Bernard Harris

Dr. Harris is currently CEO & Managing Partner of Vesalius Ventures, Inc., a venture capital firm, that invest in early to mid stage Healthcare technologies and companies. He is responsible for managing a portfolio of private assets of early and mid- stage venture investments and operating companies. He also serves as Executive Director, National Math & Science Initiative and leads the organization’s efforts to improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement in communities across the country. He has been involved in math and science education for over 25 years through his philanthropy as founder of the Harris Institute & Foundation. Dr. Harris was at NASA for ten years, where he conducted research in musculoskeletal physiology and clinical investigations of space adaptation and developed in-flight medical devices to extend Astronaut stays in space. A veteran astronaut for over twenty years, he has logged more than 438 hours and traveled over 7.2 million miles in space.

Dr. Harris completed a Residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, a National Research Council Fellowship in Endocrinology at the NASA Ames Research Center and trained as a Flight Surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base. He is also a licensed private pilot and certified scuba diver. Dr. Harris is the recipient of numerous awards, including nine (9) honorary doctorates; (Stony Brook University (SUNY), Morehouse School of Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Washington & Jefferson College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Hartford, Indiana Institute of Technology, University of Houston and University of the Sciences), NASA Space Flight Medal, NASA Award of Merit, National Space Grant Distinguished Services Award, James Bryant Conant Award, a fellow of the American College of Physicians, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the recipient of the 2000 Horatio Alger Award.