Michael Lesh

Michael is a Professor of Medicine at UCSF, and he was, until recently, Executive Director of Health Technology in the Office of the Vice Chancellor at UCSF. Michael combines a background in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, with a medical career in internal medicine, cardiology, and cardiac electrophysiology (UCSF, U. Penn). Dr. Lesh’s inventions at UCSF include the method of atrial fibrillation ablation. Atrionix commercialized this innovation and was acquired by Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Lesh invented the appendage occlusion device to prevent stroke (PLAATO), and founded and led Appriva, which was acquired by Medtronic. An accomplished entrepreneur, he was the founder and CEO of companies including Mitralife, Inc., Evera Medical and Middle Peak Medical, and served as Director at HeartScape, Stentys, Abate, Cordance, and KidneyCor.