Kona Medical Recruits Chief Medical Officer

Kona Medical has added to its executive management team.

Medical device executive and clinician Omar Dawood, M.D., M.P.H., has joined the company as chief medical officer, senior vice president of Medical Affairs.

Dawood brings more than 20 years of management, medical research and clinical experience to his new role at Kona. He most recently served as senior vice president of Global Medical Affairs for Accuray Incorporated. At Accuray, Dawood spent nearly seven years in public-facing roles leading the global medical affairs and clinical teams, sparking a revolution in the radiation oncology field that opened up new markets based on clinical applications with solid clinical evidence. In his role with Kona Medical, he will lead the global clinical and regulatory efforts supporting the company’s non-invasive Surround Sound Renal Denervation System.

“Omar brings visionary clinical and regulatory experience to Kona,” said Michael Gertner, M.D., founder/CEO of Kona Medical. “I’ve been following and impressed with Omar’s contributions at Accuray and am excited to have him join our senior management team.”

Kona Medical’s Surround Sound Renal Denervation System utilizes ultrasound delivered from outside the body to ablate renal nerves. Kona’s system will afford the opportunity to increase patient access to renal denervation and improve the procedure. Kona is based in Bellevue, Wash., and Menlo Park, Calif.