Founders & Board

Founders’ Story

Drs. László Tabár, Michael Vendrell, and Tom Stavros are gifted radiologists on a journey to reduce breast cancer. Dr. Vendrell was part of the original development of computer-aided detection with MRI and breast imaging. In 2012, he was the catalyst for founding the company as he knew the best and brightest of breast imaging. This included recruiting Dr. Stavros, widely known as the expert in breast ultrasound and Dr. Tabár, considered the father of mammography.

Dr. Vendrell knew that both of these radiologists had always been strong advocates for improving care and practice in breast imaging. They had similar views on their profession. They agreed there were inherent problems in the breast imaging process that plagued them as clinicians, that affected their patients in terms of safety, and made it difficult to run a practice. They firmly believed that technology and hiring the right team would address many of these issues and are pleased with the outcome.

All their work and expertise came together to form Ikonopedia and the team we have today. Drs. Tabár, Vendrell, and Stavros continue to be involved, but we also actively engage with our customers to add to our functionality and tracking. Together, we are delivering more effective breast health for patients by enabling radiologists with the best solution to identify and track all types of potential cancer risk.

Founders

  • László Tabár , MD, FACR (Hon)

    Founder

    Known internationally for his leadership in the landmark Two-County Trial, Dr. Tabár established the value of mammography in reducing mortality from breast cancer. Dr. Tabár is a physician, researcher, and educator who continues to contribute through his research, writing, lectures.

  • A. Thomas Stavros , MD, FACR

    Founder

    Internationally renowned for his expertise in ultrasound of the breast, Dr. Stavros has authored the definitive textbook, Breast Ultrasound and is considered one of the premier experts in the field. He is an invited lecturer, author of numerous peer reviewed articles, and was an investigator in the landmark ACRIN 6666 Trial.

  • Michael J. Vendrell , MD

    Founder and President Emeritus

    Dr. Vendrell conceived of Ikonopedia and the patents upon which it is based. He is our domain expert for Breast MRI and has participated in the design of Ikonopedia’s modules for Mammography, Ultrasound, MRI, Biopsy, and Pathology. He currently is passionate about using Breast MRI without IV contrast for widespread screening. His longer term goal is better understanding the molecular basis of malignant transformation toward eventual development of primary prevention of breast cancer.

Board

  • Woodrow Gandy , MD

    Board Chair

    Woodrow Gandy attended the University of Texas, obtaining his M.D. degree from U.T. Southwestern Medical School and continuing with postgraduate training in Internal Medicine at the University of California Davis and San Francisco. He served as chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Baylor Medical Center, Irving before co-founding T-System, Inc., which developed the widely-acclaimed eponymous emergency department information system. He serves on the board of numerous healthcare-related organizations

  • Robert L. Appel

    Board Member

    After graduating from the University of North Texas, Bob spent 5 years with Ernst & Young and 25 years as an executive in the mortgage banking industry.  In 2013, after helping Nationstar Mortgage rapidly become the country’s largest independent mortgage servicing companies, he retired from corporate life.   He now devotes his time, talent and treasure to private investments and engaged philanthropy.  For ten years Bob served as Treasurer for Educational First Steps and is currently an active member of Social Venture Partners – Dallas.  He is a former member of the North Texas Angel Network and consultant for the Northern Rangelands Trust of Kenya.  He frequently advises local entrepreneurs and social enterprises.  He is a proud native of San Antonio, has been married for over 20+ years and has two nearly perfect children.

  • Emily Crane

    Board Member

    As President and CEO, Ms. Crane manages the overall operations and resources of Ikonopedia. Prior to Ikonopedia, Ms. Crane was a key executive with one of the nations foremost teleradiology providers. Prior to that, she was research director at KLAS Research.

  • Mark Jensen

    Board Member

    Prior to joining the Board, Mr Jensen helped launch US Radiology Specialists (USRS) and served as the Chief Development Officer.  USRS is a National  Radiology Company comprised of Radiology Practices, Outpatient Imaging and Women’s Imaging Centers.  Prior to USRS, he was the CEO of Charlotte Radiology, the largest practice in the Southeast and the largest provider of Women’s Imaging Services.  He has  over 35 yrs of Radiology management expertise.

  • Rob Langdon , MD

    Board Member

    Rob Langdon, MD is a physician, entrepreneur and investor who co-founded T-System, Inc. a company dedicated to providing charting solutions and information systems to emergency departments and other health care facilities. He served as CEO of T-System from it’s founding in 1995, and as a board director from 2010 to 2017. Currently, Dr. Langdon is an active investor in early stage life science companies and serves on several corporate and non-profit boards. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine with over twenty years of clinical practice.

  • A. Thomas Stavros , MD, FACR

    Board Member

    Internationally renowned for his expertise in ultrasound of the breast, Dr. Stavros has authored the definitive textbook, Breast Ultrasound and is considered one of the premier experts in the field. He is an invited lecturer, author of numerous peer reviewed articles, and was an investigator in the landmark ACRIN 6666 Trial.

  • Michael J. Vendrell , MD

    Board Member

    Dr. Vendrell conceived of Ikonopedia and the patents upon which it is based. He is our domain expert for Breast MRI and has participated in the design of Ikonopedia’s modules for Mammography, Ultrasound, MRI, Biopsy, and Pathology. He currently is passionate about using Breast MRI without IV contrast for widespread screening. His longer term goal is better understanding the molecular basis of malignant transformation toward eventual development of primary prevention of breast cancer.