Our Governance & Leadership Team
Meet the Visionaries Behind HelpMeSee
Governance and Leadership
James Tyler Ueltschi
Co-Founder, Chairman & Treasurer
James Ueltschi has been the driving force behind HelpMeSee since 2008. As Chairman and Treasurer, Jim leads a multi-disciplinary team that has transitioned the computer technology of virtual-reality flight simulators to advanced methods for simulation-based cataract surgery training. The goal is to train cataract surgeons in months instead of years. During his early career, James was the Vice President and Treasurer of Flight Safety International as well as serving on the board of Orbis International.
Bonnie An Henderson, MD
President & Chief Executive Officer, Head of Global Innovation and Technology
Bonnie An Henderson, an internationally recognized cataract surgeon and a Past President of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, has been focused on educating cataract surgeons for the past 3 decades.
Dr. Henderson has authored over 175 articles, papers, book chapters, and abstracts and has delivered over 300 invited lectures worldwide including 32 invited Visiting Professorships and 16 Named Lectures. She has published 5 textbooks in cataract and refractive surgery. Her textbook, Essentials of Cataract Surgery, is the one of most commonly used textbooks to teach cataract surgery in the United States. She has developed a digital-based cognitive simulation program for teaching cataract surgery that is licensed by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She has received numerous awards including the “Teacher of the Year” award from Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. She completed her ophthalmology residency at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and graduated from Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School with high honors.
Jeffrey Mullen
Member, Board of Directors
John Jeffrey Mullen graduated from Georgetown University in 1991 and from Georgetown University Law School in 1995. He worked at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, LLP, as a corporate attorney from 1995 to 2000 before joining Goldman Sachs & Co., where he was most recently a Managing Director in the Investment Management Division. In August 2016, Jeff joined Airbnb as their Treasurer. He has been a member of the HelpMeSee board since 2011 and is also a member of the board of directors of the Fabretto Children’s Foundation.
Andrew A. Barnett, CFA
Member, Board of Directors
Andrew Barnett is the Chief Investment Officer of Little Hawk Investments, LLC, a single‐family office based in Vero Beach, FL.
Prior to his role at Little Hawk, Andrew was a founding member and Partner of Governors Lane, a multibillion‐ dollar event‐driven hedge fund, launched in 2015. Prior to Governors Lane, Andrew spent five years at Goldman Sachs in the Prime Services unit (part of the Global Banking & Markets division). Prior to his tenure at Goldman, Andrew was a Partner at Alternative Investment Management, LLC (AIM13), a multi‐family office based in New York. Andrew began his career at Cambridge Associates, located in the Arlington, VA office.
Andrew graduated from Washington & Lee University and is a CFA® charterholder. He serves as a Board member of Boot Campaign and HelpMeSee.
Jonathan Koslow
Member, Board of Directors
Bio coming soon…
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Mike Amason
Director, Simulation-based Training
Before joining HelpMeSee, Mr. Amason had a 16-year-long tenure with Flight Safety International, which is the world’s foremost aviation training organization. In his most recent role as the Director of Training, he oversaw the pilot training programs at the organization’s busiest training center. Earlier in his career, Mr. Amason was an active pilot for Jet Linx Aviation, Cross Creek Aviation, Business Air Center, and Pacific Wings Airlines.
With his extensive task-based training expertise, Mr. Amason will help ensure the HelpMeSee’s award winning simulation training systems deliver the highest quality, standardized cataract training as it expands globally.
Tammy Buck
Chief of Human Resources
As HelpMeSee’s Chief of Business Administration, Tammy Buck embodies a people-first philosophy that underscores the importance of flexibility and connection in building supportive and high-performing teams across the globe. With nearly a decade of executive leadership experience, Tammy is deeply passionate about driving organizational change, shaping culture, and achieving business results in dynamic, collaborative environments.
Before joining HelpMeSee, Tammy owned several small businesses and served as the CEO at Fluid Vision Technologies. Her strategic leadership led the team to a successful exit strategy, resulting in the sale of the company to the third-largest lubricant manufacturer globally. Prior to that, Tammy held pivotal roles at Capital One, including Senior Director of Communications and Director of HR. In these capacities, she orchestrated change management and communications during multiple mergers and acquisitions within the auto finance and banking divisions.
As a Director of HR, Tammy played a critical role in scaling the people strategy for the auto finance division. Her responsibilities spanned talent acquisition, rewards programs, performance management, and learning and development initiatives. Tammy holds a Master’s in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and previously served as the President of the Board for Dress for Success Dallas.
