Our Story
TRACTUS was founded in 2012 to address the specific need in the healthcare marketplace for a low-cost software & hardware platform for whole breast ultrasound. The combined system uses a unique accessory probe that clips onto standard ultrasound systems, and then integrates with a proprietary software suite for reviewing & reporting the whole breast ultrasound scan. Our primary device is the BreastMapper, and potentially doubles the discovery of small, treatable breast cancers often missed in dense-breasted women.
This is an important cause, as nearly half of all women over the age of 40 have dense breasts, and study after study shows that ultrasound is an important methodology for dense breast detection. Federal law now requires that mammography facilities include breast density information in reports sent to patients and physicians. This emphasizes the reality that millions of women are currently underserved by mammography each year.
TRACTUS has been awarded two FDA 510 (k) approvals for both it's hardware ultrasound whole breast ultrasound accessory product and its software reviewing package. Furthermore, whole breast ultrasound is covered by Medicare and many private insurers.
Our Mission
At TRACTUS, we are dedicated to superior patient healthcare, by creating innovative & efficient whole breast ultrasound solutions that empower healthcare providers to best serve their communities. By investing in modern research and development practices, TRACTUS is inspired to facilitate the widespread access to full spectrum whole breast ultrasound that ensures the comprehensive detection that all patients deserve.
Meet the TRACTUS Leadership Team
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Brad Hummel
CEOMr. Hummel has enjoyed a long career as an entrepreneur, senior executive and corporate officer. A graduate of the University of Iowa, he began his career as a political assistant to US Senator John Culver, prior to serving as an associate in the Washington and London offices of the CCM Management.
In 1984, he co-founded Dallas-based Diagnostic Health Services, where he helped forge that company’s rapid national expansion and its 1993 IPO. In 1999 he joined Prime Medical Services as CEO, directing an expansion that grew the company’s market capitalization from $61M to $450 M, and leading Prime’s 2004 merger with Healthtronics Surgical. In 2003 and 2005, Prime Medical was named one of Forbes Magazine’s 200 Best Small Companies.
From 2006-2009, Brad served as CEO of Solis Women’s Health, growing the footprint of the company from 6 to 26 facilities, conducting nearly 400,000 procedures a year. From 2009-2011, Mr. Hummel served as CEO of venture backed Rise Health, Inc. Brad currently serves as Managing Member of OptiLight, LLC and Hawkeye Distributing, LLC. Previously he served as a director of American Physicians Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMPH), Prime Medical Services/Healthtronics (NASDAQ: PMSI/HTRN) and Arcoma, AB (Vaxjo, Sweden).
Brad Hummel
CEOMr. Hummel has enjoyed a long career as an entrepreneur, senior executive and corporate officer in many medical & healthcare endeavors.
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Mark Mayerchak
VP, Engineering & OperationsMr. Mayerchak has 26 years of experience in product development, and has been developing medical devices for 20 years. Mark holds a MSEE degree from Texas Tech University, and is a registered Profession Engineer in Washington. Mark is a former Principal Engineer and Director of Engineering of SeaMED/Plexus Corporation, a contract development and manufacturing company that specialized in assisting medical device startup companies with product realization. Mark specializes in hardware design, project management, system engineering, and design control implementation.
In 2005, Mark founded Clearview Development, LLC, a consulting company that provided product realization services to the medical device industry. Over the past decade Mark has been involved with several innovative medical device development programs, including work with CardiOx Corporation, SonoSite, SonoCine, Hemostatix Medical Technologies, Aculight, BioForm, Intact Medical, Apsara, and Choice Therapeutics.
Mark Mayerchak
VP, Engineering & OperationsMr. Mayerchak has 26 years of experience in product development, and has been developing innovative medical devices for 20 years.
