Leadership Team
(Listed Alphabetically)
Robert Bearden
Senior Vice President, Clinical and Medical Affairs
Appointed as Senior Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs, Robert, brings over 20 years of experience in pharmaceuticals and medical devices to Sanara MedTech. He has played a key role in advancing translational research and bridging scientific innovation with clinical application. Prior to Sanara, Robert served as Director of Biologics and Regenerative Medicine at Smith & Nephew. Robert began his career in orthopedic intraoperative sales before earning a doctorate in molecular cell biology. Robert earned his bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and his Ph.D. in Molecular Cell Biology from Texas A&M University.
Nina Bionda
Vice President, Research and Development
Nina joined Sanara MedTech’s R&D division in September 2022 and currently serves as the Vice President of Research and Development. In this role, she leads the design and execution of both internal and external studies essential for the development of new surgical and wound care products, as well as the advancement of scientific understanding of the company’s existing portfolio. Prior to joining Sanara MedTech, Nina spent seven years at a preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in the comprehensive evaluation of medical devices. Nina holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Florida Atlantic University and a combined B.S./M.S. degree in Biochemical Engineering from the University of Zagreb, Croatia. Additionally, she has undergone specialized training in microbiology, molecular biology, and cell and tissue engineering.
Nicholas Gachassin, III
General Counsel
Nick has served as the General Counsel of Sanara MedTech since June of 2023. Prior to starting with Sanara MedTech, Nick was a member of the Gachassin Law Firm where he provided counsel and guidance to health care providers and health care businesses, including hospitals, physicians, home health and hospice agencies, and others. Nick also served as outside general counsel to several hospitals in Louisiana and as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for LHC Group, Inc. He is a graduate of Tulane University and received his JD with Honors from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and his LL.M-Health Care from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Rebecca McMahon
President, Research and Development
Rebecca has served as President, Research and Development since July 2021. Prior to joining the Company, Rebecca was President of Rochal Industries where she engaged in wound care research and product development, FDA interactions, and the development of regulatory, manufacturing and commercialization strategies. Prior to joining Rochal in 2015, Rebecca was a Postdoctoral Fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M, an MBA from University of Texas at San Antonio, and a dual BS degree in Chemical Engineering and Science, Technology, and Society from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Mike McNeil
Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Administrative Officer
Mike has served as Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Administrative Officer since January 2025 and previously served as Chief Financial Officer beginning in 2018. Prior to joining the Company, Mike was the Controller for Smith and Nephew's U.S. Advanced Wound Management Division from 2012 to 2018. Mike previously served as Controller and Assistant Controller with Healthpoint Biotherapeutics from 1999 to 2012. Prior to his employment at Healthpoint, he held several finance and internal audit positions with Burlington Resources, Snyder Oil Corporation, and Union Pacific Corporation. Mike earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska and is a Texas certified public accountant.
Ron Nixon
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman
Ron, Founder and Managing Partner of The Catalyst Group, Inc., has served as Chief Executive Officer since May 2024 and as Executive Chairman since May 2019. Ron currently serves on the board of directors for publicly traded LHC Group, Inc., and several other privately held companies in numerous industries. Ron was a past Chairman of the Engineering Alumni Board for the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas in Austin. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas and is in the Academy of Distinguished Alumni in Mechanical Engineering.
Tyler Palmer
Chief Corporate Development and Strategy Officer
Tyler was appointed to Chief Corporate Development & Strategy Officer in April 2024. Tyler brings extensive expertise in the healthcare sector, particularly in leading strategic growth and corporate development initiatives aimed at enhancing financial and clinical outcomes for providers, while maximizing shareholder returns. Prior to Sanara, Tyler served as the Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, Strategy, and Product at AQuity Solutions. Prior to this, Tyler held various leadership roles in corporate development, marketing, and business unit leadership across the Orthopedic, Surgical, and Wound Care sectors at Zimmer, BSN medical, and Essity. Tyler earned his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.
Elizabeth Taylor
Chief Financial Officer
Elizabeth has served as Chief Financial Officer since January 2025. Prior to joining the company, Elizabeth worked for Imbed Biosciences, a privately held medical device company developing and commercializing innovative solutions to improve wound care. She served as its Chief Financial Officer from 2023 to 2025, and as a member of its board of directors from 2018 to 2023. Prior to this, Elizabeth held leadership positions in the financial services sector at Citadel Investment Group, Tala Investments, LP and Thomas H. Lee Partners. She holds a B.A. from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Jake Waldrop
Chief Operating Officer
Jake joined Sanara MedTech as the Chief Operating Officer in April 2024. He brings 20 years of experience leading cross functional teams through a multitude of business process transformations in the technology and medical device industries. Most recently, Jake held the position of Chief Financial Officer for Trilliant Surgical, and after their sale to Enovis (formerly DJO) in early 2021, he held the position of Vice President of Finance and Integrations for the newly founded Foot and Ankle division of Enovis. Jake's career began in public accounting with KPMG, after which Jake has held Controller positions at two fast growing technology companies. He earned a BBA in Accounting and a BBA in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University.
Seth Yon
President, Commercial
Appointed as President, Commercial in August 2023, Seth leads all aspects of the commercial business for Sanara MedTech. In his previous roles as Director of Sales, National Sales Director, and Vice President, Commercial, Seth has been instrumental in expanding the company's national reach and impacting its overall growth. Prior to Sanara MedTech, Seth served as Vice President of Iroquois Industrial Group where he guided multiple divisions in the company in its product offerings to the medical, educational, and automotive industries. Additionally, Seth was a top sales performer and educational leader for a billion-dollar sales organization. He has BA in Marketing & PR from Grand Valley State University.