Aileen Chang
General Council
Aileen Chang joined HelpMeSee in October 2020 as its first General Counsel and oversees the Legal, Ethics and Compliance functions of the company and its subsidiaries. Prior to joining HelpMeSee, Aileen served as Assistant General Counsel at FlightSafety International, a premier aviation training company founded by Mr. Al Ueltschi in 1951 and acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 1996. During her 10½ years at FlightSafety, Aileen supported Corporate, Sales and Marketing, Operations, FlightSafety’s foreign and domestic learning centers, courseware development, and the Simulation division. In addition, she worked closely with FlightSafety’s Senior Leadership advising on potential strategic alliances and opportunities to expand FlightSafety’s business.
Aileen’s extensive corporate legal experience includes practicing at major international law firms in New York, including Baker & McKenzie and Sidley Austin, for over 4 years, providing legal services to reinsurance companies for approximately 7 years and supporting in-house legal departments through engagements at Axiom Law.
Aileen earned her Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College.
Nicoletta Fynn-Thompson, MD
Director, Medical Training & Director of Business Development Africa
Dr. Nicoletta Fynn-Thompson is the Director of Medical Training of HelpMeSee and committed to leading simulation-based training of eyecare specialists worldwide to reduce the burden of cataract blindness.
Dr. Fynn-Thompson has over 20 years of practice experience in clinical and surgical ophthalmology. Formerly a partner at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, a premier multispecialty ophthalmic private practice, she grew a busy consultative practice specializing in cataract surgery, complex anterior segment disorders and corneal transplantation. She served as the Medical Director of Boston Eye Surgery and Laser Center where for three years she oversaw the clinical and business operations of this ambulatory surgical center.
With an interest in global ophthalmology, Dr. Fynn-Thompson has spent time volunteering her clinical skills in Ghana and performing cataract surgery in India during her residency.
Dr. Fynn-Thompson graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 1995. She attended the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, receiving her Doctor of Medicine in 1999. She completed her Internship in Internal Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, in June, 2000, and her Ophthalmology Residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, in June, 2003. She received her fellowship training in Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery at Tufts University/Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston in June, 2004.
She has been a longstanding member of international, national and local societies including the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA), Massachusetts Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (MSEPS), Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), and New England Ophthalmological Society (NEOS). She has served, previously and currently, on multiple committees as a member within each society, including the Digital Media Committee (AAO), the Practicing Ophthalmological Curriculum Cornea Panel (AAO), Tissue Advisory Board (New England Donor Services), Ophthalmic Services Committee (NEOS).
Dr. Fynn-Thompson has published numerous articles and written several textbook chapters, as well as spoken nationally and internationally at large scale and leading meetings throughout her career.
Van Charles Lansingh, MD, PHD, FICO (Hon)
Director of Research & Director of Business Development, Latin America
Dr. Charles Lansingh is the Director of Research and the Director of Business Development of Latin America at HelpMeSee. He is a frequent lecturer and a prolific writer, with over 200 publications and book chapters. Dr. Lansingh’s various health-related postings include work in Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Australia and Latin America, and he served as the IAPB’s VISION 2020 regional coordinator in Latin America from 2004 until January 2015.
In 2019 he was named Voluntary Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, and in 2021 Voluntary Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences of the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami.
Dr. Lansingh received his M.D. in 1987 from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico City, Mexico, doing a residency and postgraduate work in Mexico City (APEC/UNAM). In 2005 he was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, in health sciences after fieldwork with Aboriginal communities in Central Australia. Dr. Lansingh also holds an MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology.
- Voluntary Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami
- Voluntary Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami
- Adjunct Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah
- Visiting Professor of the University of Manitoba, Canada
- Associate Professor of Cornea and Refractive Surgery. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México – Instituto Mexicano de Oftalmología (UNAM – IMO)
- Recognized amongst the top 2% of published scientists within my discipline in a Stanford University/Elsevier study
- AAO International Scholar Award
- IAPB Vision Excellence Award
- AAO International Ophthalmologist Education Award (IOEA)
- ARVO, Carl Kupfer Award
- PAAO, Benjamin Boyd Humanitarian Award
- AAO, International Prevention of Blindness Award
Dan Thorpe
Chief of Marketing and Development
Dan Thorpe is a non-profit leader with over 20 years of experience. He began his career with the American Cancer Society, quickly advancing to lead major fundraising events and regional development efforts. Dan held senior roles at the American Heart Association and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, specializing in major gifts and advancement.
