Quick Facts
Biography
Dr. Katherine D. (Laakmann-Crothall) Crothall, Ph.D. is a laser scientist and entrepreneur. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Aspire Bariatrics, LLC since November 2010. She also currently serves as Director of University City Science Center, Pharmitas, Adhezion BioMedical, Xanitos, Inc, and Kimmel Center of Performing Arts. She is also an overseer at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. She has over 25 patents, has authored numerous scientific papers and has given numerous papers at scientific / medical symposiums.
Notable Professional Accomplishments
Aspire Bariatrics, LLC (2010 - Current)
She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Aspire Bariatrics which develops a reversible and minimally invasive weight loss solution for people with obesity.
Liberty Venture Partners (2006 - 2010)
Dr. Crothall served as a Principal of Liberty Venture Partners, Inc. from 2006 to 2010.
Animas Corporation (1996 - 2006)
She founded Animas Corporation (NASDAQ: PUMP) in 1996 and served as its President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board from its inception to its acquisition by Johnson & Johnson Corporation (NYSE: JNJ) in February, 2006 for $518 million. Animas is leading manufacturer of insulin infusion pumps located in West Chester, PA.
Luxar Corporation (1988 - 1996)
From 1988 to 1996, Dr. Crothall served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Luxar Corporation (Seattle, WA), which she founded with former Xanar Laser engineers Paul Diaz and Michael Levy in 1988. Luxar Corporation manufactured CO2 lasers for cosmetic, oral, dental, and dermatological surgical applications. The Luxar Corporation was later sold to ESC Medical (NASDAQ: ESCMF) in 1997. Many of Dr. Crothall's laser patents are still being used today in LightScalpel's LS-1005 and LS-2010 surgical and dental laser systems.
Laakmann Electro-Optics (1978 - 1986)
Dr. Crothall founded Laakmann Electro-Optics in 1978 and was sold to Johnson & Johnson in 1981. She continued running the company for five years post-acquisition. Laakmann Electro-Optics manufactured CO2 lasers for the medical, aerospace and industrial markets.
Patents
She holds over 25 patents in the laser, fiber-optic, thermal (infrared) imaging, and glucose sensing fields. Patents include: All-metal RF-excited CO2 lasers (US Pat 4,169,251) and flexible waveguides for CO2 lasers (US Pat 4,652,083).
Awards
- Iris Newman Award (2009) - Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs.
- Mark A. Stevens Distinguished Alumni Award (2008) - University of Southern California.
- Greater Philadelphia Raymond Rafferty Entrepreneurial Excellence Award (2004)
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2003)
Academics
Dr. Crothall received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1971 and a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California in 1976.