


The future of health is not about
responding to illness.
It's about preventing it.
KIFFIK sees a world where diagnostics are no longer reactive, but intuitive — where listening to the body in real time becomes the foundation of preventive, personalized care for everyone. – early, clearly, and without barriers.
We envision a future where diagnostics are not confined to hospitals or triggered by symptoms, but integrated into daily life — intuitive, non-invasive, and informed by the body’s own intelligence. A future where real-time biomarker insights empower people to understand their health and act on it, long before conditions become crises.
Our platform opens the door to a new model of care — one that is proactive, personalized, and accessible to all. Listening to the body should not be a privilege. It should be a universal right.
History
Our history.

Practical
Wearable
Non-invasive
Continuous
Dr. Essalik followed three guiding theories:
- Interstitial fluid, which can be accessed from virtually any part of the body, represents an ideal medium for the continuous or periodic monitoring of physiological analytes.
- Inserting one or more biosensors into the interstitium is not an optimal approach for the continuous or periodic tracking of biomarkers.
- The existing methods for accessing ISF were all invasive and impractical for routine monitoring.
In 2009, Dr. Essalik successfully demonstrated a groundbreaking method for continuous extraction of ISF based on an original and innovative technique of skin electroporation. This became KIFFIK’s first patent and established a foundation from which KIFFIK could build and continue to innovate.
A new model of care.
“With first-of-its kind technology, you need a team with demonstrated leadership & proven success across the business spectrum. The team we’ve built at KIFFIK collectively has more than 200 years of experience and is a proven collective of excellence. We are smart, nimble & committed to successfully bringing the KIFFIK innovations to market.”
– George Cagna, CEO

Kiffik Team

George Cagna
George Cagna leads the KIFFIK team with more than thirty years of executive experience in medical devices, having served in leadership positions in companies such as Boston Scientific and Medtronic. He played a key role in the success of an innovative technology platform growing from zero to $200M in less than two years. Passionate about changing the status quo, George has held a variety of leadership roles within Signati Medical (co-founder), Sharps Technology (COO), and Pulse Flow Technologies (President, Americas) to market. When not at Kiffik, you will find George on the water as he enjoys boating and deep-sea fishing.

Brian T. Dougan, Esquire
Brian Dougan brings more than two decades of corporate transactional law and civil litigation where he has worked extensively with Fortune 500 companies to KIFFIK. His work spans areas such as breach of contract, premises liability, employment law, and corporate structure. A skilled negotiator, he has used this talent in domestic acquisitions and joint ventures. Brian also has extensive experience as a trial attorney and has written and presented legal topics related to insurance defense, civil procedure, and corporate structure. A member of the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bar Association, where he is admitted to practice law.

Jawad Farooq
Jawad Farooq brings experience that expands the spectrum of business sectors. As a serial entrepreneur and leader, he has successfully founded a string of startups and grown them into multi-million-dollar businesses. He possesses a diverse skill set which includes strategic planning, fundraising, commercial negotiation, and business development and has successfully closed multi-million-dollar funding rounds across industries, adding significant value to diversified portfolios. Jawad currently serves as a member of the Forbes Business Council and has been featured in global press including Forbes, Bloomberg, Yahoo, Business Insider, Benzinga, Digital Journal & Yahoo Finance.

Nick Marr
Nick Marr brings varied experiences to KIFFIK ranging from entrepreneurship, strategic consulting, business development, and sales leadership. Nick has a strength in designing sales and marketing strategies, and sales distributorship opportunities for startup companies across the medical industry. He brings over 15 years’ experience in sales leadership positions across the med-tech spectrum in companies such as Sharps Technology, Pulse Flow Technologies and ARX Specialty Pharmacy.

Todd McKinley, MD
Along with serving as KIFFIK’s CMO, Doctor McKinley is an Orthopedic Surgeon and professor at Indiana University School of Medicine. Having developed an interest in trauma during a secondary fellowship, he is considered one of the Department of Defense’s leading researchers in poly-trauma and field survivability and was appointed Chair of the Orthopedic Trauma Association Research Committee. He has been the principal investigator on nine peer-reviewed grants, including six from the Department of Defense, one from the Centers for Disease Control and two from National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Hap Peterson
A 35-year finance and healthcare executive, Hap Peterson has held leadership roles in sales, marketing, and operations across the med-tech spectrum including Neurosurgical, Life Sciences, Oncology, and Orthopedics. He brings extensive experience gained at some of the most distinguished global device companies in healthcare, such as Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Synthes Spine, and US Surgical (Covidien) to the KIFFIK team leading commercial operations. A natural problem solver, Hap was at the forefront of many initiatives which are now standard practice. Hap believes that with great technologies comes great potential and great responsibility, and he takes his role as a mentor seriously. An avid sports fan, you will find him with family, fishing, or golfing when not focused on KIFFIK.

