Dr. W. Casey Fox
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Fox conducted pioneering research in bone healing and osteoporosis while at Southwest Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and made this a foundational element in two of the companies he founded, BioMedical Enterprises, Inc. (BME) and Agile Manufacturing, Inc. Building products and infrastructure with contract service and Federal, State and County grant revenue he lead BME in the introduction and establishment of the U.S. market for shape changing bone compressing nitinol staples. This success resulted in the sale of BME to Depuy/Synthes, Johnson & Johnson Companies.
A prolific inventor he has had over 35 patents issued in the U.S. and Europe and published tens of articles. Skilled at medical product development, he and his teams have received 20 FDA clearances to market and commercialized the orthopaedic products stemming from his inventions. He has held engineering, advisory board and adjunct faculty positions over the last 30 years at the institutions listed above as well as the University of Texas at Austin and University of Alabama, Birmingham.
Dr. Fox founded and leads Metric Medical Devices, Inc. to broaden and advance the shape changing bone compressing orthopaedic implants he pioneered at BME. These next generation nitinol staples and finger and toe fixation implants enter the market Dr. Fox established. These products are being followed by a disruptive minimally invasive external bone fixator based on these same implant shape changing concepts. This LINK™ External Fixator will allow bone fixation and compression without open surgery. This is a disruptive concept in bone fixation and may, due to its minimally invasive technique, allow surgeons to treat more bone fractures in their office versus the hospital.
Dr. Fox and his wife Nancy are 37 year residents of San Antonio and native Texans. During his career he was recognized in 1998 as an Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year and 2005 as a Star of Innovation by the San Antonio community. In 2018 he was honored by the University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering with the highest honor it bestows on its alumni, the Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2019 he was inducted into the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni. Dr. Fox is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and has spent his entire career focused on the orthopaedic problem and entrepreneurism.
Jamie Grooms
Board of Directors
Mr. Grooms co-founded Regeneration Technologies (Nasdaq: RTIX), a publicly-traded company that processes human tissue for allogenic grafts used in orthopedic, oral maxillofacial, urinary, and cardiovascular surgeries. He co-invented the primary value-added technologies that formed the basis of RTIX’s product line. Mr. Grooms also co-founded AxoGen Corporation, and from 2002 to May 2010 he served as Chief Executive Officer. He had been AxoGen Corporation’s Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2002 and then served as AxoGen, Inc.’s Chairman of Board of Directors since 2011. In addition to his executive management experience, he has extensive experience in many areas of med-tech business operations, including R&D, laboratory and manufacturing operations. He has developed state-of-the-art medical processing and manufacturing systems, robotics, and other technological innovations, and has held various leadership positions with LifeNet, Osteotech (Nasdaq:OSTE), and CryoLife (Nasdaq:CRY). Mr. Grooms holds a degree in biology from Old Dominion University.
James W. Simmons III, DO
Board of Directors
James W. Simmons III, DO Website
Dr. James Walter Simmons, III, serves as President of the South Texas Spinal Clinic and as one of its Partner and Staff Physicians. He holds Clinical Associate Professor appointments at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Simmons is licensed in Texas, Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons and specializes in the treatment of congenital and adult deformity of the spine. In addition to his business leadership as President of his practice group, he founded Trinity Medical, Inc. a topical analgesic technology company and served as Medical Director of and on the Board of Directors of BioMedical Enterprises, Inc. Dr. Simmons was deployed with the 5501st U.S.Army Hospital as a surgeon during the Iraq War and honorably discharged with the rank of Major after eleven years of service. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Doctorate in Biochemistry at the University of North Texas, Doctorate of Osteopathy from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Masters of Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin. His Internship and Residence were at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas and Spine Surgery Fellowship at the Twin Cities Spine Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Simmons has received awards for teaching and research, holds membership in multiple professional societies, and has numerous published works and lectures. Dr. Simmons brings to Metric’s Board of Directors personal experience with the changing healthcare landscape, the physician’s perspective, and strong business acumen.