Quantum Today, Healthcare Tomorrow

Anders Berglund, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics I Mayo Clinic in Florida

Dr. Berglund is a bioinformatics and computational biology scientist at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville with more than a decade of cancer research experience. Dr. Berglund’s work focuses on gene expression and epigenetics, with particular emphasis on DNA methylation, epigenetic aging, and methylation-based biomarkers. Dr. Berglund has led bioinformatics analyses for cancer methylation studies, including data processing, quality control, visualization, epigenetic clock estimation, and interpretation of complex molecular datasets. This research spans prostate cancer, melanoma, glioblastoma, head and neck cancer, and immune oncology, with work involving STING, cGAS, immune synapse genes, tumor immunogenicity, and radiation resistance. Dr. Berglund is also exploring the potential of quantum computing and quantum-inspired approaches to advance the analysis of high-dimensional cancer and epigenomic data, with the goal of improving biomarker discovery, computational efficiency, and biological interpretation.

Charles J. Bruce, M.B., Ch.B.
Consultant, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases & Chief Innovation Officer I Mayo Clinic in Florida

Charles J. Bruce, M.B., Ch.B., is a consultant in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at Mayo Clinic in Florida, where he also serves as Chief Innovation Officer and Associate Medical Director. A Professor of Medicine, he joined Mayo Clinic in 2001 after completing his training in South Africa and at Mayo Clinic. His work focuses on advancing sensor technologies and applying artificial intelligence to improve disease detection and diagnosis. Dr. Bruce has led NIH- and AHA-funded research, holds 76 patents, and was named a Distinguished Mayo Clinic Inventor in 2023. He is an internationally recognized speaker, prolific author, dedicated educator, and serves on leadership committees within Mayo Clinic and national professional organizations, as well as Chair of the Board of Directors of BioFlorida.

Yudong Cao, Ph.D.
Head of Quantum and AI I Boston Consulting Group

Yudong Cao is co-founder and CTO at Zapata Quantum, a quantum software company focused on accelerating the discovery and development of quantum applications. From 2025-2026 he also served as Head of Quantum at BCG X, the tech build and design arm of Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He has led the development of a collection of works (papers and patents) across several domains of quantum applications, including chemistry, materials, cryptography, optimization and machine learning, as well as quantum-inspired algorithms. Prior to his industry experience, he was a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University on quantum algorithms. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Purdue University.

Rickey Carter, Ph.D.
Professor Biostatistics and Director of the Digital Innovation Lab I Mayo Clinic in Florida

Rickey E. Carter, Ph.D., is a Professor of Biostatistics at Mayo Clinic in Florida, where he founded the Digital Innovation Lab and leads Mayo Clinic’s Quantum Incubator strategic priority. With 20+ years in clinical trials and 400+ peer‑reviewed publications, he specializes in turning advanced analytics—AI, software as a medical device, and emerging quantum methods—into evidence‑based tools clinicians can trust. His work emphasizes rigorous validation, real‑world performance, and measurable impact on patient care.

Tobias Denzler, Ph.D.
Head of Science & Technology I QAI Ventures

Dr. Tobias Denzler is Head of Science & Technology at QAI Ventures, where he drives the firm’s scientific and technical strategy across its investment and ecosystem-building activities. He plays a leading role in QAI Ventures’ pre-accelerator programs, helping young talent from academia explore entrepreneurial careers and transition groundbreaking research into viable startup ventures. With a PhD in quantum physics from the University of Stuttgart, Tobias combines deep technical expertise with hands-on experience in startup evaluation and due diligence. At QAI Ventures, he is responsible for scouting promising technologies, guiding investment decisions, and supporting portfolio companies in developing cutting-edge quantum solutions. Before joining QAI Ventures, Tobias served as a scientific consultant in Berlin, advising and managing quantum technology initiatives for the German Federal Ministry of Research and Education. His extensive network within the global quantum industry, paired with his commitment to nurturing talent and innovation, positions him as a key bridge between academia, investors, and the startup ecosystem.

