Leadership

Michael Yip, PhD

Co-founder

Dr. Yip is roboticist and engineering professor, has 20 years of experience in surgical robotics. He is the Director of the Advanced Robotics and Controls lab at UC San Diego and manages a $15M portfolio of medical robotics programs. He has been an expert consultant for J&J, Amazon Robotics, visiting faculty at Stanford University, and is a former Disney Imagineer. In 2024, Dr. Yip was elected to the National Academy of Inventors. He has degrees in Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Stanford University.

Phil Weissbrod, M.D.

Co-founder

Dr. Weissbrod is a board-certified otolaryngologist, professor at the UCSD School of Medicine, and the Director of the UCSD Center for Voice and Swallowing. He has co-led multiple projects and clinical studies in surgical robotics, and a frequent expert clinician for trialing new surgical robotic technologies. Dr. Weissbrod completed his fellowship in laryngology at UWashington, residency training at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, and his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in New York.

Carolena Deutsch-Garcia

Director of Business Development

Carolena Deutsch-Garcia is a seasoned development professional with extensive expertise in business development, fundraising, and program alignment. Currently the Director of Business Development at Channel Robotics, she leads the company’s seed funding initiatives. With a rich history in higher education, Carolena has secured significant individual and foundation gifts, developed innovative programs, and fostered long-lasting investor relationships.