Our Mission
To redefine surgical healing with advanced biomaterials that prevent soft tissue tethering, support natural mobility, and empower surgeons to help patients reclaim optimal physical function.
Our Leadership
“From day one, Alafair has focused on a simple goal, helping surgeons improve the lives of their patients. Our values of community, accountability, and performance guide us in everything we do, pushing us to keep innovating with purpose and to create solutions that help patients heal, move, and thrive.”
– John Joyoprayitno
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John Joyoprayitno is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Alafair Biosciences, bringing over 20 years of leadership and entrepreneurial experience, primarily in the medical device industry. Under his leadership, Alafair has achieved over 100% year-over-year growth, earned recognition on the Inc. 5000 list for three consecutive years, and been honored as a Best Workplace by multiple publications. Joyoprayitno has also been named among the top CEOs in his field.
Throughout his career, he has founded and led companies across healthcare and other sectors, consistently focused on launching transformative technologies, driving commercialization, and scaling operations. At Alafair, he is building a category-defining company in bioresorbable medical devices by developing and acquiring solutions that advance soft tissue healing and motion preservation. His leadership emphasizes innovation, strategic growth, and long-term value creation for patients, providers, and investors.
Joyoprayitno holds a Master of Science in Technology Commercialization from the McCombs School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, both from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Sarah Mayes, PhD is the Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of Alafair Biosciences, where she leads the Product Innovation Team across Clinical, R&D, Product Development, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Intellectual Property, and Manufacturing. A co-inventor of Alafair’s proprietary biomaterial technology, Dr. Mayes holds multiple patents and authored publications in the fields of materials science and biomedical engineering. Her deep technical expertise and insight have been central to Alafair’s mission to improve patient outcomes through advanced biomaterials.
Dr. Mayes developed Alafair’s VersaWrap and VersaCoat technologies guiding their evolution from research to commercial product to surgical application. Dr. Mayes played a critical role in securing multiple FDA 510(k) clearances and her strategic leadership continues to guide Alafair’s regulatory and clinical pathways, fueling Alafair’s growing market presence.
As a founding team member, Dr. Mayes is key in building and embedding a strong company culture of quality, establishing the Quality Management System, processes, and mindset necessary to support long-term growth, compliance, and innovation in the medical device industry.
With over 20 years of experience in R&D and manufacturing, Dr. Mayes brings a rare combination of technical expertise, regulatory insight, and operational leadership. Her work bridges innovation and execution, ensuring Alafair’s technologies meet the highest standards of safety, efficacy, and clinical relevance. Sarah is recognized for her ability to translate complex science into clear, compelling value for clinical partners and stakeholders. Her engaging communication style and results-driven approach make her a trusted voice in advancing Alafair’s mission to deliver breakthrough technologies that improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Mayes earned her PhD in Biomedical Engineering and her BS in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. She also holds an MS in Materials Science & Engineering from The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
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Mr. Holay is a seasoned medical device executive with over two decades of experience driving growth through financial strategy, operational execution, and cross-functional leadership. As Chief Financial Officer of Alafair Biosciences, he has led the company’s capital strategy—securing equity and non-dilutive debt funding—while scaling operations and building financial infrastructure to support rapid commercial expansion. He has been instrumental in implementing enterprise systems, enabling data-driven decision-making, and preserving margins through disciplined financial oversight.
Prior to Alafair, Mr. Holay spent seven years at Zimmer Biologics, where he supported product development and commercialization. He holds an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin and an MS in Chemical Engineering from Syracuse University.
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Mr. Knue is a seasoned sales and marketing leader with over 25 years of experience in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries. Currently serving as Chief Revenue Officer and VP of Sales at Alafair Biosciences since November 2021, he specializes in bringing new technologies to emerging markets and building high-performance teams.
His professional approach focuses on clearly articulating goals, motivating sales teams, and developing strategies that maximize market opportunities in complex medical technology sectors. Mr. Knue currently oversees the sales team, sales administration, and customer service at Alafair. Mr. Knue earned a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Chemistry/Physics from Oakland University in Rochester, MI.
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Mr. Sorensen has over 20 years of experience in the medical device industry, specializing in marketing, sales strategy, and business development. As Chief Marketing Officer at Alafair Biosciences, he drives the company’s marketing strategy, brand development, and product commercialization efforts. His responsibilities include market research, customer engagement, and sales training ensuring alignment between marketing initiatives and business objectives. Prior to joining Alafair, Mr. Sorensen held senior leadership roles at TELABio, Orthovita (acquired by Stryker), and Medtronic, where he managed product launches, market development, and sales operations across multiple surgical specialties. Mr. Sorensen earned a Bacholer of Arts degree in English at the University of California Santa Barbara.
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Dr. Walthall brings over 30 years of varied experience in new technology and product development. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and holds several patents in the biomedical field. Prior to joining Alafair, Dr. Walthall served as VP of R&D for Zimmer Biologics where he was responsible for directing biologic and drug delivery R&D in areas such as bone healing, spinal disc regeneration, restoration of soft tissue function, and cartilage repair. He has previously held senior positions in a variety of medical device companies managing technology strategies, portfolio management, and PD. Dr. Walthall earned a PhD in biochemistry from The University of Texas at Austin.
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David Wells serves as Chief Business Officer at Alafair Biosciences, bringing over 20 years of medical device and pharmaceutical industry leadership experience. Throughout his career, he has held key management and executive roles at globally recognized companies including Novartis, Medtronic, NuVasive, and Neo Medical. His expertise spans strategic business development, commercialization, and market expansion. In his role at Alafair, he plays a pivotal role in advancing surgical soft tissue recovery solutions and improving patient outcomes worldwide. David holds an MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business and a BA from The Ohio State University, and remains committed to bringing innovative healthcare solutions to surgeons and patients.
Awards & Recognition