J. Michele Dougherty, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medical Physics I Mayo Clinic in Florida

J. Michele Dougherty, Ph.D., is a medical physicist at Mayo Clinic specializing in radiation oncology and advanced particle therapy. Her clinical and research work focuses on motion management, proton and carbon ion therapy, and the development of next-generation treatment delivery systems. She plays a leadership role in lung cancer treatment planning and is actively involved in international collaborations, including the PTCOG subcommittees, where she contributes to global efforts in carbon ion therapy guidelines. Dr. Dougherty’s research extends into emerging technologies at the intersection of physics and medicine, including quantum sensing, AI-driven treatment planning, and upright radiation therapy systems. She has led innovative projects in motion-adaptive therapy and has been recognized for interdisciplinary work, including a first-place award at a recent international quantum computing hackathon. Her current interests focus on integrating advanced computational and sensing technologies into clinical workflows to improve precision, efficiency, and patient outcomes in cancer care.

Justin Earley, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, School of Molecular Sciences I Arizona State University

Justin Earley is an assistant professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University, where he leads research on molecular qubits, quantum sensing, and advanced magnetic spectroscopies. He received his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Colorado Boulder in partnership with the National Laboratory of the Rockies (formally NREL), where he developed novel microwave spectroscopies to probe molecular electronic dynamics. Prior to joining ASU, he conducted postdoctoral research in dual-comb infrared spectroscopy at CU Boulder’s College of Engineering. His group now combines those areas to develop quantum-enabled measurement tools to understand and control molecular quantum systems, with applications in precision sensing and next-generation healthcare technologies.

Sebastian Fernandez-Bussy, M.D.
James C. and Sarah K. Kennedy Dean of Research I Mayo Clinic in Florida

Sebastian Fernandez-Bussy, M.D., is the James C. and Sarah K. Kennedy Dean
of Research at Mayo Clinic in Florida. An interventional pulmonologist, his
international training has been a commitment to innovation, global collaboration and mentorship. As the James C. and Sarah K. Kennedy Dean of Research at Mayo Clinic in Florida, he provides strategic and operational leadership for research at the Florida campus. His broad expertise in multiple disciplines informs transformative research and developing innovative, patient-centered solutions for serious and complex diseases.

Dr. Fernandez-Bussy also serves as the division chair of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Sleep Medicine and director of Interventional Pulmonology at Mayo Clinic in Florida. Clinically, he has sought to advance minimally invasive pulmonary procedures utilizing cutting-edge techniques and approaches. His personal research focuses on translating emerging technologies in bronchoscopy including ablation and pulsed-electrical field (PEF). His
translational foundation allows ongoing and future studies exploring artificial intelligence-driven, noninvasive diagnostic tools, including vocal biomarker analysis. By combining advanced bronchoscopic diagnostics with low-risk screening approaches, he aims to expand the diagnostic tools and enable earlier, accessible detection of lung disease.

Among his many honors, Dr. Fernandez-Bussy has received Mayo Clinic's Innovation Team Award and the Distinguished Patient Experience Award, recognizing his commitment to advancing discovery and improving
patient outcomes through collaboration, creativity and excellence.

Johannes Galastanos-Dueck, Ph.D.
Co-Founder and CEO I Diffraqtion

Johannes is the Co-Founder and CEO of Diffraqtion, where he is leading the development of a breakthrough quantum camera designed to fundamentally expand how satellites and machines perceive the world — seeing farther, resolving finer detail, and enabling faster, smarter decisions at the edge. Previously, he built and scaled world-class teams in Life Sciences delivering advanced products across Data, AI, and Quantum Technology, and was also a researcher at MIT on Quantum applications in Life Sciences.

Clifton Haider, Ph.D.
Director of the Special Purpose Processor Development Group I Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Clifton R. Haider, Ph.D., directs the Special Purpose Processor Development Group in the Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. His research team develops next-generation electronics for high-speed data and signal processing, wide-bandwidth analog and mixed-signal systems, body-worn physiological monitors, and miniaturized rugged systems. Dr. Haider also chairs Mayo Clinic’s Privacy and Security Committee, which governs efforts to protect patients and staff both digitally and physically. He also chairs Research Technology and Innovation Infrastructure, which helps ensure Mayo Clinic researchers have access to cutting-edge technologies that advance discovery and patient care.