As Executive Director of the American Cancer Society in NC, Dan managed significant fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic and later became National Senior Vice President, raising over $200M annually. Currently, he serves as the Chief of Marketing and Development at HelpMeSee, leading all fundraising and marketing efforts for the organization.
Dan resides in Clermont, FL, with his wife and five children.
Chao Wang
Director, Finance and Accounting
Chao holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master’s degree in Information Systems from Baruch College, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He has over a decade of experience in financial management and accounting.
Since joining HelpMeSee in 2014, Chao has played a pivotal role in managing financial operations, budgeting, and strategic planning. His expertise ensures the organization’s financial stability and compliance with regulatory standards, supporting Help Me See in achieving its mission effectively.
Grants and Business Development TEAM
Nicoletta Fynn-Thompson, MD
Director, Medical Training & Director of Business Development Africa
Dr. Nicoletta Fynn-Thompson is the Director of Medical Training of HelpMeSee and committed to leading simulation-based training of eyecare specialists worldwide to reduce the burden of cataract blindness.
Dr. Fynn-Thompson has over 20 years of practice experience in clinical and surgical ophthalmology. Formerly a partner at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, a premier multispecialty ophthalmic private practice, she grew a busy consultative practice specializing in cataract surgery, complex anterior segment disorders and corneal transplantation. She served as the Medical Director of Boston Eye Surgery and Laser Center where for three years she oversaw the clinical and business operations of this ambulatory surgical center.
With an interest in global ophthalmology, Dr. Fynn-Thompson has spent time volunteering her clinical skills in Ghana and performing cataract surgery in India during her residency.
Dr. Fynn-Thompson graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 1995. She attended the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, receiving her Doctor of Medicine in 1999. She completed her Internship in Internal Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, in June, 2000, and her Ophthalmology Residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, in June, 2003. She received her fellowship training in Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery at Tufts University/Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston in June, 2004.
She has been a longstanding member of international, national and local societies including the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA), Massachusetts Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (MSEPS), Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), and New England Ophthalmological Society (NEOS). She has served, previously and currently, on multiple committees as a member within each society, including the Digital Media Committee (AAO), the Practicing Ophthalmological Curriculum Cornea Panel (AAO), Tissue Advisory Board (New England Donor Services), Ophthalmic Services Committee (NEOS).
Dr. Fynn-Thompson has published numerous articles and written several textbook chapters, as well as spoken nationally and internationally at large scale and leading meetings throughout her career.
Dr. Kayode Odusote
Assistant Director, Business Development, Africa
Dr. Kayode Odusote is the HelpMeSee Assistant Director of Business Development for Africa. After graduating with his degree in medicine in 1971, he quickly rose to the rank of Professor of Medicine (Neurology) at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. He has long been a champion of eye health in the region.
In 1993, Dr. Odusote joined the West African Health Community. He became actively involved in the development of human resources for eye health, apart from his primary role of coordinating the training of medical specialists for the five Anglophone countries in the region.
In 2001, Dr. Odusote took on the Director of Human Resources Development role at the West African Health Organization. There, he spearheaded the establishment of the Vision2020 Forum for West Africa, a platform that facilitated collaboration and coordination among National Prevention of Blindness Program Managers and NGOs in the region. Dr. Odusote also championed expanding the training program for eye health professionals, extending it to Francophone West Africa with the support of organizations such as Sightsavers and CBM.
Throughout his career, Dr. Odusote has focused on developing human resources for eye health, particularly in the West African region. His efforts included coordinating the training of medical specialists and establishing programs to reduce the cataract burden in the area. Dr. Odusote also played a pivotal role in curriculum development, training ophthalmologists and implementing electronic medical records systems to monitor cataract surgical outcomes.
Dr. Hinaben Patel, Ph.D.
Director of Grants
Dr. Hinaben Patel is the Director of Grants and Development at HelpMeSee. She provides companywide leadership to develop strategies for revenue generation to support HelpMeSee’s mission. Her work involves forging partnerships with corporations, foundations and governments.
Dr. Patel received her undergraduate degree in microbiology from South Gujarat University in India. She obtained her M.Sc. in biotechnology from the University of Baroda, India, and her Ph.D. in genetics from Barkatullah University, India. Her experiences include working with Columbia University (USA), the Indian Institute of Technology and Cadila Pharmaceuticals (India).
