Paving the way in medical technology advancements

The CyndRx Team

Our people are the most important asset of our organization. Our team comprises experienced professionals who are specialists in product development, validation, and manufacture of Class II and Class III therapeutic, diagnostic, and interventional devices. By nurturing a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning, we ensure that our team remains at the forefront of medical technology advancements.

Supporting the Healthcare Community

Our multidisciplinary expertise allows us to address complex challenges and deliver innovative solutions that advance treatment and improve patient outcomes. This commitment to excellence has led to the development of a dedicated and capable team, bringing years of experience to our organization and, ultimately, to the patients who benefit from our products. We take pride in supporting the healthcare community by bringing life-changing medical devices to market efficiently and safely, enhancing patient care at every step.

John I. Shipp, PhD

John I. Shipp, PhD

President and Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Shipp has been a leader in building shareholder value with medical device companies since 1992, which includes surgical cameras, endoscopes, clip appliers, gallbladder extractors, and hernia repair devices. Dr. Shipp holds a PhD in physics from the University of Tennessee and was CEO of Sorbx, LLC, where he directed its commercial plan. Holding more than 100 foreign and domestic patents and applications, Dr. Shipp designed a laser rangefinder that is on exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. He also developed and sold AbsorbaTack, a bioabsorbable fixation device for hernia repair that became one of the most successful new product launches for a medical device industry leader.

Douglas E. Gesner, MD

Douglas E. Gesner, MD

Chief Medical Officer, CyndRX | AbsorbaSeal

Dr. Douglas Gesner is a board-certified, fellowship-trained interventional radiologist and healthcare executive with nearly two decades of experience in high-acuity, image-guided therapies across both hospital and outpatient settings. As Chief Medical Officer of CyndRX, he leads the clinical strategy, physician engagement, and medical positioning of the company’s flagship vascular closure technology, AbsorbaSeal.

Throughout his clinical career, Dr. Gesner practiced in a high-volume private practice environment, where he performed complex arterial and venous interventions, with a particular focus on limb salvage procedures. His extensive experience with vascular access and closure—often in anticoagulated patients—has provided him with a deep understanding of the limitations of traditional closure technologies, including bleeding complications, access site pain, and delayed patient recovery. This firsthand insight directly informs his leadership in advancing next-generation solutions designed to improve both clinical outcomes and procedural efficiency.

At CyndRX, Dr. Gesner plays a central role in shaping the clinical value proposition of AbsorbaSeal, a fully bioabsorbable vascular closure device designed to provide secure, mechanical hemostasis independent of anticoagulation status. Under his medical leadership, the company is focused on redefining the standard of care in vascular closure by enabling reliable hemostasis, reducing complications, and supporting earlier patient ambulation and discharge—critical factors in today’s high-volume procedural environment.

Denny Lawson

Denny Lawson

Chief Operations and Technology Officer

Mr. Lawson is a military veteran and accomplished medical device leader with 20 years of experience in the interventional cardiology market. His career spans sales leadership, physician training, manufacturing, and clinical operations. He is also the co-patent holder of two U.S. patents. He joined Access Closure in 2010 as a Territory Manager and was later promoted to Regional Sales Trainer and, later, to Regional Sales Manager for the South-Central United States. He then served as Regional Director for the Mid-Central United States at Cordis Vascular, a Cardinal Health company. Since joining CyndRx in 2017, Mr. Lawson has led manufacturing and clinical operations and overseen the execution of both CE Mark and IDE clinical trials for the AbsorbaSeal device. He holds a B.S., M.S., and M.B.A.

Rich Miles

Rich Miles

Chief Financial Officer

Rich brings CyndRx vast experience and a career history of working with companies at all stages of growth – from $500,000 to $200 million in revenue. With over 30 years of experience as a CEO, COO, and CFO, Rich provides exceptional expertise in strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting, and cash flow management. Rich has served two NYSE companies, one NASDAQ-listed company, three startup companies, three turnaround situations, and several small middle-market companies in their M&A activities. CyndRx is blessed to have the guidance, input, expertise and leverage that Rich provides.

Michael K. Bluett, M.D

Michael K. Bluett, M.D

Vice President of Clinical Affairs

Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Bluett was a practicing Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon and a founding member of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgical Associates in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Bluett received a B.S. from Eckerd College and an M.D. from the University of Florida Medical School, with postgraduate training at Vanderbilt University and the University of Michigan. Dr. Bluett is board-certified in General and Cardio Thoracic Surgery.