André M. König
CEO I Global Quantum Intelligence

André M. König is a published author, speaker and expert on DeepTech with 30 years of Fortune 500, investing and startup experience. He is the CEO of Global Quantum Intelligence, the premier market & business intelligence provider in Quantum Tech, and Chairman of OneQuantum, the leading Quantum Tech community globally with 15K+ members. He studied Quantum Computing at MIT (certificates) and holds an MBA in Economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business as well as a Masters in Business from ICN School of Management. He speaks English, German, French and poor Italian, has competed in national sailing championships and pursues special forces combat training.

Jennie Kung
Vice Chair I Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange

Jennie W. Kung is vice chair of the Mayo Clinic Berg Innovation Exchange, where she champions a democratized network of innovation builders and enablers to accelerate impact to patients. She is also the association administrator of innovation at Mayo Clinic in Florida and oversees the Mayo Clinic-ASU Alliance. With a diverse career spanning multiple sectors, Ms. Kung has led strategic initiatives in mission-driven institutions, including global partnerships and business expansion at Johnson & Johnson and innovative clinical program development at UCLA Health. Earlier in her career, she spent time as both an investor and investment management consultant with Deloitte in London, New York, and San Francisco. She credits her time at The Walt Disney Company, creating worldwide immersive experiences, as inspiration for leveraging design thinking to re-imagine person centered care innovations. Ms. Kung earned her undergraduate degree from Claremont McKenna College and her M.B.A. from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business as a society and business fellow. She also received the Cambia Health Foundation’s Sojourns Scholar Award, and her research in palliative care and end-of-life care has been published in prominent journals.

FeiFei Li
Senior Consultant I Mayo Clinic in Florida

Feifei Li is a medical physicist and Senior Associate Consultant in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Mayo Clinic Florida. His research focuses on developing robust machine learning algorithms that improve accuracy and lead to better treatment outcomes in radiation therapy. A former theoretical physicist, he holds to the conviction that paper and pencil can change the world.

Laís Lopes, Ph.D.
Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder I Qnity

Laís Lopes holds a PhD in Chemistry and is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and co-founder of Qnity, an innovative startup applying quantum electrochemistry to next-generation affinity assays for drug discovery. Her work integrates fundamental electrochemistry with quantum-level insights to enable highly sensitive and selective molecular detection. With over 13 years of experience in research and development, her expertise spans nanomaterials and 2D systems, particularly graphene, and the investigation of quantum properties using spectroscopic, electrical, and electrochemical techniques.

Wolfgang Losert, Ph.D.
Professor of Physics I University of Maryland

Professor Wolfgang Losert is MPower Professor of Physics in the College of Computer Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland. He is also an affiliate of Bioengineering and of the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, and serves as Co-Director of the UMD-NCI Partnership for Integrative Cancer Research. Prof. Losert’s current research focuses on the multimodal electrical, chemical, and mechanical excitability of cells and tissues, and on the development of quantum biosensor technologies for these multimodal signals. Building on these insights, his group discovered new paradigms for information processing in living neural networks that translate into unconventional AI algorithms. Dr. Losert is a fellow of the AAAS and the American Physical Society.

Nardo Manaloto
Managing Partner I Qubits Ventures

Nardo Manaloto is the Managing Partner of Qubits Ventures (QV), a deep-science venture firm and venture studio at the forefront of quantum technologies, advanced computing, next-generation AI, and infrastructure innovation. QV's vertically integrated IP fund model spans direct startup investment, IP acquisition, and venture studio company-building, purpose-built to capture value across the full deep-tech lifecycle. A computer architect and scientist by training, Nardo's career bridges enterprise technology and frontier investing. He managed a technology innovation fund for one of the largest healthcare organizations in the U.S. and ran a venture studio at the intersection of AI and healthcare, giving him an operator's instinct for moving ideas from lab to market. QV's portfolio reflects this experience, with active collaborations spanning the U.S., Europe, and Asia. A sought-after voice in the global quantum ecosystem, Nardo brings venture discipline, scientific depth, and an extensive international network to every partnership.

Christopher J. McLeod, M.B., Ch.B., Ph.D., FHRS, FACC
Professor of Medicine I Mayo Clinic in Florida

Dr. Christopher J. McLeod is a cardiac electrophysiologist and Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, where he co-directs the High Dimensional Phenotyping Laboratory. His clinical expertise centers on ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death. As Mayo Clinic prepares to operationalize the first carbon ion therapy center in the Western Hemisphere, Dr. McLeod and his team are developing novel sensing and ablation paradigms—including adaptive radiation-cardiac electrophysiology interfaces—alongside predictive modeling frameworks that position quantum computing as a transformative platform for next-generation arrhythmia risk stratification and therapeutic targeting.

