John Hoekman
Co-founder and interim-CEO
John has spent the last 10 years investigating intranasal drug delivery to the brain. He started this work at the Alzheimer’s Research Center in St. Paul, MN under Dr. William H. Frey II. John then attended graduate school at the University of Washington where he invented the POD technology and made contributions to understanding intranasal drug delivery to the brain. To further advance his work, John co-founded Impel in 2008 while still in graduate school. He holds a BS in Physics from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in Pharmaceutics from the University of Washington.
Vita Conforti
Director of Legal Affairs
Vita Conforti joined Impel NeuroPharma, Inc. in 2012 as Director of Legal Affairs.
Before joining Impel, Ms. Conforti was Director of Intellectual Property at Seattle Genetics, Inc. She was responsible for intellectual property matters from pre-clinical to commercial product. Prior to Seattle Genetics, Ms. Conforti was Of Counsel with Davis Wright Tremaine in Seattle, Washington.
Ms. Conforti received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Loyola University of Chicago, a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Northeastern Illinois University, and a J.D. from The John Marshall Law School.
Stephen Shrewsbury
Chief Medical Officer
Stephen qualified in Medicine from Liverpool, UK and spent 13 years in clinical practice. He became lecturer at the National Respiratory Training Center before joining Allen & Hanburys in 1993. In 2000, he moved to the US to lead Glaxo’s inhaled fluticasone and Upper Respiratory Inflammation Disorders programs, before moving to Seattle to lead Chiron’s Inhaled Antibiotic Core Team. In 2005, he joined MAP to run clinical development for 4 inhaled drug programs (notably DHE in migraine), participating in their IPO and becoming their CMO. Steve was subsequently CMO to AVI BioPharma (now Sarepta) and most recently to Aquinox Pharmaceuticals in Vancouver, BC.
Mike Malafronte
VP of Quality Assurance
Michael Malafronte brings to Impel NeuroPharma over 30 years of executive experience with quality systems and operations within the medical device and pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Quorum Review IRB, Mr. Malafronte directed quality groups at Nitto Denko Technical, Theravance, Nastech Pharmaceuticals and ICOS Corporation.
Scott Youmans
Senior VP of Engineering
Scott brings 22 years of medical device development and manufacturing experience in both U.S. and international markets. Throughout his 26-year product development career, he has focused on developing, manufacturing, and commercializing technologies in a wide variety of clinical applications. Prior to joining Impel Neuropharma, Scott service as Chief Operating Officer for Atossa Genetics, a company developing novel devices, diagnostics, and therapeutics to promote breast health.