Team

The Heidelberg Engineering Academy has set high standards to provide quality training, courses and continuing education for Heidelberg Engineering products worldwide. It is our pleasure to offer high-quality educational seminars that provide the comprehensive knowledge necessary to fully utilize your Heidelberg Engineering instrument in your clinical practice.

Meet our team!

Clinical Affairs Manager

Brian Fernandez

Brian Fernandez

Associate Director of Clinical Affairs

  • M.D. General Medicine and Minor Surgery – Universidad International de las Americas, Costa Rica
  • Extensive work in research and ocular imaging – Neurology and Neuro-Ophthalmology
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2009

Steve Thomas

Steve Thomas

Clinical Affairs: Clinical Market Development Manager

  • A.S. Health Care Management – Florida Atlantic University
  • CRA certified through OPS
  • Active member of OPS
  • Lectured over 500+ events in ophthalmic photography, image management, etc.
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 1995

Heather Oakes

Heather Oakes

Senior Clinical Trials Manager, US

  • B.S. Communications Media, Photography – Fitchburg State University
  • CRA and OCT-C certified through OPS
  • Active member of OPS
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2016

Application Specialists

Patricia Wilson

Patricia Wilson, COT

Manager, Clinical Applications

  • Medical Assistant Program, Fisher College
  • Professor Ophthalmic Assistant Program, Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology
  • Over 20 years of ophthalmic clinical management experience
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2025

Scott Baker

Scott A. Baker

Clinical Application Specialist

  • B.S. Biomedical Photographic Communications, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
  • Ophthalmic Imaging Specialist – Ocular Echographer
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2025

Borna Baktash

Borna Baktash

Clinical Application Specialist

  • Biochemistry – University of Houston
  • Clinical and research ophthalmic photographer
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2025

Lenae Gilmore

Lenae Gilmore

Clinical Application Specialist

  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician through JCAHPO
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2024

Gonrado Joe

Gonrado Joe

Clinical Application Specialist

  • Psychology, University of California Riverside
  • Ophthalmic Imaging Specialist
  • Project Management Professional (PMP)

Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones

Clinical Application Specialist

  • BASc Health Studies, Minor in Health Care Management – Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI
  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician
  • Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmic Photography – Henry Ford College, Dearborn, MI
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2024

Christopher Keth

Christopher Keth

Clinical Application Specialist

  • BFA Photography and Cinematography – Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Certified Retinal Angiographer
  • Certified Optical Coherence Tomographer
  • Member of the OPS Board of Certification since 2021
  • Photographed patients in over 40+ clinical studies
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2024

Karen McHugh

Karen McHugh

Senior Clinical Application Specialist

  • B.A. – Colby Sawyer College
  • CRA certified through the OPS
  • Active member of the OPS
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2017

Michaela Rocchio

Michaela Rocchio

Clinical Application Specialist

  • B.S. Digital Photography – The New England Institute of Art
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2023

Colin Spencer

Colin Spencer

Clinical Application Specialist

  • BSc Health Sciences – Oakland University, Rochester, MI
  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2025

Training and Education

Bridget P. Sapyta

Bridget P. Sapyta

Training & Education Manager

  • MBA – Lewis University, Romeoville, IL
  • BA History – University of Illinois
  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician through JCAHPO
  • Certified Clinical Study Coordinator
  • Joined Heidelberg Engineering in 2021
Last modified: Thursday, 4 December 2025, 8:03 AM