ROCR was founded by physicians to move promising regenerative science out of theory and into regulated, reproducible treatment for patients with chronic concussion and orthopaedic injury who have run out of options. Our board brings together clinical, scientific, legal, and financial leadership to move that science through FDA-guided trials and into practice.
Dr. Peter B. Hanson is a distinguished orthopaedic surgeon, clinical researcher, and leader in regenerative medicine and concussion research. A lifelong San Diego resident, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Occidental College and earned his medical degree with honors from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at UC Davis Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in total joint reconstruction at The Scripps Clinic in La Jolla.
Dr. Hanson joined Grossmont Orthopaedic Medical Group in 1992, where he has practiced for more than three decades, specializing in total hip and knee replacement. He introduced the anterior approach to total hip replacement to San Diego County in 2004 and was an early adopter of robotic-assisted knee replacement. His leadership experience includes serving as Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical Director of Orthopaedic Surgery for more than 25 years, and Chief of Staff at Grossmont Hospital. He served 16 years on the hospital’s Board of Directors, including two years as Chairman, followed by six years on the Sharp HealthCare Board. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and a former President of the San Diego Orthopaedic Society.
Dr. Hanson co-founded the San Diego Stem Cell Treatment Center in 2013 and currently serves as Medical Director of BioSolutions Clinical Research Center. He has participated in more than 50 FDA-regulated clinical trials, many focused on regenerative approaches to hip and knee arthritis.
Since 2016, Dr. Hanson has led a research program focused on developing novel diagnostic and treatment approaches for acute and chronic concussion. His work has included an FDA-authorized autologous cell-based study and collaborations with Personalized Stem Cells, Inc., BioSolutions, and GAIA, a San Diego biotechnology company, to advance a salivary biomarker toward a self-administered diagnostic tool for early concussion detection.
Together with Dr. Tal David, Dr. Hanson co-founded the Regenerative Orthopaedic and Concussion Research Foundation (ROCR) to accelerate the translation of scientific discovery into clinical application and advance innovative, evidence-based regenerative treatments for orthopaedic and neurological conditions.
Dr. Tal S. David is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in arthroscopic and sports medicine surgery, with certifications in both Orthopaedic Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed an orthopaedic sports medicine and arthroscopy fellowship at the renowned Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles.
Dr. David practices in San Diego and is a clinical faculty member in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UC San Diego, as well as a faculty member of the San Diego Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Fellowship. He has extensive experience treating athletes and has served on the medical staffs of professional sports teams, including more than 11 years as an NFL team physician. He is currently serving as the orthopaedic consultant to the Wave Football Club, and head orthopaedic team physician for the San Diego Football Club.
A recognized researcher and educator, Dr. David was part of the MARS Study Group, whose work received the prestigious AOSSM 2014 O’Donoghue Award for the best clinical research paper in sports medicine. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals on orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine, and sports injuries and serves on the editorial boards of Orthopedics and Annals of Sports Medicine and Research. He is also the author of Arthroscopic Techniques of the Shoulder and editor of the Visual Arthroscopy Series on arthroscopic surgery.
Dr. David co-founded the San Diego Stem Cell Treatment Center in 2013 and has developed a strong focus on regenerative medicine and translational clinical research.
Together with Dr. Peter Hanson, Dr. David co-founded the Regenerative Orthopaedic and Concussion Research Foundation (ROCR) to support physicians and researchers in translating emerging scientific discoveries into innovative, evidence-based treatments and advancing the field of regenerative medicine.
Dr. Daniel “Dan” Deems is a physician-neuroscientist focused on reversing chronic brain diseases through neuroregeneration and proactive longevity application. He earned his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and his Ph.D. in the neurosciences from UCLA, bringing together clinical medicine, neuroscience research, and a commitment to improving quality of life for patients with chronic neurologic conditions.
Dr. Deems has extensive experience in nonprofit healthcare leadership and currently serves on five boards within Empath Health, the nation’s largest nonprofit hospice and full-life care health system. His work includes clinical governance, compliance, population health, and the integration of post-acute care models for aging populations.
He is also a co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers, which has grown to more than 650 locations nationwide. In this role, he provides strategic oversight of mergers and acquisitions, organizational growth, and clinical innovation, with a particular interest in longevity science and neuroregeneration as they relate to musculoskeletal and balance disorders.
Dr. Deems brings to ROCR a multidisciplinary perspective spanning neuroscience, clinical governance, healthcare systems, and regenerative medicine. His work is particularly aligned with the Foundation’s commitment to developing innovative approaches to brain injury and neurological recovery, including therapies for individuals affected by traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
His guiding mission is simple: to translate advances in neuroscience and regenerative medicine from the laboratory into meaningful improvements in the lives of patients.
Andrea Migdal is a seasoned global legal executive and strategic advisor with extensive experience guiding high-growth technology companies through complex corporate, regulatory, transactional, and strategic challenges. She advises founders, CEOs, boards of directors, and senior leadership teams, bringing a pragmatic, business-focused approach to legal and organizational strategy.
Andrea most recently served as General Counsel of 6sense, a leading B2B SaaS marketing and sales revenue platform. Joining the company as its sole legal counsel, she helped guide its growth into a global organization of approximately 1,000 employees. As General Counsel, she built and led a high-performing legal team and helped shape the company’s strategy across mergers and acquisitions, data and privacy, emerging generative AI issues, and other complex legal matters, with a strong emphasis on operational efficiency and innovation.
Prior to 6sense, Andrea advised high-growth technology companies through her own law practice for more than 15 years. Her technology and corporate expertise was further developed as a partner at Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich (now DLA Piper), where she practiced in the technology, intellectual property, and corporate groups. She also served as General Counsel of Dot Wireless, advising the telecommunications company on corporate matters, technology licensing, equity financing, and strategic initiatives, including the company’s $475 million stock sale to Texas Instruments.
Andrea has also combined her passion for entrepreneurship with a commitment to inspiring future generations. She worked with astronaut Sally Ride to establish Imaginary Lines, an organization focused on encouraging girls to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and served as its General Counsel.
Andrea earned her Juris Doctor from George Washington University and her B.A. from the University of California, Davis. She brings to ROCR extensive experience in governance, strategic planning, risk management, corporate transactions, and organizational leadership.
Mark Foletta is a seasoned healthcare executive and board leader with extensive experience in finance, strategy, operations, and organizational growth. Throughout his career, he has helped guide healthcare and life sciences organizations through periods of growth and transformation, with a focus on financial performance, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.
Mark served as Chief Financial Officer of Amylin Pharmaceuticals from 2000 to 2012, playing a key leadership role as the company developed and expanded within the biopharmaceutical industry. He has subsequently brought his financial and strategic expertise to significant board leadership positions, including serving on the Board of Directors of AMN Healthcare Services since 2013 and Dexcom since 2014, where he currently serves as Chairman of the Board.
In addition to his corporate leadership, Mark has extensive experience working with executive teams and boards to navigate complex business environments, evaluate strategic opportunities, and build sustainable organizations. His perspective combines deep healthcare industry knowledge with financial discipline and a long-term approach to organizational growth.
Mark is also committed to supporting organizations that create meaningful impact in the community. He and his family have supported Las Patronas, one of San Diego’s leading philanthropic organizations, for several years and consider it their largest charitable commitment.
Mark brings to ROCR a unique combination of healthcare, life sciences, financial, governance, and philanthropic experience, supporting the Foundation’s mission to advance innovation and translational research in regenerative medicine.