Theme: Focus Reimagined

At this year’s TEDxAlconR&D event, we are excited to continue our journey of Brilliant Focus with talks centered around the theme “Focus Reimagined.” We will feature nine exceptional speakers from R&D, Commercial, Digital Health, and ITCI. These amazing talks will inspire our associates, showcasing the significant impact we can have on our teams and community. We aim to share unique ideas that will spark innovative thoughts, foster engaging conversations, and encourage us to think differently.

Schollmaier Auditorium
6201 South Freeway
Fort Worth, Texas, 76134
United States

Atanu Ghosh

Senior Clinical Applications Specialist

Atanu is a loving husband, father, heavy coffee drinker and an optometrist, holding a PhD in Vision Science. He was born in India; however, he spent 15 years in Australia! While pursuing his PhD, Atanu investigated the role of Optical and Biomechanical factors associated with myopia progression and near work. He also completed a post-doctoral fellowship from the University of Rochester, New York, in 2015. Atanu has published several research papers in high-impact factor ophthalmology journals like IOVS and JCRS. In January 2022, Atanu joined Alcon’s Australia and New Zealand Surgical team as a Clinical Applications Specialist. It was the perfect next step in his 15+ year career in eye care. In addition to clinical and research activities, Atanu is very passionate about teaching. In his free time, Atanu enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, and teaching his kids how to play cricket.

Bartosz Bartkowicz

Global Product Director

Bart drives digital transformation for multinational corporations. Over the last eight years at Alcon, his career has focused on Business Operations and B2B2C eCommerce platforms where, innovation and adaptability are key. Bart has been instrumental in leading cross-functional teams and guiding product managers, business analysts, and designers through the complexities of modern medical devices. His expertise lies in championing the iterative process, emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement, learning through failure, and evolving solutions to meet dynamic business needs. As Global Product Director at Alcon, Bart is passionate about technology's role in reshaping business operations, fostering growth, and, above all else, delivering value. His journey is fueled by a commitment to helping organizations embrace change, ensuring that digitalization is not just a goal, but a sustainable and successful path forward.

Carla Mack

Head, Global & US Professional Education and Development

Carla is an innovative and progressive business leader, eye doctor, and wellness fanatic who looks forward to starting each day before the sun is up with a workout. While the first half of her career was rooted in academia and patient care, her industry career has spanned global leadership roles in the development and integration of scientific, professional, and commercial strategies. She is passionate about advancing consumer insights and innovative treatment solutions into patient quality of life outcomes. In her current role, she represents the voice of the eye care professional to all that Alcon does, implementing strategic peer-to-peer education and enhancing Alcon’s advocacy through professional organizations.

Jennifer Alton

Director, Surgical Products/Brand Marketing

Jennifer has been with Alcon for almost 4.5 years as the Director of Surgical Marketing in Canada. She has spent most of her career in the medical device industry in sales and sales leadership, with the last 15 years focused on Ophthalmology. In 2018, she challenged herself to go back to school and complete a Global Executive MBA focused on Healthcare and Lifesciences from Rotman School of Management in Toronto. She is a tiny, passionate human that lives large, innovates compulsively, and inspires those around her. Jennifer believes the key to achievement is not getting bogged down in the pitfalls of perfection but instead embracing the idea that often, good is good enough.

Jugoslav Isakovic

Director, US Core Cataract Marketing

In this role, he’s on a mission to bring cutting-edge solutions to the ophthalmic world, guiding his team to new heights and crafting strategies that have driven record-breaking success. He has led cross-functional teams and collaborated with the biggest names in the industry. Jugoslav’s journey with Alcon has taken him to Europe, the Middle East, and the U.S., where he has launched cutting-edge equipment, spearheaded successful product campaigns, and collected a shelf full of awards. With an MSc in Economics and fluency in English, Serbian, and Croatian (plus a sprinkle of other languages), Jugoslav is a leader who brings strategic vision, creativity, and boundless energy to every project – all while having fun along the way. When he’s not reshaping the future of eye surgery, you’ll find him enjoying family travels, riding his Harley-Davidson, and practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Meredith Weksler

Sr. Scientist, Pharmacology

With nearly nine years of experience in ocular pharmaceutical R&D as an in vivo pharmacologist, Meredith currently works as a Senior Scientist on the preclinical team in North Carolina. She is very passionate about her work and holds a master’s degree in Animal Science from North Carolina State University (NCSU), GO PACK! She and her husband bonded over SCUBA and a love of sharks! SCUBA is a thrilling adventure they both continue to pursue, holding professional certifications as dive masters. She also loves watching hockey, camping with their two awesome Australian Shepherds, and looking for predators like bears and wolves in the wild.

Prince Akowuah

Manager, MDR & Safety Operations

Prince started his career with Alcon as an R&D intern in the summer of 2022. He joined Alcon full-time in 2023 after receiving his PhD in Vision Science from the University of Houston. What Prince enjoys most about his work is the diversity of ideas and the nuanced approaches others bring to problem-solving. His motivation comes from knowing that his efforts result in innovative products that help ophthalmic patients, including his mom. When Prince isn’t working or sleeping, he’s probably at his sewing machine, trying to make a pair of pants fit.

Ruth Zimba Kapansa

Sr. Executive Assistant

Ruth's career began in Zambia working for international organizations such as the Department of State and the United Nations, supporting diplomats in various roles. She moved to the United States in 2015 and later joined Alcon MTO in October 2019. Now, she serves as Sr. Executive Assistant in ITCI, supporting their executive leadership team. Ruth is well-versed in global, multicultural environments, which makes Alcon a perfect fit for her, as she enjoys working with associates and leaders from diverse backgrounds. Ruth has two teenage children who are currently participating in a select STEM program in their school district. She, her husband, and children enjoy international travel. Ruth takes special pride in her children experiencing and celebrating other cultures to foster tolerance, acceptance, and appreciation of the diverse world we live in.

Sonalee Tambat

Senior Director, Modeling and Simulation, R&D

Sonalee Tambat, Sr. Director at Alcon, leads the Modeling and Simulation group within R&D. With a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University, she brings over twenty-five years of experience in the modeling and simulation field, having applied her expertise across industries such as automotive, aerospace, defense, and consumer products. Recognizing the transformative potential of simulation technology in healthcare, she transitioned to Alcon, where she and her team have been leveraging simulations for over a decade. Initially focused on instrumentation products, they have since expanded their efforts to include IOD, EOD, and Pharma, providing critical insights into product performance and safety to facilitate faster market entry. Outside of work, she enjoys practicing meditation, exploring California’s scenic beaches, and vacationing in national parks with her family.