Derek Pupello has been working for the foundation since 2002. As a research manager, he managed several clinical research projects including an FDA investigational device exemption multi-center study of the first reverse shoulder arthroplasty system in the United States. The Reverse Shoulder Prosthesis®, invented by Mark Frankle, MD, was FDA approved in 2005. Derek became Director of Clinical Research in 2006 and became CEO of FORE in 2007. In his time at FORE, he has co-authored 20 publications including 6 articles published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

When Derek started in 2002, the Foundation was primarily engaged in clinical research. After becoming CEO, he worked to expand FORE’s capabilities to include Biomechanical Research, Surgical Training, and Continuing Medical Education (CME).

He worked to build a biomechanical research lab on the premises so that biomechanical research would no longer have to be outsourced. A biomechanics lab sharing the same building with FOI has enabled FORE to increase its ability to conduct this type of research while allowing physicians in a non-academic setting to participate in this type of research. The close proximity of scientists and physicians is an ideal scenario for the clinicians to engage in research that can answer fundamental questions about problems that they see in the clinic.

In 2005, Derek attended a surgical training course in Chicago and realized the growing need for surgeons to practice and hone their surgical skills in a laboratory setting. In 2007, Derek converted storage space in the basement of FOI into a small surgical training space that could host from 6 to 8 stations. Two years later, the growing need for surgical training was the impetus for renovating and expanding the space to include an auditorium and a much larger space for surgical training. The Surgical Training Center was completed in early 2010 and features space for up to 20 stations and a state of the art audiovisual system and lecture theater.

In 2007, FORE was accredited by the ACCME to provide CME credits to educational events. Since that time, the overall attendance at FORE’s educational events has more than doubled. The CME department remains a rapidly growing department of FORE as the need for healthcare professional education grows. FORE currently offers 8 courses where CME credit is offered.

In addition to the day to day business operations of FORE, he is personally involved in several of the ongoing research projects. Also, he currently serves as Affiliate Associate faculty in the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Department, University of South Florida School of Medicine.

Derek received a B.S. in Biomedical Science at the University of South Florida in 2002, and an M.B.A. from the Executive MBA program at the University of South Florida in 2007. Outside of FORE, he enjoys spending time with his wife Kalisha and son Rocco. He is involved in his church, enjoys traveling, music, film and outdoor activities like scuba diving, fishing and playing flag football.

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Curriculum Vitae

Brandon began working for FORE in the fall of 2010 as the Director of the Phillip Spiegel Orthopaedic Research Laboratory. Prior to starting at FORE, Brandon was a Research Scientist and Affiliate Faculty in the Orthopaedic Bioengineering Research Laboratory and the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University. Brandon brings over nine years of experience in the field of orthopaedic biomechanics to the directorship position. These research endeavors have resulted in over twenty peer-reviewed publications in high impact journals, over fifty conference proceedings, posters and podium presentations at national and international orthopaedic and biomedical engineering meetings, as well as several commendations for outstanding and influential scientific research from various research societies and journals. Currently, Brandon serves as an ad hoc reviewer for Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, Journal of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, and the American Journal of Veterinary Research among others.

Brandon is also actively involved in grant writing and has solicited funding from numerous agencies including the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Space and Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the National Institute of Health (NIH). As the Biomechanics Director at FORE, he aims to continue to foster the existing research collaborations with the orthopaedists, spine surgeons, and trauma experts at FOI as well as develop new extramural collaborations with industry and academic partners within the orthopaedic community.

Brandon received his B.S. in Microbiology and Biochemistry from Texas Tech University in 1998. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University in 2003 and 2006, respectively. Brandon enjoys spending time with his wife, Amy, and daughter, Maliya, and enjoys playing golf and acoustic guitar.

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Curriculum Vitae

Sergio Gutierrez began working at FORE in May of 2001 as a part time Research Assistant while finishing his Bachelors degree at the University of South Florida (USF). During those early years, he performed biomechanical research in the Biomechanics lab at USF under the mentorship of Dr. William E. Lee III (Director of the Biomedical Engineering program) and Dr. Mark Frankle (Orthopaedic surgeon at Florida Orthopaedic Institute). Through his research in biomechanics, Sergio was instrumental in furthering the understanding of the biomechanics of reverse shoulder arthroplasty and even in helping to alter surgical technique to improve patient outcomes. He has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, podium and poster presentations in national and international conferences, as well as a co-authorship in a book chapter. He is currently an Affiliate Associate Professor at the USF Medical School where he is helping to train future orthopaedic surgeons through an affiliation with the Orthopaedic Residency program.

Sergio received his B.S. in both Chemical Engineering and Biology from the University of South Florida in 2002. He went on to receive his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of South Florida in 2009. His hobbies include running, biking, kayaking, flying, playing tennis and developing software for the iPhone.

For a list of publications, Powered by PubMed, click here.

Casey joined FORE in June 2011 following graduation from the University of Florida College of Medicine.  He also attended the University of Florida for undergraduate, where he graduated summa cum laude in biology.  He currently works on both clinical and biomechanical projects in spine, tumor, and trauma.  Casey is excited to have a dedicated research year prior to beginning his residency.  In his free time, Casey enjoys golf, volleyball, and going to the beach.

John joined FORE in August of 2011 as the Clinical Research Director and is responsible for managing all clinical research protocols conducted by FORE. This includes facilitation of investigator-initiated research (study design, data analysis and presentation/publication of results), negotiating research contracts with sponsors, conducting feasibility analysis, developing study budgets, effective resource management, ensuring adherence to FDA regulations and Good Clinical Practice, training clinical research staff, ensuring fidelity of data collection, and developing systems to increase organizational effectiveness. John received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Ohio State University in 2004 and an M.B.A. in Finance and Health Care Administration from Georgia State University in 2007.  John enjoys SCUBA diving, weight lifting, traveling and spending quality time with friends and family.