GUILFORD, Conn.– Hyperfine, Inc. (Nasdaq: HYPR), the groundbreaking health technology company that has redefined brain imaging with the first FDA-cleared AI-powered portable magnetic resonance (MR) brain imaging system—the Swoop® system—today announced the appointment of Chi Nguyen as Vice President of Office Strategy and Partnerships and Rafael Donnay as Vice President of Hospital Strategy and Health Economics to provide leadership in key growth areas. These strategic leadership appointments bolster the capability of Hyperfine to drive Swoop® system commercial adoption in hospital inpatient and outpatient settings and expand to neurology office settings.
Chi Nguyen will lead the company’s office strategy, drawing on her extensive experience in developing markets for disruptive technologies. The new MRI standards issued by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in November 2024 open the door for accredited neurology offices to secure CMS reimbursement for MRI scans using the Swoop® system. This milestone positions Hyperfine to expand into new sites of care, including neurology offices—representing nearly 2,400 potential locations in the U.S. alone. By bringing advanced MR brain imaging directly to these professional healthcare settings, Hyperfine will significantly enhance patient access and convenience by enabling MR brain imaging during routine clinic visits. To lay the foundation for this expansion, Ms. Nguyen will oversee an office pilot program in preparation for a full commercial rollout scheduled for mid-2025.
Rafael Donnay will lead the company’s hospital strategy, leveraging his expertise in commercialization, market development of new technologies, and health economics to position the Swoop® system as an essential tool in a range of hospital settings. With a focus on market expansion, the company is targeting over 9,600 potential sites of care in the U.S. alone, including 4,000 critical care units and 5,600 emergency departments. With a track record of successful commercialization of AI-powered point-of-care EEG and extensive experience in the neurovascular space, Mr. Donnay will focus on integrating the Swoop® system into hospital workflows to optimize patient care.
Beyond the hospital and office business verticals, growth in 2025 will be driven by international expansion efforts, supported by the recent CE approval of the latest AI-powered Swoop® system software. This milestone positions Hyperfine for broader European commercial expansion of the Swoop® system, bringing cutting-edge brain imaging technology to new global markets.
Maria Sainz, President and CEO of Hyperfine, commented, “The addition of Chi and Rafael to our leadership team is a pivotal step in our expansion and growth strategy. Their expertise in market development, commercialization of disruptive technologies, and health economics will be instrumental as we expand the Swoop® system’s reach. With their leadership, Hyperfine is well-positioned to drive growth and transform care delivery in hospital and neurology office settings.”