Geoff Saunders
An Accountant by profession, Geoff Saunders is a finance executive with 35 years’ senior management experience in all areas of finance. He has taken multiple startups public and has extensive change management and business development experience in multiple sectors and markets. His specialty is turning new businesses around and delivering the profit performance promised to investors. Geoff is a sports fan having played Rugby and Football at a high level, but his real passion is classic cars.

Edward Dinicola
Edward Dinicola leads the global Animal Health business for Kiffik and sets the commercial and development strategy for bringing this technology to companion, nutrition, and research animals. With over two decades of experience at Merck, Merck Animal Health, and Ernst and Young, Ed is also an adjunct professor in Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business. Ed uses his background in competitive intelligence to develop business strategies shaped by the reason Kiffik is in business – the patients (even the furry ones.) A connoisseur of fine Scotch, Ed also enjoys travel, tennis, and stand-up comedy.

Les Lindsey
Les believes that Kiffik will widely influence the way medicine is practiced. With more than four decades of experience in medical and surgical specialties, Les has a proven track record for building and leading a range of organizations, from start-up to blue chips. A background in biochemistry led to a career in the pharmaceutical industry and then to med. Tech. Les has a love of classic cars and motorbikes and enjoys spending time with his family when outside of the office.

Deborah Ruppert
Deb’s three decades in healthcare bridges medical devices, lab diagnostics, software, and medical wearables. Focusing on early-stage markets, she helped pioneer insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring systems in diabetes, neuromodulation devices for chronic pain and predictive diagnostics for kidney disease. Outside of Kiffik, you will find Deb cooking, wine tasting or traveling; or a combination of the three.

Mike Gallup
With over three decades of experience across a broad range of industries, Mike brings his passion for building successful businesses to the Kiffik team. A US AirForce Gulf War Veteran, Mike’s skill set includes his ability to build and develop processes that benefit early-stage organizations as well as nurturing mutually beneficial, long-term relationships. Mike believes that Kiffik is uniquely positioned to change the face of healthcare. A life-long learner, Mike enjoys riding Harleys, bee keeping and hydroponic gardening when he is out of the office.

Paul Postler
With more than four decades of experience, Paul Postler is leading our AI initiatives. Having built his first AI tool in the early 90’s, he brings his extensive experience and passion for all things data to the Kiffik team. A self-proclaimed IT nerd, Paul prides himself on following an agile development process made of many small steps. A sports fan and woodworker, you will find him traveling with his wife or hanging with his family outside of the office.

Roman Terrill
With over 25 years of experience in the molecular biology and medical device field, Roman Terrill is leading Kiffik’s intellectual property development and commercialization initiatives. Having overseen the intellectual property functions at molecular biology tools manufacturer from start-up phase to a multi-billion-dollar private sale, Roman’s experience makes him the ideal fit for Kiffik’s overall mission and business plan. As a biotechnology lawyer and an experienced licensing executive, his expertise is an invaluable asset to the organization.

Bonnie Bragdon, DVM
Dr. Bragdon believes Kiffik will be successful because their technology provides a simple solution to complex medical problems. She brings broad experience across clinical and commercial veterinary practices and has acted as a valued advisor in executive leadership roles at the C-suite level. With proven ability to translate scientific research into clinical and commercial success to improve patient care, Dr. Bragdon is one of few veterinarians who has successfully extracted ISF from both dogs and horses. Outside of Kiffik, she is an avid traveler and horseback rider, you will also find her spending time with family – both human and animal.

Tom Christensen
Over a career that spans more than three decades, Tom has cultivated a fruitful network of business contacts which sets him up for success as Vice President of Business Development. As a seasoned sales leader in medical technologies at companies such as Bard, Orthovita and LDR Spine, Tom excels at cultivating relationships that turn into business. Tom believes the combination of strong team and groundbreaking technology will set Kiffik up for success. When not at work, you will find Tom outside where he loves to golf, swim, and go deep sea fishing.

