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Marc Kahn
Dean of the UNLV Medical School

Marc J. Kahn, MD, MBA, is the dean of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine and vice president for health affairs at UNLV, bringing extensive experience in medical education, research, and leadership. A hematologist and medical oncologist by training, Dr. Kahn previously served as a senior associate dean at Tulane University, where he developed innovative MD/MBA and BS/MD programs. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 110 book chapters, and five textbooks, including Business Basics of Building and Managing A Healthcare Practice. Dr. Kahn is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and a Master of the American College of Physicians. Passionate about improving medical education and healthcare access, he envisions an academic health center in Southern Nevada that fosters compassionate care, economic growth, and community well-being.

David Damore, Ph.D.
Head of UNLV Brookings Mountain West

Dr. David F. Damore is a Professor of Political Science and the Executive Director of The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West at UNLV, as well as a Nonresident Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. An expert in electoral politics and public policy, he has authored numerous policy briefs, journal articles, and books, including Blue Metros, Red States and Latinos in Nevada: A Political, Economic and Social Profile. Frequently sought after by major media outlets such as The New York Times, Washington Post, and NPR, Dr. Damore’s analysis also appears in publications like The Brookings Institution’s FixGov Blog and Politico Magazine. He holds a Ph.D. from UC Davis, an M.A. from the University of Georgia, and a B.A. from UC San Diego, all in Political Science.

DeRionne Pollard, Ph.D.
President of Nevada State University

Dr. DeRionne Pollard is the president of Nevada State University (NSU), a Minority Serving Institution recognized as one of the fastest-growing colleges in the U.S., dedicated to expanding access to equitable education and fostering social justice and economic mobility. As the first Black female president in NSHE, she leads a diverse campus where nearly half of the students are first-generation. Since her tenure began in 2021, Dr. Pollard has also contributed nationally as a member of boards including CHEA, AASCU, and NASPA, and locally with the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance and Nevada Public Radio. A first-generation college graduate with a Ph.D. from Loyola University Chicago, she has received numerous accolades, including the 2024 National TRIO Achiever Award, for her visionary leadership and advocacy for transformative education.

Elena Medo
Leonie Health PBC

Nearly 40 years after first setting foot in a neonatal intensive care unit, Elena Medo’s passion for preterm infants has not waivered. Steering a groundbreaking venture in the realm of neonatal care, her focus is on innovating new pathways for the prevention and treatment of NEC and other illnesses that threaten the lives of preterm infants and other critically ill patients. Elena founded her first company when she was at the University of California, Irvine. She has founded a medical device company, an analytical instrument company and three infant nutrition companies. She has developed over a dozen products specifically for use in the neonatal intensive care unit, serving infants as small as 400 grams at birth. She has raised over $45M for her various startups. She has been awarded numerous patents. She has an MBA with an emphasis on health care management.