Leadership

Matthew McFarland, RPh, PhD

Matthew.Mcfarland@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 722-2701

Matthew McFarland, RPh, PhD joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital as director of the Office of Technology Commercialization in 2012. He has a diverse background in drug discovery, business development, startup generation and funding, and strategic partnerships.

During his tenure, the OTC has experienced an increase in annual deal flow by 900%. Novel deal structures with licensing partners have also brought additional development resources to the institution. Dr. McFarland has been key to the recruitment and establishment of industrial partners in Columbus and brokering strategic partnerships for Nationwide Children’s.

Prior to joining Nationwide Children’s, Dr. McFarland was the associate director of commercialization in the Office of Technology Commercialization at the Purdue Research Foundation, where he oversaw the management of life science technologies including small molecule therapeutics, biological therapeutics, medical devices/implants and agricultural genetics. Dr. McFarland received his bachelor’s degree from Ohio Northern University and his doctorate in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology from Purdue University. He also completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in translational genetics of neuropsychiatric disorders at the Institute of Psychiatric Research at Indiana University Medical School.

Favorite Invention: penicillin

Margaret Barkett, PhD

Margaret.Barkett@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-2957

Margaret Barkett, PhD joined the Office of Technology Commercialization in 2010 as a licensing associate. Today, as the office’s director of licensing, Dr. Barkett manages the assessment, protection, valuation and out-licensing of a portfolio of intellectual property assets owned by Nationwide Children’s. She is also actively involved in managing many of the office’s relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

Dr. Barkett was instrumental in negotiating deals that led to the hospital’s first gene therapy startups. She currently oversees the OTC’s licensing efforts, managing an integrated team of licensing professionals, agreements specialists and an alliance manager.

Dr. Barkett has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Emory University and earned her doctorate in Molecular and Cell Biology from Boston University, where she continued her training as a postdoctoral fellow. Her doctoral and postdoctoral research in cell death biology spanned areas including cancer biology and development.

Prior to joining Nationwide Children’s, Dr. Barkett completed a full-time, one-year technology licensing internship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology focusing on medical devices and biotechnology.

Favorite Invention: the internet

Susannah Wolman

Susannah.Wolman@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-2818

Susannah joined Nationwide Children’s as the business compliance and finance coordinator for the OTC in 2016. As the office’s operations and business manager, Susannah manages the team of professionals who handle disclosures, federal reporting and other reporting efforts, intellectual property, marketing efforts, events, internal and external gap funding, and the financial transactions of the office.

Susannah has a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Psychology from Marquette University.

Favorite Invention: the public library

David Bellamy-Bise

David.Bellamy-Bise@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 722-4163

David joined Nationwide Children’s in 2017 and currently serves as the Office of Technology Commercialization’s disclosure and compliance coordinator. David is responsible for the oversight and intake of invention disclosures and the reporting and submission of any federally funded inventions.

Prior to his current role, David served in administrative support roles supporting patient care, managed care and regulatory support services. David has a bachelor’s degree from Kentucky Christian University.

Favorite Invention: rollercoaster

James Carter, JD

James.Carter@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-0244

James joined the OTC in 2023 as legal services contracts administrator. He provides professional contract administration-related services to support the Legal Services Department and the OTC.

James obtained his bachelor’s degree in Family Resource Management from The Ohio State University and Juris Doctor from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.

Favorite Invention: light bulb

Andrew M. Corris, PharmD, JD

Andrew.Corris@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-1604

Andrew joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2015. In his role as a senior licensing associate, he promotes technology transfer through the evaluation, protection and out-licensing of technologies developed at Nationwide Children’s.

Andrew has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, where he also minored in chemistry, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from The Ohio State University and a law degree from Capital University, where he graduated cum laude and with specialization in intellectual property law.

Favorite Invention: Slinky

Jocelyn Eidahl, PhD

Jocelyn.Eidahl@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-2848

Jocelyn joined Nationwide Children’s as a licensing associate in the Office of Technology Commercialization in 2018. In her current role as a senior licensing associate, she promotes technology transfer through the evaluation, protection and out-licensing of technologies developed at Nationwide Children’s.

Jocelyn has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Akron and a doctorate in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from The Ohio State University. Jocelyn completed her postdoctoral training in the Center for Gene Therapy at Nationwide Children’s. Her postdoctoral research focused on developing therapies to treat musculoskeletal disorders. While carrying out her postdoctoral studies, Jocelyn also completed a technology transfer internship at Nationwide Children’s.

Favorite Invention: baking powder

Jerrell Fernandez

Jerrell.Fernandez@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-7683

Jerrell joined Nationwide Children’s in early 2024. He will be involved in the revenue side of the operations, interacting with external stakeholders on financial obligations, reconciling the office’s accounting books and calculating the various distributions our office makes to interested parties. Jerrell graduated from Capital University with a bachelor's degree in accounting.

