Harker Research Symposium Keynote Speakers Set

The 2010 Harker Research Symposium, themed Technology for Life, on April 10 is right around the corner and the morning keynote speaker will be William McClure; the afternoon keynote speaker is Christopher J. Gilbert, Ph.D.  Three Harker alumni will also present – Jennifer Ong ’07,  Richard Kwant ’07 and Brian Ma ’08.

McClure, a recognized expert in cosmetic surgery, has led and served on more than 50 overseas volunteer missions doing surgery on children with facial birth defects and burn deformities, as well as teaching modern surgical techniques to surgeons in the developing world.

McClure has served as chief of surgery at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, and as chief of surgical services for the volunteer organization Interplast. Over the last 25 years McClure has participated in surgical missions to 14 developing countries. McClure noted that each trip has had its own rewarding and unique features and volunteers feel deeply rewarded by their participation.

Expanding medical practice beyond our borders to help people in dire need not only helps those who otherwise would never find treatment, but it enriches the lives of the volunteers, McClure said. Volunteer service of every sort is a responsibility of all professionals. A career in the healing arts is one way to give back.

McClure has been oft recognized for his contributions. In 1994 he was given a Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding contribution to Napa Valley. In 2001 he and his associates were recognized as Health Professionals of the Year by the Napa Chamber of Commerce and the Napa Valley Medical Society. In October of 2005 McClure met the Dalai Lama and was recognized as “An Unsung Hero of Compassion” at a special ceremony in San Francisco.

Gilbert has held responsible positions in operations, mergers and acquisitions, global management consulting and as a research scientist. He is currently vice president of science and technology at Keystone Dental, Inc., leading new technology and business-building initiatives. Gilbert holds a Ph.D. in materials science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.S. in materials science from Carnegie Mellon University.

He worked as a research scientist in the materials sciences division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory where he focused on novel materials used in a variety of medical devices. Gilbert then joined McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, where he spent six years serving a variety of medical device, diagnostics and biopharmaceutical clients on a range of major acquisitions and commercial strategy issues.

He joined Cytyc Corp. in 2007 as a principal in corporate development, responsible for mergers and acquisitions, and led post-merger integration efforts for several major medical device and diagnostic deals. Cytyc was acquired by Hologic, Inc. where Gilbert was responsible for West Coast operations of the surgical instruments business and led the European and U.S. approval and commercial launch of the Adiana permanent contraceptive device.