Our Team

The Avixena Population Health Solutions team is comprised of seasoned professionals with a remarkable record of multiple successful start-ups, multiple turnarounds, and awarded patents. They have years of healthcare experience in careers that span the many forms of state and federal government programs, insurance companies and self-funded payers, managed care organizations, healthcare delivery systems, national consulting firms, and decades of information technology, web and software development, mobile technology, and numerous innovative products.

	Mehrdad Shafa, MD, MMM, DFACMQ Chief Executive Officer Dr. Shafa is a Healthcare Consultant with significant expertise in all aspects of healthcare delivery. Over the past fifteen year Dr. Shafa has worked with twenty three health plans in seven states. He has served as permanent and interim Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Executive Director for thirteen health plans across the US, and has successful record of eight turnaround operations resulting in net saving of more than $500 million. He is a recognized authority in Population Health Management, Resource Utilization, and Medical Quality Management and Outcomes.
	Mario Vassaux Chief Innovation Officer Mario is a seasoned technology executive and entrepreneur with 30 years experience in the development and commercialization of ideas, technology, software and intellectual property. In the past 10 years he has participated in the development of over 30 patents. He has been a principal and founder of companies developing products ranging from blockbuster video games to award winning medical apps. He is focused on mobile apps and technologies and serves as an advisor to entrepreneurs, startups and established companies.
	Elisabeth Graf-Shafa, MD, MHA, FACMQ Chief Operating Officer Dr. Graf-Shafa is a practicing Anesthesiologist in Phoenix, Arizona, and has extensive experience with Medicare, Special Needs, and Long-term Care Health Plans in multiple states. Dr. Graf-Shafa has broad knowledge of Resource Utilization, Medical Quality and Outcomes, and CMS Oversight and Compliance rules and regulations.
	Dave Balmer Chief Technology Officer Dave Balmer is a 30 year veteran of software engineering who is equally at home with startups and large corporations like Wal-Mart, Yahoo, Palm, HP and BlackBerry. In addition to engineering management, his roles have included: engineer, architect, mentor, and speaker. Dave's past medical software experience ranges from insurance claim management solutions to leading mobile medical apps (Epocrates for Android and webOS).
	Kevin Fickenscher, MD, CPE, FACPE, FAAFP Past Board Member Dr. Fickenscher is a recognized physician executive and technology leader with extensive experience in strategic and operational development in healthcare organizations. He is a thought leader related to technology and information management with extensive experience in organizational transformation, physician management, health policy analysis, leadership development, clinical quality and resource / care management. He is the immediate past President and CEO of the American Medical Informatics Association.