US Air Force Veteran & CEO

With significant experience in healthcare industry leadership, Ralph Thurman is the executive chairman of Outlook Therapeutics and the director of TFF Pharmaceuticals. Earlier in his career, he held key positions with Corning Life Sciences and Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals. Ralph Thurman also was Chairman and CEO of VIASYS Healthcare, a global company he founded focused on respiratory, neurological and critical care systems. VIASYS was headquarter in the Philadelphia area and sold its technology worldwide. In 2007 Mr. Thurman was named an Entrepreneur of the Year in medical technology. In 2008, he sold VIASYS to Cardinal Health and began devoting his time to private equity as a senior advisor and operating partner.

Many of Ralph Thurman’s leadership skills arose during his time in the US Air Force, where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, eight combat Air Medals and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He served as a combat pilot during the Vietnam War and also as a flight instructor. Since his retirement from service, he has written extensively about how the military informed his career development.

Mr. Thurman graduated from Webster University with a master of arts in management and completed further training through the Wharton corporate governance program at the University of Pennsylvania. He studied economics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute as an undergraduate. He is also a graduate of the USAF Air Command and Staff College.