Meet the Instructors
Chris Hermann, MD, PhD is the Founder and CEO of Clean Hands Safe Hands (CHSH). He has over 16 years of experience working in medical technology design and healthcare. His background, as a physician and engineer, has given him a unique perspective to bridge the gap between engineering and medicine. His in depth technical and clinical knowledge have allowed him to lead multi-disciplinary teams to address complex clinical problems. These teams have created several medical devices, biologic therapies, and electronic sensors that are used clinically or are in clinical trials.
Dr. Hermann started and led the multi-institution research collaboration that developed the core technology utilized in the CHSH system. The research team included investigators from Children’s Healthcare, Georgia Tech, Emory School of Medicine, the GA Tech Research Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over the last 12 years the research team has secured and executed more than eight state and federal research grants totaling over $3.2M. Unlike most clinical research grants, these projects were heavily focused on rapid iteration engineering development and completely driven by the real world needs of clinicians. Dr. Hermann is the lead inventor for the patents related to the CHSH technology and serves as the connection between the clinicians and engineers.
Outside of his clinical experience, Dr. Hermann has over fourteen years experience in a variety of leadership development training, experiential education, and team building roles. These include running and facilitating high ropes/challenge courses, climbing leadership development programs, and high adventure sailing programs. He has a PhD in Bioengineering, a MS in Mechanical Engineering, a BS in Biomedical Engineering with High Honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MD from Emory School of Medicine. He is married with three children.
Saylan Lukas is a Professor of Practice at the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine. Saylan has over 20 years of medical device design and development experience. From startup companies to large international corporations, he has led project teams from initial feasibility through global commercialization in areas of patient specific craniomaxillofacial orthopedic implants and instruments, transcatheter heart-valve stent grafts and delivery systems, cranial stabilization systems, cancer treatment devices, and laparoscopic instruments. Saylan has extensive experience in new technology assessment, product development, computer aided design, 3D printing and prototype fabrication, design verification and validation testing, human factors and usability, risk analysis, manufacturing scale-up, sustaining engineering, and root cause analysis. He has developed and launched multiple products, obtained successful FDA approval on several 510(k) applications, has been awarded numerous patents, and published multiple technical papers in peer-reviewed journals. Saylan earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Terre Haute, IN) and a Master’s in Business Administration from Butler University (Indianapolis, IN).
Dr. Chris Revell is a Professor of the Practice at the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology’s College of Engineering and Emory School of Medicine. Chris has over 16 years of medical device design and development experience, ranging from venture capital-funded startups to large, publicly traded companies. Chris’ experience includes leading teams in all phases of medical device product development, from early technology development and customer insights through commercialization and into sustaining engineering. His areas of focus through his career include devices and instrumentation used in orolaryngological surgery, respiratory and airway management, acute and chronic gastrointestinal and enteral feeding solutions and various devices within the neonatal intensive care (NICU) setting. Chris has extensive experience in the customer insight-driven product development process, including customer discovery, business case development, technology development, product development, design verification and validation, human factors, sustaining engineering and regulatory compliance. Dr. Revell has developed and launched multiple products, has authored and obtained successful FDA and EU regulatory clearances and blends technical knowledge with business viability within the medical device arena. Chris earned his undergraduate degree in Polymer & Textile Chemistry from Georgia Tech and a PhD in Bioengineering from Rice University.
Meet the Capstone Liaison
Kayden Shuster is pursuing her M.S. in Biomedical Innovation and Development at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she also earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Biology. She brings a strong foundation in medical device development, having contributed to multiple phases of the product lifecycle at Avanos Medical, from early-stage concept generation to verification testing and regulatory compliance. Kayden led early product development through her project with the Mayo Clinic. She is passionate about translating unmet clinical needs into innovative, user-centered solutions.
Meet the Teaching Assistants
Emily Yan received her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2024. She completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Taiwan in 2025 and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Biomedical Innovation and Development at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research interests center around design for biomedical applications and plans to pursue medical school post-graduation. Outside of academics, Emily enjoys going to the gym, learning new board games, and cooking with CHEFS at Tech!
Ryan Altera is pursuing a combined B.S./M.S. in Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, with his Bachelor’s degree expected in Spring 2026 and his Master’s in Spring 2027. He has gained industry experience through internships in the medical device sector, strengthening his interest in developing technologies that improve patient outcomes. After completing his degrees, Ryan plans to pursue a career in the medical device industry in roles such as R&D, manufacturing, or related engineering functions. In addition to his coursework, Ryan conducts research in a biomedical mechatronics laboratory, where he focuses on robotic systems designed to support healthcare applications. Outside of the lab, he serves as a coach for the Georgia Tech Swim Club.
Amritaa Basu received her B.S. Biomedical Engineering and Business Analytics Certificate from Georgia Tech in May 2025. She is now pursuing her BME M.S. through the B.S./M.S. pathway. She has previously interned with BD, Edwards Lifesciences, and American Heart Association, and conducted cardiovascular tissue engineering research with the Serpooshan Lab at Emory University. Amritaa is inspired by her upbringing across 8 cities in India and the U.S., and this has shaped her perspectives on equitable development of biomedical infrastructure. After graduating, Amritaa hopes to pursue industry with a focus on R&D, Process Engineering, or PM for cardiovascular interventions.
Jessi Avila-Shah is pursuing her M.S. in Biomedical Innovation and Development at the Georgia Institute of Technology after receiving her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Yale University. She has experience creating a startup company for novel medical devices, as well as creating FDA premarket submissions for Software as a Medical Device. Previously, she has interned at Cresilon, Inc. in Brooklyn, NY where she contributed to biotechnology from a marketing and sales perspective. Jessi has a passion for working with clinicians and patients to ensure that clinical needs are met in ways that benefit all users and stakeholders.
Rebecca Jeltuhin is an MD/PhD student in her 2nd year of her PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. She is in the Sensors for Living Systems Lab currently working on low-cost capillary-based microfluidic diagnostic devices in the realm of women’s health. Rebecca graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech in 2022 where her research focused on cell-free protein sensors. During her gap year, Rebecca worked as a Lead Research Specialist at the Emory School of Medicine working with devices that measure platelet biophysical properties in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery. She is pursuing her medical education at the Medical College of Georgia where she served as a coordinator for the free Women’s clinic in Augusta, creating partnerships with the Department of Public health and local labs and clinics to provide patients with free pap smears and STD testing. Rebecca is passionate about the creation of medical devices that bridge the gap between the bench and the clinic. She hopes to be a physician-scientist in the future, combining her interests in medicine, engineering, teaching, and mentorship.
