Our Team

Dr. Thijs Smit is CEO and Co-Founder of OptimalPSI, where he leads the development of patient-specific spinal implants using advanced computational optimization.

Dr. Smit studied Mechanical Engineering at Delft University of Technology, specializing in computational mechanics and structural optimization. After two years in industry, he pursued doctoral studies at ETH Zurich under Prof. Stephen Ferguson and Dr. Benedikt Helgason, where he pioneered the application of topology optimization to medical implant design.

During his PhD, Dr. Smit developed the automated computational strategy that forms the foundation of OptimalPSI's technology. He established collaborations with structural optimization experts and clinical partners while building an extensive network across the Basel and Zurich medical device ecosystems. His entrepreneurial vision transformed this groundbreaking research into OptimalPSI, where he now drives the company's mission to prevent subsidence and improve outcomes for spine surgery patients with osteoporosis.

Wolfgang Rubin is CTO and Co-Founder of OptimalPSI, bringing over 15 years of medical device expertise spanning spinal implants, pediatric solutions, and orthopedic systems.

Wolfgang holds degrees in Medical Engineering and computational mechanics. He began his career as a postgraduate laboratory engineer at Yale University School of Medicine under Prof. Manohar Panjabi, supporting spine biomechanics research. In industry, he successfully led ten implant systems to market across six European and US companies, serving in senior engineering, project leadership, and team management roles.

His expertise extends to regulatory compliance, technical documentation, change management, and customer complaint resolution. He holds ISO 9001 QM auditor certification and safety officer status under MDD 93/42/EEC. Wolfgang recently completed his PhD at ETH Zürich's Department of Materials, focusing on biodegradable magnesium-based implant materials – research that further strengthens OptimalPSI's innovative approach to patient-specific spinal solutions.

Dr. Osman Satir is OptimalPSI's AI & Software Engineer, developing intelligent algorithms and backend systems that power the company's patient-specific implant design platform.

Osman holds a B.Sc. in Electronics Engineering from Sabanci University, an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from EPFL, and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Bern, where he developed AI-based models to evaluate surgical planning decisions in total shoulder arthroplasty. His previous experience includes creating AI methods to assess bone strength in the tibia and radius, and developing algorithms for optimizing dental implant placement.

At OptimalPSI, Osman applies artificial intelligence to complex biomechanics challenges including bone modeling, implant design optimization, and surgical planning. He focuses on algorithm optimization for real-time clinical performance and building Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) components compliant with FDA and CE regulatory standards—critical capabilities for OptimalPSI's commercialization pathway.

Prof. Stephen Ferguson serves as Scientific Advisor to OptimalPSI, providing strategic guidance on biomechanics and orthopedic technology development.

Prof. Ferguson is a world-leading expert in biomechanics and head of the Laboratory for Orthopaedic Technology at ETH Zurich. His research spans the mechanical and biological aspects of spine, knee, and hip biomechanics, with particular focus on innovative implant development. He and Prof. Benedikt Helgason co-led the EU-funded project that laid out the groundwork for OptimalPSI's topology optimization approach.

Beyond his research contributions, Prof. Ferguson leads MSc courses in medical device product development and finite element analysis in biomedical engineering, training the next generation of medical device innovators. His extensive network across academic institutions, clinical partners, and industry provides invaluable connections for OptimalPSI's development and commercialization strategy. Prof. Ferguson's deep expertise in translating biomechanics research into clinical solutions continues to guide the company's scientific direction.

PD Dr. med. Daniel Haschtmann is a board-certified spine surgeon and Senior Consultant at the Schulthess Klinik in Zurich, one of Europe's leading orthopaedic centers. He brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience in complex spine surgery to his role as Medical Advisor and Co-Founder of OptimalPSI.

He received part of his medical and surgical training at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and combines extensive clinical expertise in degenerative spinal disorders, adult spinal deformity, and complex revision surgery. His extensive involvement in scientific research and spinal implant design has earned him a distinguished reputation within the international spine community.

PD Dr. med. Haschtmann is actively involved in translational research as well as teaching and academic supervision at the University of Bern and ETH Zurich. He played a key role in the clinical translation of the doctoral research that formed the foundation of OptimalPSI's technology, ensuring its relevance to real-world surgical practice.

As Medical Advisor, he provides strategic guidance on clinical use cases, patient selection, and clinical validation. His deep understanding of the challenges in treating high-risk spine patients—particularly those with osteoporosis or compromised bone quality—helps ensure that OptimalPSI's patient-specific implant solutions address genuine unmet clinical needs and integrate seamlessly into operating room workflow.

Dr. Rahul V. Shah is a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon and partner at Premier Orthopaedic Associates in New Jersey, where he serves as Medical Advisor to OptimalPSI.

Dr. Shah specializes in comprehensive spine and neck surgery, including minimally invasive, reconstructive, and complex revision procedures across the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. He performs over hundreds of spine surgeries annually, bringing extensive real-world experience with diverse patient populations and surgical challenges.

During his training at Yale, Dr. Shah served as Chief Resident and received the prestigious Wayne O. Southwick Award, recognizing excellence in orthopedic leadership. He has been named Yale New Haven All-Star Physician and recognized as a Top Physician by The Daily Journal.

Dr. Shah's high-volume practice and deep understanding of US spine surgery workflows, reimbursement dynamics, and patient care pathways provide invaluable insights for OptimalPSI's American market entry strategy.

Dr. Karthik Madhavan is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon specializing in complex deformity and minimally invasive techniques. He serves as Medical Advisor to OptimalPSI, providing expertise on surgical innovation and technology integration.

Dr. Madhavan completed his residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital and a two-year spine fellowship at the University of Miami. He specializes in advanced procedures including transforaminal and oblique lateral lumbar interbody fusion, endoscopic spine surgery, and artificial disc replacement.

A prolific researcher, Dr. Madhavan has authored over 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts and delivered approximately 80 national presentations. His accolades include the Stewart Dunsker Award (AANS), the Charles Kuntz Award, and NASS's "20 under 40 Spine Like" recognition. He serves as co-chairman of NASS's Surgical Engineering Committee and holds editorial roles at World Neurosurgery and several leading spine journals. His current interests include artificial intelligence applications, robotics, and big data analytics in spine surgery.

Bill is a senior healthcare commercial executive with more than 20 years of experience driving growth, market expansion, and commercialization strategy across the medical device sectors. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Temple University with formal training in Exercise Physiology and Exercise Science.

Bill has held progressive leadership roles with industry-leading organizations including Nevro, Stryker, and Biomet Spine, advancing from territory management to district, regional, and national strategic sales leadership. He was recruited to startups in the ENT space and Spine prior to FDA approval to help build U.S. commercialization readiness, shape go-to-market strategy, and drive early physician engagement for first-in-class therapies.

At Nevro, Bill most recently served as Director of Strategic Sales – Eastern U.S., leading enterprise-level initiatives, supporting new FDA-approved indications, and partnering closely with key opinion leaders and health systems. His career is marked by consistent top-tier performance, multiple President's Club recognitions, and #1 rankings.

At OptimalPSI, Bill focuses on executive-level partnerships, physician engagement strategy, and helping organizations successfully adopt innovative solutions that deliver measurable clinical, operational, and economic value.