Deanna Dammers
With over 20 years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, and investor relations, Deanna is our “Chief Connections Officer”. Passionate about supporting innovative organizations in digital health, medical devices, and wellness, Deanna leverages relationships with VC’s, angel investors, and private equity groups to facilitate capital raise and strategic partnership opportunities. She is driven by creating a positive impact and value for the companies she works with and the communities they serve.
Board of Directors

George Cagna
George Cagna leads the KIFFIK team with more than thirty years of executive experience in medical devices, having served in leadership positions in companies such as Boston Scientific and Medtronic. He played a key role in the success of an innovative technology platform growing from zero to $200M in less than two years. Passionate about changing the status quo, George has held a variety of leadership roles within Signati Medical (co-founder), Sharps Technology (COO), and Pulse Flow Technologies (President, Americas) to market. When not at Kiffik, you will find George on the water as he enjoys boating and deep-sea fishing.

Brian T. Dougan, Esquire
Brian Dougan brings more than two decades of corporate transactional law and civil litigation where he has worked extensively with Fortune 500 companies to KIFFIK. His work spans areas such as breach of contract, premises liability, employment law, and corporate structure. A skilled negotiator, he has used this talent in domestic acquisitions and joint ventures. Brian also has extensive experience as a trial attorney and has written and presented legal topics related to insurance defense, civil procedure, and corporate structure. A member of the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bar Association, where he is admitted to practice law.

Nick Marr
Nick Marr brings varied experiences to KIFFIK ranging from entrepreneurship, strategic consulting, business development, and sales leadership. Nick has a strength in designing sales and marketing strategies, and sales distributorship opportunities for startup companies across the medical industry. He brings over 15 years’ experience in sales leadership positions across the med-tech spectrum in companies such as Sharps Technology, Pulse Flow Technologies and ARX Specialty Pharmacy.

Hap Peterson
A 35-year finance and healthcare executive, Hap Peterson has held leadership roles in sales, marketing, and operations across the med-tech spectrum including Neurosurgical, Life Sciences, Oncology, and Orthopedics. He brings extensive experience gained at some of the most distinguished global device companies in healthcare, such as Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Synthes Spine, and US Surgical (Covidien) to the KIFFIK team leading commercial operations. A natural problem solver, Hap was at the forefront of many initiatives which are now standard practice. Hap believes that with great technologies comes great potential and great responsibility, and he takes his role as a mentor seriously. An avid sports fan, you will find him with family, fishing, or golfing when not focused on KIFFIK.

Blake Carver
Blake brings extensive start-up medical device experience with an emphasis on the commercialization of new medical technologies and building winning sales organizations. Mr. Carver joined the Kiffik Board because he believes the company’s technology fits with the future pathways of health care in the 21st century.
Scientific Advisors

Todd McKinley, MD
Along with serving as KIFFIK’s CMO, Doctor McKinley is an Orthopedic Surgeon and professor at Indiana University School of Medicine. Having developed an interest in trauma during a secondary fellowship, he is considered one of the Department of Defense’s leading researchers in poly-trauma and field survivability and was appointed Chair of the Orthopedic Trauma Association Research Committee. He has been the principal investigator on nine peer-reviewed grants, including six from the Department of Defense, one from the Centers for Disease Control and two from National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Our history.

- Practical
- Wearable
- Non-invasive
- Continuous
Dr. Essalik followed three guiding theories:
- Interstitial fluid, which can be accessed from virtually any part of the body, represents an ideal medium for the continuous or periodic monitoring of physiological analytes.
- Inserting one or more biosensors into the interstitium is not an optimal approach for the continuous or periodic tracking of biomarkers.
- The existing methods for accessing ISF were all invasive and impractical for routine monitoring.
In 2009, Dr. Essalik successfully demonstrated a groundbreaking method for continuous extraction of ISF based on an original and innovative technique of skin electroporation. This became KIFFIK’s first patent and established a foundation from which KIFFIK could build and continue to innovate.
Our news.
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KIFFIK Biomedical secures a pivotal $50 million investment from GEM Global Yield, positioning the company as a ‘Unicorn-in-Waiting’ KIFFIK’s patented...
The interstitial space is the primary source of lymph and is a major fluid compartment in the body. While the...