Newsroom

Dr. Samer Sarofim

Sales and Marketing Lead

Dr. Sarofim is a Pharmacist and an Assistant Professor of Marketing at California State University. He is passionate about enhancing the quality of life of people of all ages through effective communication of health care benefits, public safety, and financial wellbeing. He advocates for consumers’ welfares through his scholarly research. His research was nationally recognized and awarded by multiple prestigious marketing scholarly associations. Dr. Sarofim obtained his Ph.D. in Business Marketing from the University of Kansas, after completing a Master in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Patrick McCartney

Patrick McCartney was named Executive Director of the International Essential Tremor Foundation on August 17, 2015.

Patrick brings 20 plus years of experience in marketing, fundraising, and non-profit management to the IETF.  Before joining the IETF, Patrick served as the Executive director of the Endowment Association at Kansas City Kansas Community College where he was responsible for the administration and fund raising activities for the Endowment.   Patrick also served 10 years as the Vice President of Marketing for the Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce where he was responsible for all marketing, special events, and sponsorship sales for the Chamber.

Patrick graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor of journalism and has a master’s degree in sports administration from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida.  He serves on the board of directors for the Tiger Club of Kansas City, the United Way of Wyandotte County, and the American Brain Coalition.

Mendy Laval

Mendy Laval is the Intrapreneur in Residence and a Corporate Entrepreneurship instructor at California State University, Fresno. She leads the Pay it Forward Luncheon Forums for Fresno State students and community leaders and is the Coleman Foundation Entrepreneur in Residence for the University. She sits on the Advisory Board for the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Mendy received her M.I.M. in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management (1985) and her B.A. in International Relations and History from the University of Southern California (1983). She attended Cambridge University, England, Summer Program in 1981.

For over 35 years, Mendy worked in senior leadership positions in both public and private corporations Her early career was spent working globally in new business development. Her most recent position was President of LAKOS Filtration Solutions where she served in this capacity from 1998-2013 until it sold to Lindsay Corporation (LNN) in 2013. Mendy remained with the company to ensure a smooth transition. In 2015. she became a strategic advisor for Lindsay Corporation and their Fresno-based business unit. Today, Mendy is a partner in Laval Family Office, a consulting company specializing in Industrial, commercial and agricultural water solutions and owns The Launch Pad at River Park, a co-sharing office building.

Philanthropy and community involvement is of great importance to Mendy. She is especially passionate about Valley Children’s Healthcare one of the largest pediatric healthcare networks in the nation where she served on the Board of Trustees for 11 years (2000-2011) and held a number of positions including President of the Board. She was asked to return to the Board of Trustees in 2017 and serves on the finance and investment committees.

Valerie Obenchain

Valerie Obenchain, CEO of Advanced Interactive Response Systems (AIRS) has been in the respiratory field for 20 years. AIRS has launched their MENC and are bringing digital health systems to the market. Valerie also has prior management experience at Spectrum Health and was the CEO of Allcare Healthcare. She is on the advisory board for the American Medical Device Summit.

Dr. David Higgins

Dr. Higgins earned his PhD in molecular biology and genetics from the University of Rochester in New York. He has a professional background in biotechnology research, project management, and business development. He comes from a family with a long history of Parkinson's disease and now spends full time as a Parkinson's patient advocate. He lives in the Northpark neighborhood of San Diego.

Jeremiah Folia

Operations/Engineering Assistant

Jeremiah is a senior mechanical engineering and political science student at California State University, Fresno. He has worked for multiple government organizations conducting research and producing media, as well as directing a short film of his own creation. Jeremiah served as the president of his university’s mechanical engineering honor society, and currently works on the Five Microns team in prototyping as well as in supporting office operations.

Aubrey Lim

Director of Operations

Aubrey is the glue to the Five Microns team. Her roles include overseeing research studies and assisting in office management. Highlights from her past experiences include running a jerky business while a member of Future Founders, a national entrepreneurship fellowship program, and graduating from California State University, Fresno with a degree in food systems entrepreneurship.

Sreekanth Rudraraju

Chief Engineer

Sreekanth brings a strong knowledge of design and manufacturing to the team from his experience developing surveillance systems and devices for Electronics Corporation of India Limited. Originally from Hyderabad, India, Sreekanth decided to pursue a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in California, where he met Dr. Nguyen and joined his project to create a tremor-reducing device.

Rodger Elble, MD

Dr. Elble is a leading essential tremor researcher. He received his PhD and MD degrees from Indiana University in 1975 and 1977, and completed his training in neurology at Washington University, St. Louis in 1981. Since then, his clinical practice at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine has been devoted primarily to patients with movement disorders. His research has focused on the quantification, diagnosis, and treatment of tremor disorders.

Dr. Leo Nguyen

CEO & President

Dr. Nguyen is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at California State University, Fresno. Vibration control and advanced system design are his specialties, and Five Microns developed out of his research on using vibration control techniques to steady a person’s arm. He finds the complexity of the human body fascinating and is passionate about improving human life through his work as an engineer. Dr. Nguyen obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Toledo, Ohio after completing a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Oklahoma.