Jonathan Parker, M.D., Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience I Mayo Clinic in Arizona

Jonathon J. Parker, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, where he is an Epilepsy & Functional Neurosurgeon. He also directs the Device-Based Neuroelectronics Laboratory. His research focuses on minimally invasive brain recording techniques and improving the effectiveness of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to treat epilepsy.

Dr. Parker earned his A.B. in Biology with high honors at Dartmouth. He completed his M.D. and Ph.D. at University of Colorado School of Medicine. He continued his medical training at Stanford University, where he completed his neurosurgery residency, fellowship in Epilepsy and Stereotactic Surgery, and postdoctoral research fellowship in translational neurophysiology.

Dr. Parker’s clinical focus includes device-based neuromodulation for epilepsy, movement, and pain disorders. He is Principal Investigator on several clinical trials at Mayo Clinic in both the regenerative medicine and device space. He has authored or co-authored over 45 publications in journals such as Epilepsia, Nature Medicine, Nature Communications, and Biological Psychiatry. Dr. Parker is active member of the Arizona MedTech community, having collaborations with the Arizona WearTech Center, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and the Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier Initiative (MDM2). Dr. Parker enjoys exploring the United States via road trips.

Robabeh Rahimi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology I University of Maryland School of Medicine

Dr. Rahimi is an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with an interdisciplinary research focus spanning quantum computing, medical physics, and radiation oncology. Trained in quantum mechanics and particle physics, with research experience in quantum computing across international laboratories, her work centers on translating quantum optimization methods into clinical radiation therapy. Her research includes applications of quantum computing platforms for treatment planning, workflow optimization, and adaptive radiotherapy. Dr. Rahimi’s work aims to bridge the gap between theoretical quantum models and their practical implementation in cancer care.

Ryan Stidham, M.D.
Senior Associate Consultant in GI and AI&I I Mayo Clinic in Florida

Ryan Stidham, M.D., is a translational scientist caring exclusively for patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Dr. Stidham has advanced training in medical imaging physics, signals analysis, electronic data management, and Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis.

His research focus is technology development for improving measurement of IBD and other gastrointestinal diseases for both patient care and clinical trial endpoint development. Dr. Stidham's collaborative research team of mathematicians, engineers, and implementation scientists design and develop analytic pipelines to provide new interpretations of cross-sectional imaging, endoscopy, medical text, and other electronic data. Outside of developing digital approaches for improved endpoints, his work aims to automate high-labor-low-value aspects of clinical care and patient experience in real-world practice. In additional to data analytics methods development and application, Dr. Stidham has expertise in clinical trial design endpoint testing.

Dr. Stidham's research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, the Broad Foundation, the Leona Helmsley Charitable Trust, and several industry-sponsored research collaborations. He has several awarded US patents, active external licenses for medical image analysis software, and is a co-founder of GI-focused image analysis startup company. He is the associate editor of artificial intelligence for the American Journal of Gastroenterology and is on the editorial board for Gastroenterology. He has published over 120 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, book chapters, and review articles. He is also the recipient of the 2023 Rosenthal Lifetime Achievement Award from the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation in recognition of contributions to IBD.

Enrique Solano, Ph.D.
CEO I Kipu Quantum

Enrique Solano is the CEO of Kipu Quantum, a German startup pioneering quantum-advantage solutions for industrial applications using quantum-centric intelligence and agentic quantum-computing tools. He has been a professor and director of international research and technology centers worldwide. His interests and contributions are highly interdisciplinary, ranging from quantum optics, quantum simulations, and quantum computing to quantum sensing, neuromorphic quantum technologies, and quantum artificial intelligence. As an entrepreneur, he created Kipu Quantum to develop and commercialize quantum computing solutions, merged with artificial intelligence, to solve industrial problems with commercial quantum processors. He is convinced that industrial quantum usefulness starts today.

