Leading the Future of Stem Cell Therapeutics

Matt Feshbach

CEO and Founder

Matthew Feshbach is CEO and co-founder of Okyanos Heart Institute, which brings a new option, standard of care and quality of life to patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), utilizing cell therapy technology from the growing field of stem cell therapeutics. Based in Freeport, The Bahamas, Okyanos Heart Institute is a center of excellence adhering to U.S. surgical center standards.

Prior to the creation of Okyanos Heart Institute, Matt’s career spanned more than 30 years as an investor. In 2009 he and his brother, Joe, began researching stem cells and their potential due to their interest in a public company to which they had been introduced by a financial partner. Extensive research led Matt to believe that stem cell therapy could provide an answer to the largest unmet healthcare need in the Western world: heart attack and heart disease. Read Matthew Feshbach’s full bio »

Manuel Vianna

Chief Operating Officer

Manuel Vianna serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Okyanos. He has a rich, diverse and global business background.  As a partner and board member of Monitor Group, a global investment and consulting firm in Cambridge, Massachussets, he guided important client companies and countries in developing and implementing successful innovation, growth and turnarounds strategies.

Manuel’s extensive experience and capabilities span the spectrum of strategy, operations, finance, value creation and investment. Read Manuel Vianna’s full bio »

Howard T. Walpole, Jr., MD, MBA, FACC, FSCAI

Chief Medical Officer

Howard Walpole, MD, serves as the interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at Okyanos Heart Institute in Freeport, Bahamas. The mission of this medical facility is to provide stem cell therapy to patients with no-option coronary artery disease (CAD).

Dr. Walpole is a prominent U.S.-educated interventional cardiologist. Dr. Walpole, in his 25 years of practice, has done approximately 5,000 catheter-based interventions and 12,000 diagnostic catheterizations, as well as myocardial (heart) biopsies. Read Howard Walpole’s full bio »

Erika Mangrum

SVP Marketing

Erika Mangrum serves as the senior vice president of marketing for Okyanos Heart Institute, a Bahamas-based center of excellence adhering to U.S. surgical center standards. Okyanos Heart Institute brings a new option, standard of care and quality of life to patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), utilizing clinical-trial tested stem cell therapy technology from the growing field of stem cell therapeutics. With her educational background and healthcare, corporate management and marketing expertise, along with her considerable knowledge of technology, Erika manages patient and physician communication, directs educational seminars and acts as the organization’s media liaison.

Erika’s path to Okyanos has been a natural outgrowth of her extensive professional experience. As a well-known and highly respected healthcare advocate, she developed a chain of medical spas that made the Inc 5000 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies in the United States. Under her leadership as president and CEO, the medical spa and plastic surgery company was named the Top Medical Spa Chain in the U.S. by Day Spa Magazine. Read Erika Mangrum’s full bio »

Lester Morales, Jr.

Vice President of Corporate Development

Lester Morales, Jr., serves as the Vice President of Corporate Development for Okyanos Heart Institute and has developed a standard of service that ensures professional and compassionate handling of our patients and their families. Lester oversees Okyanos’ client contact service standards and the physician referral department, where he strives to develop, nurture and maintain strong relationships and keep the institute’s administrative process user-friendly for patients and physicians.

Lester thrived in a a number of leadership positions at Laser Spine Institute, one of the top endoscopic spine surgery centers. As Executive Director, he managed a team of 50 medical and business professionals who execute over 130 surgeries each month, while maintaining record lows in infection rates and a 90%+ patient satisfaction rating. Lester was recognized for his accomplishments in Becker’s ASC Orthopaedic & Spine Journal. Read Lester Morales’ full bio»