About
Novamedics helps healthcare organizations, investors, and entrepreneurs assess and commercialize innovative products and services that improve patient care — making it better, faster, and more cost-effective. We specialize in technology assessment, due diligence, startup support, business plan refinement, and product development. We’re here to bridge the gap between groundbreaking ideas and real-world impact.
Our team
Kev Khayat
Kev has 30 years’ experience driving innovation to fuel business growth in healthcare, social care, and education across the US and UK. He has led large-scale transformations, supported start-ups, and advised clinicians in developing new solutions.
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He tripled revenue for a UK psychotherapy service by broadening access, created an ed-tech evaluation process for schools, and brings extensive business planning expertise. Kev also mentors innovators through the NSF’s I-Corps program at both local and national levels.
kkhayat@novamedicsllc.com, +44-7799-668489
Jim Zalar
As a Partner at Novamedics, Jim Zalar helps healthcare organizations grow commercialization programs. With 25+ years at Cleveland Clinic and Big Four firms, he brings deep expertise in hospital operations, partnerships, and commercialization.
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He grew revenue at the Orthopedic & Rheumatology Institute from $180M to $400M in four years while doubling physician staff. As General Manager of Cleveland Clinic Innovations’ Business Solutions Team, he led partnerships to identify opportunities and assess international products for the US market. Jim has also advised start-ups and served on entrepreneurial boards.
jzalar@novamedicsllc.com, +1-440-463-7217
Ryan Nowicki
With over 15 years in technology commercialization and product development, Ryan helps healthcare organizations build or enhance their programs. At Cleveland Clinic Innovations, he gained broad experience in successful commercialization, with expertise in medical devices from minimally invasive surgical tools to drug-device combination products.
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He also served as Director of Product Development at Advanced NanoTherapies, overseeing US IDE submission, clinical trials, DHF preparation, and contributing to fundraising, budgeting, and capital planning.
rnowicki@novamedicsllc.com, +1-440-452-9520
Advisors
Brian Kolonick
Brian is a business development and strategy executive with 17+ years of experience in healthcare technology, partnerships, and innovation. Proven track record leading growth initiatives, commercializing clinical technologies, and building strategic alliances across healthcare systems and industry partners.
Former senior leader at Cleveland Clinic and two successful start-ups, securing multimillion-dollar funding and establishing high-impact clinical collaborations. Skilled at turning vision into actionable strategies that deliver measurable results.
Jon Sakai
Jon Sakai is a medical device professional with 20 years of experience in design, development, and commercialization.
He served as Director of Commercialization at CIONIC, supporting human factors, 510k clearance, and go-to-market activities including evidence generation, reimbursement strategy, research partnerships and a VA Healthcare System sales channel. Previously, he spent 6 years at Cleveland Clinic Innovations as an Innovation Manager, evaluating early-stage innovations and guiding promising early-stage technologies to key commercial milestones. Jon also advises neurotech startups, teaches medtech commercialization at Case Western Reserve University as an Adjunct Instructor, and co-organizes the Cleveland Neurodesign Workshop.
Katie Walnsch
Katie is a seasoned leader in project, meeting, and people management within the healthcare sector. As Manager of Meetings & Events, she blends strategic oversight with a people-first mindset to deliver high-impact experiences that drive growth. She has played a pivotal role in accelerating service revenue, contributing to two successful acquisitions in six years.
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Katie holds both a BSBA and an MBA from John Carroll University, grounding her work in strong business fundamentals and a sharp operational lens.