Focused Ultrasound Foundation names 2 managing directors

The Charlottesville-based Focused Ultrasound Foundation has added two new managing directors.

Eliza Vellines Phillips was named last week by the foundation as its new managing director of development, and Rick Hamilton, an inventor who holds more than 1,000 patents, joined as its managing director and chief technology officer.

Phillips will lead fundraising and manage development for the organization, which advocates for noninvasive medical technology to treat serious disorders. It funds research and builds awareness among health care providers and patients.

Phillips established Phillips Philanthropy Advisors, a firm connecting philanthropists with institutions, and she previously served as director of leadership gifts at the University of Virginia and as acting director of development for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello.

“I am thrilled to be joining the foundation at such an important time, and I look forward to building on the incredible momentum created by former director Nora Seilheimer and her team,” Phillips said in a statement. “Rapid advances in research and clinical trials, combined with innovative technical developments in the field have created a unique opportunity to expand awareness and accelerate the timeline for making focused ultrasound the standard of care for millions of patients globally.”

Having served in various executive roles at IBM, Hamilton is an expert in cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and intellectual property. Most recently he was vice president and senior distinguished engineer at Optum Inc., a health care provider and pharmacy benefits manager owned by UnitedHealth Group.

Hamilton started his new position March 25 after serving as an adviser, consultant and a council member for the foundation.

“After successfully launching, nurturing and growing a multi-year program at my previous employer, I have been contemplating my next ‘grand challenge,'” Hamilton said in a statement. “The opportunity to be surrounded by brilliant clinicians, researchers, technologists and business leaders is highly appealing and promises to be an atmosphere where I can not only contribute but grow.”