- Company Overview
- Leadership
- Celebrity Spokespersons
Edward S. Guindi, M.D.
President and CEO
Dr. Edward Guindi is the principal founder of CORD:USE. Dr. Guindi built a large obstetrical practice in Central Florida
in the Orlando area where he directly gained experience in counseling expectant mothers about the option to donate their children's cord blood.
CORD:USE is the culmination of Dr. Guindi's direct experience, his intensive study of the field, and his ability to assemble a world-class
team. While Dr. Guindi is no longer able to practice medicine due to an accident he suffered, he was a fully licensed, practicing physician in Florida, board-certified
in Obstetrics and Gynecology prior to his accident. Dr. Guindi received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan.
Michael T. Ernst
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Michael Ernst was a Managing Director with Banc of America Securities. Mr. Ernst enjoyed a successful 19-year corporate and investment banking career with Banc of America Securities, Bank of America, Continental Bank and Mellon Bank. In his prior banking positions, Mr. Ernst has advised and arranged financing's for clients spanning developmental companies through mature global industry leaders. Mr. Ernst sat on the Board of Directors for two affiliates of the Swiss Re Group, Reassure America Life Insurance Company and Valley Forge Life Insurance Company and the Christian Heritage Academy in Northfield, IL. Mr. Ernst received his MBA from University of Chicago and his BA from Denison University.
Thomas Moss
Vice President
Mr. Moss comes to CORD:USE after a seventeen year career in both blood and cord blood banking. He was formerly the Director of Operations for the cord blood program of the New York Blood Center. Other appointments include the Hoxworth Blood Center of the University of Cincinnati and ViaCell, Inc. He is very experienced in creating and maintaining efficient, high quality operations in FDA regulated environments. At CORD:USE, he is responsible for the ongoing operations of the CORD:USE Collection Network, administration of quality programs, and maintaining regulatory compliance. Mr. Moss received his BS from Marietta College.
Joanne Kurtzberg, M.D.
Medical Director, CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank at Duke
Dr. Kurtzberg is the Director of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Program and Professor of Pediatric and Pathology at Duke University. Dr. Kurtzberg is a pioneer in the field of cord blood stem cell transplantation having performed the first transplantation using an unrelated donor's stem cells. Since this transplant, her program has performed over 800 umbilical cord blood transplants, making her the most experienced physician in umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants. Dr. Kurtzberg is widely published and a frequent speaker for hematopoietic transplantation. Dr. Kurtzberg is also the Co-chair of the Cord Blood Committee of the National Marrow Donor Program, and a Member of the Medical Advisory Board of the National Children's Cancer Society.
Alan S. Levine, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Levine joins CORD:USE after having completed a highly successful 25 year career with the National Institutes of Health ("NIH"), where he was most recently the Director of the Blood Disease Program of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the NIH. In this capacity, Dr. Levine was responsible for initiating the bone marrow and umbilical cord blood research programs. He has received numerous honors and awards in recognition of his success in directing national multi center programs in hematology research. Dr. Levine received his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Delaware and his B. S. from Monmouth University.
Hal E. Broxmeyer, Ph.D.
Member, Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Broxmeyer is the Chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Scientific Director of the Walther Oncology Center and a Distinguished Professor of the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Broxmeyer is a highly sought after international speaker who is recognized as a founder of the field of cord blood stem cell transplantation. In his 30 year career he has authored over 500 publications and has served as an editor on many peer reviewed journals, including the Senior Editor of the Journal of Hematotherapy and Stem Cell Research.
John Wagner, M.D.
Member, Scientific Advisory Board
John E. Wagner, M.D., is the Division Director of the Hematology-Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, the Scientific Director of Clinical Research of the Stem Cell Institute and the Scientific Director of Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics and the Clinical Trials Office of the NCI designated Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Wagner has authored more than 180 publications on Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, co-chairs the Committee on Alternative Stem Cell Sources of the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry and has served on the Board of Directors of the NMDP since January 2002.
Eliane Gluckman, M.D., Ph.D.
Member, Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Gluckman is internationally recognized as the pioneering physician who performed the world’s first successful cord blood transplant (sibling donor) in 1988. Dr. Gluckman is Professor of Hematology at the University of Paris VII. She is the head of the International Registry on Cord Blood Transplantation, Eurocord, at the Hospital Saint Louis APHP and President of the European School of Hematology. Dr. Gluckman is a founding member and former President of the European Group of Bone Marrow Transplantation (EBMT). During her 30 years as a transplanter, Dr. Gluckman has performed over 1,900 bone marrow and cord blood transplants and authored over 700 publications.
Esmail D. Zanjani, Ph.D.
Member, Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Zanjani is a Professor and Department Chair at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno. Dr. Zanjani is a world-renowned expert in blood stem cell biology, and is a pioneer in the field of in utero stem cell transplantation and gene therapy as a means for curing genetic diseases prior to birth. Dr. Zanjani was elected President of the International Society for Experimental Hematology and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Experimental Hematology, the group’s premier journal. Dr. Zanjani has been the recipient of numerous NIH and VA grants, including the coveted NIH MERIT Award, which is bestowed to only the most honored scientists.
Carolyn M. Bechtel
Director of Strategic Relations
Ms. Bechtel is actively involved in the non-profit community having provided leadership to the Victory Junction Gang Camp (in association with the Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Gang camps for children with life-threatening and chronic illnesses) and the Bosnia Wheels of Hope Tour. Ms. Bechtel also serves on the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center Board of Overseers. Ms. Bechtel has significant governmental experience by assisting with the campaigns and fundraising activities for numerous Senatorial, Gubernatorial and Presidential candidates. Ms. Bechtel's commercial experience was gained through her association with the Bechtel Corporation, Invencom (a technology start-up) and ownership of two NASCAR teams.
