Carmen Caricchio
President
With nearly 15 years of healthcare-specific public relations experience, Carmen has helped biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies gain awareness and recognition in the news and on Wall Street. She has launched numerous drugs and medical devices in the ophthalmology, neurology, cardiology, oncology, dermatology, orthopaedic and women’s health industries as well as lasers, drug delivery systems, diagnostics and laboratory products.
In addition, Carmen has promoted award-winning disease awareness initiatives by bridging the work of worldwide advocacy organizations, research institutions and leading pharmaceutical/medical device companies. Her firm has been the recipient of four Anvil Awards from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Carmen is a communications advisor to BIO, the world’s largest biotechnology organization, and she serves as a coach/mentor for Astia, an organization committed to high-potential, high-growth women-led start-ups at all stages. She is an active member of the San Francisco chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Ophthalmic Women’s Leaders (OWL). Carmen has been a frequent speaker for medical device industry organizations worldwide.
Carmen studied microbiology at University of California, Santa Cruz before completing her undergraduate degree in business administration at the University of San Francisco. She has completed MBA coursework at the University of California, Berkeley.
Drew Avril
Media Relations Director, CoActive NYC
Drew Avril is public relations professional with nearly 15 years of experience in the fields of health care, entertainment and consumer goods. For the past decade, Drew has specialized in designing, managing and executing targeted media relations campaigns for high-profile physicians, hospital divisions, state health associations and medical device companies. He has been instrumental in the launch of several medical technologies and procedures, and effectively managed his clients' publicity needs as they navigated the sensitive FDA approval and clearance processes.
His clients have received national and international coverage in major news mediums such as USA Today, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, TIME, Elle, Maxim, ABC World News, Good Morning America, WebMD, Associated Press Radio, CBS Radio Network, CNN Headline News, CBS Evening News, WNBC-TV, and more than 100 other major television affiliates nationwide.
Drew sharpened his communications skills in radio and television as a writer and reporter covering a wide variety of stories including the 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns, the TWA Flight 800 plane crash and the environmental impact of pollution on the Long Island shoreline.
Drew studied environmental science and communications at Cornell University, English and journalism at SUNY Stony Brook and broadcasting at New York Institute of Technology.
Andrew Geddes
Media & Investor Relatons Director, CoActive Sydney
Andrew has more than 20 years of experience as a business journalist, correspondent and corporate communications and investor relations advisor. He was formally trained as a journalist with News Limited in Sydney Australia before relocating to Hong Kong where he worked as the Asia correspondent for US-based Crain Communications.
He has managed global media, investor relations and communications functions for Ventracor Limited, the first Australian company to develop and manufacture a CE Mark approved left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Since leaving Ventracor, Andrew has helped numerous life sciences and healthcare companies position themselves to successfully expedite their clinical trial recruitment, raise capital and drive international medical and investor awareness.
With international print, television and radio experience, Andrew has created successful targeted communications for audiences in Australia, Asia and the USA.
He studied at Macquarie University in Sydney, AU. He is an active member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Australian Investor Relations Association (AIRA).
Alisa Bonsignore
Medical Writer
Alisa has more than 15 years of experience as a writer and editor for healthcare, medical device, pharmaceutical and high technology clients on both coasts. She has extensive experience with devices for respiratory monitoring and therapy, as well as minimally invasive cardiovascular technologies.
Prior to joining CoActive, Alisa worked with a diverse client base including Covidien (Tyco Healthcare), Johnson & Johnson, Knoll Pharmaceutical and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She provided planning and development for PR campaigns, customer communications, continuing education programs, peer-reviewed scientific papers, marketing collateral and web content, and edited science textbooks and psychology manuscripts.
Alisa holds a BA in English and Political Science from Bucknell University and is a member of AMWA, the American Medical Writers Association.
Shauna Farr-Jones, Ph.D.
Analyst/Science Writer
Dr. Shauna Farr-Jones has 15 years of experience as a bench scientist and seven as an industry analyst. She currently consults for biotechnology companies writing government grant applications, conducting market research and technology assessment. She was recently at BioCentury Publications, the leading biotechnology business newsletter, where she analyzed and wrote about strategic market and technology issues affecting biotechnology companies.
Previously, Dr. Farr-Jones was editor at the Journal of Molecular Graphics and Modeling, covering developments in silico drug discovery. Her scientific research has included peptide and protein structure using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, protease mechanism and molecular modeling.
Dr. Farr-Jones' education includes post-doctoral work at the University of California, San Francisco, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Tufts University in Boston, a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Southampton University, England and Certificates in Marketing and Finance from the University of California, Berkeley extension. She is a CFA level III candidate.
Stephanie Baba, OD, FAAO
Medical Writer
Dr. Baba has served on the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley School of Optometry for more than 15 years. She has written numerous publications including white papers, journal articles, and instructional brochures for optometric journals and commercial endeavors. Dr. Baba is presently contributing editorials to publications of the American Optometric Association.
