INVITED SPEAKERS

Brad Day, PhD
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Innovation Initiatives,
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Inaugural Keynote Lecturer

Dr. Brad Day is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Innovation Initiatives at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He joined the university in November 2021, is responsible for the development of new, cross- disciplinary, research activities which capture the strengths, and opportunities of faculty at UT. Importantly, in this role, he is focusing on convergence research activities to eliminate traditionally, siloed disciplinary-focused research and innovation. A demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. Skilled in Cell Biology, Research, Molecular Genetics, Higher Education, and University Teaching.

Prior to UT, Day was a Foundation Professor at Michigan State University where his research focused on the molecular-genetic regulation of plant immune signaling. His research was funded by a breadth of national and international funding agencies, including NSF, USDA, NIH, Asian Development Bank, the Gates Foundation. During his time at MSU, he spent 1 year as a Program Director at the National Science Foundation. Prior to MSU, he was a NIH-funded postdoctoral scholar at UC-Berkeley, and an NSF- postdoc at the National Institute of Agroenvironmental Resources in Tsukuba, Japan.

Robert Craft, MD
Professor, Department of Anesthesiology
Dean, UT College of Medicine, Knoxville
Invited Speaker

In 2023, The University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) selected Robert M. Craft, MD, as Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, leading all academic and education efforts within the health system. In addition, he will serve as the fifth dean of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM). Dr. Craft joined UTMC in 1994 as an anesthesiologist. At UTMC, he has held the roles of anesthesiologist, clinical researcher, medical educator, and physician leader for the UTGSM. Dr. Craft was the Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology from 2015-2022, and the department experienced significant educational and clinical growth during his tenure, including significantly advancing the Critical Care and Pain Management Divisions and initiating three new fellowships (Perioperative Medicine, Pain Management, and Regional Anesthesia). Under his leadership, the anesthesiology residency grew from 21 to 40 total residents, and the department expanded to include 40 faculty, 100 CRNAs, and 35 SRNAs providing patient care at 78 clinical sites across four campuses.

Glen Balch, MD
Director of the Cancer Institute Professor of Surgery
University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville
Invited Speaker

Dr. Balch is a highly respected clinician, academic leader and innovator with a distinguished background in surgical oncology and colorectal surgery. His medical journey began at the University of Texas at Houston, followed by a general surgery internship and residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He then completed advanced training in Surgical Oncology and Colorectal Surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Dr. Balch earned a Physician Executive MBA from the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee in 2013, equipping him with the expertise required for advanced leadership roles in health care.

Bernard Kim
Director of Global Sales and Marketing, Norgen Biotek
Invited Speaker
(Participating by the invitation of Letgen Biotechnology.)

With 25 years of experience in academia, government laboratories, and the biotechnology sector across Germany, the United States, and Canada, Bernard Kim has been dedicated to advancing transformative diagnostic solutions that shape global healthcare. As Senior Vice President and General Manager at Seegene and Norgen Biotek, he led the development of a comprehensive molecular diagnostic platform, redefining clinical sample processing—from collection and nucleic acid purification to full automation.

Holding a Ph.D. in Molecular Plant Pathology, Bernard Kim completed postdoctoral research focused on rapid diagnostics, biological control, and plant-pathogen interactions to protect agricultural health. This foundation inspired a transition toward public health, where he managed research and development and manufacturing teams, successfully launching over 50 products in molecular diagnostics, RNA/DNA purification, and sample collection at Norgen Biotek.

He is attending the congress as an esteemed guest of Letgen, the Main Sponsor of the congress and the Turkish distributor for Norgen Biotek.

Michael Francom
Regional Agricultural Counselor
U.S. Embassy, Ankara, Turkiye
Invited Speaker

Michael Francom is the Regional Agricultural Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. In addition to Turkiye, he is responsible for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Central Asia. His prior overseas assignments include China, Ethiopia, and back-to-back postings in South Korea. Michael has also worked in various positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Utah and Master of Arts in International Affairs from George Washington University.

Michael is married with six children and two grandchildren, and is a native of Utah.