Dr. Patel is a member of the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society and is trained in regulatory affairs for both medical devices and pharmaceuticals. She has also been a certified professional with the Association of Clinical Research (2018-22).
Van Charles Lansingh, MD, PHD, FICO (Hon)
Director of Research & Director of Business Development, Latin America
Dr. Charles Lansingh is the Director of Research and the Director of Business Development of Latin America at HelpMeSee. He is a frequent lecturer and a prolific writer, with over 200 publications and book chapters. Dr. Lansingh’s various health-related postings include work in Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Australia and Latin America, and he served as the IAPB’s VISION 2020 regional coordinator in Latin America from 2004 until January 2015.
In 2019 he was named Voluntary Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, and in 2021 Voluntary Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences of the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami.
Dr. Lansingh received his M.D. in 1987 from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico City, Mexico, doing a residency and postgraduate work in Mexico City (APEC/UNAM). In 2005 he was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, in health sciences after fieldwork with Aboriginal communities in Central Australia. Dr. Lansingh also holds an MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology.
- Voluntary Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami
- Voluntary Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami
- Adjunct Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah
- Visiting Professor of the University of Manitoba, Canada
- Associate Professor of Cornea and Refractive Surgery. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México – Instituto Mexicano de Oftalmología (UNAM – IMO)
- Recognized amongst the top 2% of published scientists within my discipline in a Stanford University/Elsevier study
- AAO International Scholar Award
- IAPB Vision Excellence Award
- AAO International Ophthalmologist Education Award (IOEA)
- ARVO, Carl Kupfer Award
- PAAO, Benjamin Boyd Humanitarian Award
- AAO, International Prevention of Blindness Award
Dr. Akshay G. Nair
Director, Business Development, India, HMS Vision PLC
Dr. Akshay G. Nair’s areas of specialty are oculoplastic surgery and ocular oncology. He is known globally for his pioneering work on mucormycosis. Dr. Nair is featured on Stanford University’s 2022 Top 2% Scientists list based on the most-cited scientists globally. He has published over 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers and has contributed to 15 scientific textbooks.
He has been the first author on the papers on the validity of the HelpMeSee Eye Surgery Simulator published in Scientific Reports and the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Nair received the American and Asia-Pacific Academies of Ophthalmology Achievement Award in 2019. Other awards include those in neuro-ophthalmology (2011) and ocular oncology (2021) from the All-India Ophthalmological Society, as well as those for his research from the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2013 and 2018.
Dr. Ashish Bacchav
Director of Product Management, India, HMS Vision PLC
Dr. Ashish Bacchav is HMS Vision PLC Director of Product Management in Mumbai, India. He is also the Medical Director at his own hospital – Eknath Eye Hospital and Laser Centre. He specializes in cornea, cataract and refractive surgeries. He draws on this expertise to contribute to HelpMeSee simulation development and training programs.
Dr. Bacchav is involved in training and serving underprivileged patients at Grant Government Medical College and the Sir JJ Group of Hospitals in Mumbai, where he is an Honorary Associate Professor of Ophthalmology. His experience includes over 20,000 complicated and advanced ophthalmic surgeries.
Dr. Bacchav attended Grant Medical College in Mumbai and did postgraduate DNB surgical training in ophthalmology at Aravind Eye Hospital. After training, he completed a long-term fellowship there and later taught surgeries to Indian and international students.
Dr. Yang Xiao (Shaw)
Consultant – Beijing, China
Dr. Yang Xiao (Shaw) is a Consultant in China. He successfully supported a partnership with HelpMeSee and the Eye Hospital at the Wenzhou Medical University, where more than 520 cataract surgeons in East China have been trained in MSICS.
A collaboration with the He Eye Specialist Hospital Group spearheaded by Dr. Xiao has resulted in training an additional 200 cataract surgeons in North China. These successes have sparked a partnership with Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center Sun Yat-Sen University, the top-ranked ophthalmology hospital and training institute in the country — and the world.
Dr. Xiao obtained his medical degree from the Capital Medical University in Beijing, China, and has since conducted over 25,000 successful ophthalmic procedures. Today he serves as an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at his alma mater. In 28 years, Dr. Xiao has trained and guided numerous ophthalmic surgeons. He has over 30 published peer-reviewed articles and five textbook chapters, and he received two Chinese patents for his surgical instrument inventions.
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