Neurosurgeon at the Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Women’s Medical University. Since 2009, he has been an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Advanced Techno-Surgery, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, where he was a Professor, from 2011 to 2022. In 2022, he became the Vice Dean of the Graduate School of Medicine and the Manager of the Center for Advanced Medical Engineering Research and Development (CAMED), Kobe University. He engages in brain tumor treatment, intraoperative MRI, and regulatory science. He is a member of Japanese Neurosurgical Society, Japan Society for Neuro-Oncology, and Japanese Society for Medical and Biological Engineering.

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Kotaro Sasaki, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine
Richard King Mellon Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

Description of Clinical Expertise
Dr. Sasaki's clinical expertise includes renal pathology and genitourinary pathology

Description of Research Expertise
Dr. Sasaki’s research is focused on the development of human germline and urogenital organs. His team’s major research accomplishment includes 1) the discovery of the nascent amnion as the origin of primate germline, 2) first reconstitution of human primordial germ cell and prospermatogonial development using pluripotent stem cells, 3) identification of the origin of human gonadal and adrenal lineage and 4) the reconstitution of human adrenal specification using pluripotent stem cells. These discoveries lay the foundation for understanding molecular basis of human infertility, reproduction an endocrinology.

Dr. Sasaki earned his MD from Hokkaido University School of Medicine (2005) and his PhD in medicine from Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine (2017).

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Thomas Thornton

Vice President, Innovation, Strategy & Business Development, Jefferson Ventures

Tom Thornton is the Vice President of Jefferson Ventures at Jefferson, a comprehensive enterprise comprising Jefferson Health, Thomas Jefferson University, and Jefferson Health Plans — a $16 billion system with 65,000 employees, ranking among the top 15 non-profit health systems in the United States. In his role, Tom partners with thought leaders across the university, health system, and insurance plan to transform ideas into measurable improvements in health outcomes, patient experience, and new revenue streams.

Previously, Tom was the inaugural Senior Vice President of Northwell Ventures at Northwell Health, leading Northwell’s corporate venturing programs. His work encompassed enterprise growth initiatives, strategic investing, company creation, innovation management, consulting, and the formation of industry joint ventures, all aimed at diversifying the health system’s revenue streams.

Outside of Jefferson, Tom is a board member and angel investor in healthcare startups, an advisor to academic medical centers globally, and an advocate for water quality initiatives on Long Island. He lives in Oyster Bay, NY, with his wife, Lindsay, and their five children.

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