About Us

Overview

Marlene R. Krauss, M.D., Managing Director

Dr. Marlene Krauss has been our chief executive officer, secretary and a member of our board of directors since our inception. Since November 1998, Dr. Krauss has been a managing member and president of KBL Healthcare Management. During this time, Dr. Krauss co-founded or has served on the board of directors of several of KBL Healthcare Management’s portfolio companies.

Dr. Krauss has also been the chairperson of the board of KBL II since March 2007 and served as its chief executive officer and secretary from its inception in December 2004 until March 2007. From April 1993 to August 1994, Dr. Krauss served as chairperson and chief executive officer of KBL I. In August 1994, upon KBL I’s merger with Concord Health Group, Dr. Krauss continued to serve as the vice chairperson until February 1996.

In August 1991, Dr. Krauss co-founded KBL Healthcare, Inc. and has served as its chairperson and chief executive officer since its formation. In June 1999, Dr. Krauss co-founded Lumenos and has served as a member of its board of directors since its formation. From April 1993 to August 1994, Dr. Krauss served as chairperson and chief executive officer of KBL I. Following its merger with Concord, Dr. Krauss served as the vice chairperson until February 1996. Dr. Krauss also co-founded and/or led the initial financing for the following companies:

Candela Corporation, a Nasdaq Global Market listed developer of advanced aesthetic laser systems that allow physicians and personal care practitioners to treat a wide variety of cosmetic and medical conditions;
Summit Autonomous Inc., formerly a Nasdaq Global Market listed manufacturer and supplier of excimer laser systems and related products used to perform procedures that correct common refractive vision disorders such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism; and Cambridge Heart, Inc., an Over The Counter Bulletin Board listed company that is engaged in the research, development and commercialization of products for the non-invasive diagnosis of cardiac disease.

Dr. Krauss is also a member of the board of directors of PneumRx, Inc., a medical device company developing products for interventional pulmonology applications, of Prolong Pharmaceuticals, a drug delivery company, and of CardioFocus, Inc., an interventional cardio vascular company treating atrial fibrillation.

Dr. Krauss received a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.B.A. from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School. She trained at the Harvard affiliated hospitals, the Beth Israel Hospital and the Deaconess Hospital, as well as Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. She completed her training as a vitreoretinal surgeon at New York Hospital in 1985 and was Clinical Instructor of Ophthalmology at New York Hospital and is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist. Dr. Krauss is the wife of Dr. Berk.

Zachary C. Berk, O.D., Managing Director

Dr. Zachary Berk has been our Chairman of the Board since our inception. Dr. Berk has been a managing member, secretary and treasurer of KBL Healthcare Management, Inc., a management company that provides investment services to the KBL Healthcare venture capital funds (“KBL Funds”), since November 1998. Dr. Berk has also been affiliated with all of the KBL Funds since November 1998.

In August 1991, Dr. Berk co-founded KBL Healthcare, Inc., a venture capital and investment banking firm engaged in advisory and principal based funding activities for early-stage and middle-market companies in the healthcare field, and has served as its senior managing director since its formation. Dr. Berk has also served as chairman of the board of Prolong Pharmaceuticals Inc., a drug delivery company developing improved formulations of proteins, since March 2005, and has served as its chief executive officer since November 2006.

In June 1999, Dr. Berk co-founded Lumenos, Inc., a consumer-driven healthcare company, and served as the vice chairman of the board from September 1999 to April 2004. From December 2004 to March 2007, Dr. Berk served as the chairman of the board and president of KBL II, a blank check company with an objective to acquire an operating business in the healthcare industry. In March 2007, KBL II acquired Summer Infant, a designer, marketer and distributor of branded durable juvenile health, safety and wellness products for infants and toddlers.

From April 1993 to August 1994, Dr. Berk served as vice president, treasurer and a member of the board of directors of KBL I, a blank check company with an objective to acquire an operating business in the healthcare industry. In August 1994, KBL I merged with Concord Health Group, Inc., an owner, developer and operator of assisted living and long-term care facilities, and Dr. Berk remained a director of Concord until February 1996.

Dr. Berk received a B.S. and a Doctorate of Optometry from Pacific University. Dr. Berk is the husband of Dr. Krauss, our chief executive officer, secretary and director.

Michael D. Kaswan, Managing Director

Michael Kaswan has served as our chief operating officer and a member of our board of directors since our inception. From July 1997 to November 1998, Mr. Kaswan served as a senior associate of KBL Healthcare, Inc. Mr. Kaswan has been an employee of KBL Healthcare Management Inc. since November 1998, and is currently a managing director. He has also been affiliated with all of the KBL Funds since November 1998. In June 1999, Mr. Kaswan co-founded Lumenos.

Mr. Kaswan has been a member of the board of Scandius Biomedical, Inc., a privately held medical device company that designs, manufactures, and markets products for the orthopedic sports medicine market, since December 2003 and its chairman since December 2006. Mr. Kaswan has also been a member of the board of directors of Remon Medical Technologies, Inc., a private company that is developing implantable biomedical sensors and communications systems, since September 2004.

Mr. Kaswan served as the chief operating officer and as a member of the board of directors of KBL II from its inception in December 2004 until its merger with Summer Infant in March 2007.

Mr. Kaswan received a B.S. from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Eli W. Berk, Vice President

Eli Berk joined KBL in 2000. Mr. Berk is active in the sourcing, evaluating, structuring and monitoring of KBL's investments. Mr. Berk was instrumental in KBL's investments in Achillion Pharmaceuticals, CardioFocus and Magellan Biosciences.

Previously, Mr. Berk served in a variety of financial management roles at AIG International and Seaport Securities where he focused on investments in biotechnology and medical device companies. He currently serves as a board observer with CardioFocus, Prolong Pharmaceuticals and Magellan Biosciences.

Mr. Berk earned a B.A. degree in Political Science from Fordham University and an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.

Dean L. Drizin, Associate

Dean Drizin has been working with KBL since 2007. Previously, Mr.
Drizin was an Investment Banking Analyst in the Healthcare group at
Banc of America Securities, where he worked on a number of M&A and
corporate finance transactions for a broad range of healthcare
clients.

Mr. Drizin graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth College, receiving an AB in Government and a Minor in Chemistry.