Been There. Done That.
OrbitalMed was founded by medical doctors that are former NASA Astronauts. Let their firsthand experience illuminate your path to space.
Our team
CONSULTANT AND FOUNDER
Robert L. Satcher, MD, Ph.D
Dr. Satcher is an Astronaut and Orthopaedic Oncologist in Houston, Texas. He has performed medical services in under-resourced countries throughout Africa as well as Central and South America. Dr. Satcher’s research focuses on bone metastatic disease leading to the identification of new curative treatment options using cellular, molecular, and personalized medicine strategies. In 2004, Dr. Satcher was selected by NASA for the US astronaut program. Dr. Satcher flew on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, STS-129, in November 2009. During the mission he performed two spacewalks totaling over 12 hours of extravehicular activity.
Dr. Satcher earned his BS and PhD degrees in chemical engineering from MIT and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, Health Sciences and Technology division. His postgraduate training included postdoctoral research fellowships and a residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of California (Berkeley and San Francisco, respectively) as well as an orthopaedic oncology fellowship at the University of Florida, Gainesville. Dr. Satcher has served on numerous boards, including Vorhees University (a HBCU) where he served as Board Chair overseeing the transition from Voorhees College to Voorhees University; Whitehead Institute of MIT, Teach For America, Space Center Houston, NASA advisory boards for human spaceflight, and National Academy of Sciences panel to assess cancer risk in Astronauts following spaceflight.
CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER
Bernard Harris, Jr., MD, MBA, FACP
Dr. Harris serves as the CEO of Vesalius Ventures, Inc., a venture capital firm that invests in Healthcare technologies and companies. Dr. Harris was a NASA astronaut for ten years, where he conducted research in musculoskeletal physiology and clinical investigations of space adaptation and developed in-flight medical devices to extend Astronaut stays in space. He has logged more than 438 hours and traveled over 7.2 million miles in space. He is a member on the Board for numerous companies spanning engineering and medical technologies. In addition, he is on the non-profit Boards of the Texas Medical Center, National Math and Science Initiative, and the philanthropic Harris Institute & Foundation (founder). He earned a BS in Biology from the University of Houston, a Master of Medical Science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, an MBA from the University of Houston and a Doctorate of Medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine. He completed a Residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, a National Research Council Fellowship in Endocrinology at the NASA Ames Research Center and trained as a Flight Surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks AFB. Dr. Harris is the recipient of nine (9) honorary doctorates, NASA Space Flight Medal, NASA Award of Merit, National Space Grant Distinguished Services Award, James Bryant Conant Award, a fellow of the American College of Physicians, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the 2000 Horatio Alger Award, and authored “Dream Walker: A Journey of Achievement and Inspiration.”
CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL
Philip H. Hilder, JD
Philip H. Hilder has been involved in numerous complex, high profile cases including defending a Texas Attorney General for alleged violations of securities fraud; representation of the Enron whistleblower; and defending BP personnel in the Deepwater Horizon explosion criminal investigation. His legal experience includes white collar criminal defense; related civil/regulatory parallel litigation; corporate compliance issues; whistleblower actions; and representation of NASA contractors under governmental investigation. Served as the attorney in charge of the U.S. Department of Justice Organization Crime Strike Force (Houston Field Office) and as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. Since entering private practice, Philip has served as President, Federal Bar Association (Houston Chapter); American Bar Association, National Chair, White Collar Crime Committee; and Co-chair ABA National Institute on Securities Fraud. Philip was named as a Director to the Board of the Houston Forensic Science Center (mayoral appointment – current); Houston Police Oversight Board (mayoral appointment as Director – former); The University of Texas Health Cardiovascular Perfusion Program Advisory Committee of the McGovern Medical School. Philip earned his J.D. law degree from Boston College Law School and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Iowa (Honors).