Grum Teklemariam, Ph.D.
CTO I gSpin Technologies

Dr. Grum Teklemariam is the CTO and co-founder of gSpin Technologies, specializing in quantum sensing, MRI technologies, and non-invasive medical diagnostics. An MIT-trained physicist and inventor, he previously co-founded XBo Medical, a fully vertically integrated MRI scanner company, and High-Q, a quantum sensing company based in Canada’s Quantum Valley ecosystem. He has led the development of advanced MRI magnet, gradient coil, and RF coil technologies, as well as next-generation quantum-enhanced medical sensing platforms, and holds multiple patents in magnetic resonance and quantum sensing technologies.

Kent R. Thielen, M.D.
Vice President I Mayo Clinic
CEO I Mayo Clinic in Florida

Dr. Thielen is CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida and vice president, Mayo Clinic, roles in which he has served since January 1, 2019. Dr. Thielen previously served as chair of the Mayo Clinic Department of Radiology in the Midwest, a position he held from 2013 to 2018. In addition, he served as the chair of the Division of Neuroradiology in the Department of Radiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester from 2004 to 2013.

Dr. Thielen has a strong personal interest in innovative practice development, including the development of new technologies and delivery of imaged-guided spinal and neuroendovascular therapies. He has spearheaded the development and implementation of multiple innovative image-guided procedures in the cerebrovascular and spinal image-guided interventional clinical practices.

He received his bachelor’s degree in engineering physics from South Dakota State University and his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Thielen completed his residency training in diagnostic radiology at the Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education in Rochester, MN and was chief resident from 1993 to 1994. He subsequently completed a three-year combined fellowship in diagnostic and interventional neuroradiology at the Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education in Rochester, before joining the Mayo Clinic faculty in 1996.

A Mayo Clinic physician for the past 36 years, Dr. Thielen also serves as a Professor of Radiology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. He is a member of the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees and Board of Governors, and also a diplomate of the American Board of Radiology with an additional certificate of added qualifications in neuroradiology.

Dr. Thielen is also active serving on multiple boards including the Board of Trustees for Jacksonville University, the Council of Trustees for South Dakota State University, the Civic Council for Jacksonville, Florida, the Board of Directors for the Jacksonville, Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Chair of the American Heart Association Heart Walk Executive Leadership Cabinet.

Miko Wieczorek
Data Scientist I Mayo Clinic in Florida

Professor Wolfgang Losert is MPower Professor of Physics in the College of Computer Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland. He is also an affiliate of Bioengineering and of the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, and serves as Co-Director of the UMD-NCI Partnership for Integrative Cancer Research. Prof. Losert’s current research focuses on the multimodal electrical, chemical, and mechanical excitability of cells and tissues, and on the development of quantum biosensor technologies for these multimodal signals. Building on these insights, his group discovered new paradigms for information processing in living neural networks that translate into unconventional AI algorithms. Dr. Losert is a fellow of the AAAS and the American Physical Society.

Xiaofan Yang, Ph.D.
Quantum Specialist I Amazon Web Services

Xiaofan Yang is a quantum specialist at Amazon Web Services, where he leads go-to-market strategy for Amazon Braket, AWS's quantum computing cloud service. He drives partnership development with quantum software vendors and supports enterprise customers exploring quantum applications in life sciences, materials science, and optimization.

Xiaofan holds a Ph.D. in quantum chemistry from Indiana University Bloomington, where his research focused on DFT methods for molecular electronic structure — the same class of problems that today's quantum computers are being designed to solve. His peer-reviewed publications in computational chemistry and molecular simulation inform his current work connecting quantum computing capabilities with real-world scientific applications.

Xiaofan also holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business, where he developed expertise in technology strategy and venture development. This combination of deep scientific training and business acumen enables him to translate between the quantum research community and enterprise decision-makers, helping organizations navigate the path from quantum exploration to practical impact.

The Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic is located on the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville campus, only eight miles from Jacksonville's Beaches.

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Hilton Jacksonville at Mayo Clinic
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Rickey Carter, Ph.D.

Charles Bruces, M.B., Ch.B.

Jennie Kung

Michele Dougherty, Ph.D.

Anders Berglund, Ph.D.

Jonathon Parker, M.D., Ph.D.

Michael Story, Ph.D.

Miko Wieczorek

Caroline Gorman, M.H.A.

Laura Pacheco-Spann, M.S.

Boone Allison, M.H.A.

Chelsea Bladen Babin