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John Standiford
VP, SalesJohn’s sales experience spans three decades starting in the bio-medical market as a product manager and sales engineer for Webber Manufacturing located in Indianapolis, Indiana. John’s responsibilities were the oversight of the marketing and sales efforts of the company, standardization of the bio chamber product line and the direct sales to important in-house accounts such as The National Institutes of Health. John also developed and directed the national sales efforts through a manufacturer’s sales force.
John next took over sales for Raven Scientific electrophoresis products and developed the company’s manufacturer’s sales force. Raven became a master distributor for Forma Scientific (a division of Mallinckrondt) and their full line of laboratory products. Among his greatest achievements John obtained the largest single order of Forma products from Eli Lilly.
Always having an interest in the medical imaging industry, John joined Fischer Imaging in 1991 and held various sales positions within the company over a span of 16 years until Fischer Imaging was acquired by Hologic.John joined SonoCine Corporation in 2011 when the company rolled out its automated whole breast ultrasound system. As a Regional Manager, John was responsible for all east coast and southeast sales directly selling the first units into the market place for Sonocine.
John was one of the first hired employees for the new Tractus Corporation in 2014 and soon became the VP of sales. John directs the sales efforts for the Tractus BreastMapper in the United States and assists in the development of the new Tractus marketing program as well as the development of the new generation BreastMapper. John’s education consists of two BS degrees from Indiana State University and a Masters degree in Business Management from Central Michigan University. John and his wife, Laveda, reside in beautiful Sarasota Florida.
John Standiford
VP, SalesJohn's experience in the medical industry spans decades, and brings broad domain expertise to Tractus.
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Mitzi Wells, ARDMS
Clinical Product SpecialistMitzi Wells is a seasoned ultrasound technologist with over 18 years experience in hospitals and clinical settings.
Prior to this role, Mitzi worked as a Clinical Applications Specialist for Carestream and Mindray for a total of 6 yrs.
Before joining the world of applications, Mitzi worked as a sonographer at UT Southwestern St. Paul Dallas, Methodist Dallas, and ETMC Tyler TX.
Mitzi received her Diploma in Science and Diagnostic Medical Sonography in Tyler, Texas. She continues to reside in Tyler with her two sons.
Mitzi Wells, ARDMS
Clinical Product SpecialistMitzi has deep experience in the ultrasound application environment, and leverages her passion for improving ultrasound efficacy with Tractus as a Clinical Product Specialist.
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Leslie Black
Corporate Operations ManagerLeslie Has been a part of the Austin start-up environment for nearly a decade. A native of Detroit, Leslie studied economics at Oakland University before moving to Texas to start her career. At RetailMeNot, she was part of the team that developed and maintained a corporate wellness program for company employees. Prior to joining Tractus, Leslie worked with the business development and sales support team at SpareFoot.
Leslie currently serves as Tractus’ Operations Manager, a role that includes sales and marketing team support, trade show coordination and administrative management at the company’s Austin headquarters. She enjoys the vibrant cultural and outdoor activities that are so readily available in Austin and loves hanging out with her dog Cooper.
Leslie Black
Corporate Operations ManagerLeslie is currently the Corporate Operations Manager for Tractus Corporation, managing the daily operations of the corporate office based in Austin, Texas.
Board of Directors
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Brad Hummel
Chairman & CEOSpecialties: Strong Strategic and Financial Skills with Global Expertise in Operations, Mergers and Acquisition, Sales Development and Managing in a Regulated Environment.
Brad Hummel
Chairman & CEOChief Executive and Corporate Officer with Extensive Healthcare Experience, particularly in Services and Integrated Physician Driven Enterprise.Sed ut perspiciatis Sed ut
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August Petersen, MPA, CPA
PresidentSpecialties: Nationally recognized expert on strategic planning and financial reporting issues for both privately held and public firms. Featured speaker for an on-going series of conferences and work shops on both strategic planning and financial reporting topics.
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Paul Ardi
Investor -
Robert Campbell
Investor -
Clay Heighten, M.D.
Investor