Favorite Invention: lights

Dimitrius Gegas

Dimitrius.Gegas@NationwideChildrens.org

Dimitrius joined Nationwide Children’s in 2024. In his work, he supports Matthew McFarland, vice president of commercialization and industry relations, Margaret Barkett, director of licensing, and Susannah Wolman, operations and business manager, as well as the OTC staff.

Dimitrius obtained his bachelor’s degree in meteorology and climatology from Ball State University.

Favorite Invention: weather radar

Ben Johns

Ben.Johns@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 722-0771

Ben joined the team as administrative support III in 2023, successfully supporting OTC leadership and the larger team. As agreements assistant, he now manages the agreement requests process from request to execution flowing to and from the Abigail Wexner Research Institute. Ben obtained his bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Kent State University.

Favorite Invention: iPhone

Deborah Lewis

Deborah.Lewis@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-4569

Deborah joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a senior intellectual property (IP) coordinator in 2022. She works with inventors, licensing staff and external law firms to manage the execution of legal documentation relevant to the patent application process. Deborah has a paralegal certificate from Blackstone Career Institute and an advanced IP patent paralegal certificate from IPLegalEd. She has been a paralegal since 2001 and started specializing exclusively in IP in 2007.

Favorite Invention: Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser™

Geena Licata, BS

Geena.Licata@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-4302

Geena joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a senior intellectual property (IP) coordinator in 2021. She manages the IP and patent portfolio for the OTC and works with external law firms, inventors and licensing staff to coordinate the execution of all legal documentation associated with the patent application process.

Geena has over 17 years of experience working in IP. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from Marycrest University and a paralegal certificate from the University of Toledo.

Favorite Invention: iPad

Patricia Lige

Patricia.Lige@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 722-6681

Patricia joined the Office of Technology Commercialization in 2022. She serves as a liaison with the accounting department and coordinates the documentation of patent expenses and royalty income and distribution.

Patricia obtained her master of Business Administration degree from Ohio Christian University.

Favorite Invention: video chat

Joseph Mills, PhD

Joseph.Mills@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 722-1008

Joseph Mills, PhD joined the OTC in 2023. In his role, he promotes technology transfer through the evaluation, protection and out-licensing of technologies developed at Nationwide Children’s.

Dr. Mills previously served as a graduate research associate at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and obtained his doctorate in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology from The Ohio State University.

Favorite Invention: air fryer

Matthew Moscato

Matthew.Moscato@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-8784

Matthew joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2022 as the alliance manager in the Office of Technology Commercialization. He serves as a liaison between Nationwide Children’s and commercial partners and ensures the effective transfer of technologies to the market.

Matthew has a bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies from the University of Cincinnati.

Favorite Invention: bicycle

Kyle Murrah, PhD

Kyle.Murrah@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-4551

Kyle joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a licensing associate in the Office of Technology Commercialization in July 2014 and currently serves as senior licensing associate. In his role, he promotes technology transfer through the evaluation, protection and out-licensing of technologies developed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Kyle has a bachelor of science degree in Biological Sciences from North Carolina State University and a doctorate degree in Microbiology and Immunology from Wake Forest University. His doctoral research focused on polymicrobial interactions in middle ear infections. While earning his doctorate, he completed a two year technology transfer internship at Wake Forest Innovations.

Favorite Invention: modern plumbing

Akua Ofori

Akua.Ofori@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 722-6044

Akua joined Nationwide Children’s in 2022. She manages agreement requests and oversees licenses pertaining to intellectual property and academic research flowing to and from the Abigail Wexner Research Institute.

Akua obtained her bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Kent State University.

Favorite Invention: 3D printing

Andrea Strang, MS

Andrea.Strang@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 722-6411

Andrea joined the Office of Technology Commercialization in 2022. She oversees a significant portion of the patent docket and manages communications with external law firms, inventors and licensees.

Andrea obtained her master's degree in Administration from Central Michigan University, her bachelor’s degree in Communication from Ohio University and her paralegal certification from Capital University Law and Graduate Center.

Favorite Invention: Google

John B. Westerfield II

John.Westerfield@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-1850

John joined Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 2022 as the Office of Technology Commercialization’s marketing and business coordinator. He manages the OTC’s engagement with multiple internal and external stakeholders, develops and executes marketing campaigns for select high-priority Nationwide Children’s technologies, and manages outreach and publication efforts.

John has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Saint Joseph’s College, where he minored in Journalism. He also has a master’s degree in Business Communication from Spalding University.

Favorite Invention: printing press

Ellen Zalucha, PhD

Ellen.Zalucha@NationwideChildrens.org | (614) 355-1663

In her role, Ellen promotes technology transfer through the evaluation, protection and out-licensing of technologies developed at Nationwide Children’s.

Ellen obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Michigan and her doctorate in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Michigan School of Public Health before completing a postdoctoral fellowship focused on technology transfer at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Favorite Invention: e-reader