Who We Are

The minds, hearts, and lived experiences behind Lasa Health — reimagining health for those navigating chronic pelvic pain.

The Team Behind the Mission

  • Margaret Melville

    Co-Founder & CEO

    Margaret Melville is a passionate healthcare innovator dedicated to transforming women's health. She has an MBA from INSEAD and a background in healthcare innovation, with prior experience at USAID’s Global Health Innovation team and Danaher Life Sciences. Margaret founded Lasa Health in 2022 after her personal experience with chronic pelvic pain, which involved consulting 25 different doctors over a decade before receiving a diagnosis.

    Outside of work, Margaret is loves her goat co-op, competes in puzzle racing (ranked #9 in Colorado), and enjoys hiking in the Rockies!

  • Chris Fortuna

    Co-Founder & CTO

    Chris Fortuna is an AI/ML expert with a Master’s in Computer Science and a specialization in predictive health analytics. Before Lasa Health, he contributed to innovative infant health monitoring solutions at Owlet Baby Care. Chris brings deep technical expertise in deep learning and transformer models—the core technologies behind Lasa's AI-driven clinical decision support platform. He is committed to applying cutting-edge technology to address long-standing gaps in women's health diagnosis and care.

  • Wei-Han (Zoe) Hsu

    Data Scientist

    Zoe Hsu specializes in healthcare analytics and machine learning model development for clinical decision support. She holds a Master’s in Data Science from NYU and has led projects in predictive modeling for patient outcomes. At Lasa Health, Zoe plays a critical role in refining the AI models that power early detection of pelvic pain disorders, helping to reduce diagnostic delays and improve clinical workflows.

  • Krista Merrell

    Marketing and Brand Manager

    Krista Merrell is a seasoned marketing professional with over 12 years of experience in healthcare branding, graphic design, creative direction and social media strategy. Before joining Lasa Health, she led marketing initiatives for Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Inherited Cancer Registry and the Aesthetic Dermatology Clinic. At Lasa Health, Krista drives brand development, patient engagement, and strategic communications to elevate awareness around chronic pelvic pain and support the adoption of innovative health solutions.

    She’s passionate about all things design, loves hiking, playing golf, and watching hockey (of course—she’s married to a Canadian). She’s also completely obsessed with her mini labradoodle, Oshie, who’s probably sitting next to her right now.

  • Dr. Karla Loken

    Clinical Advisor, OB/GYN

    Dr. Karla Loken is a board-certified OB/GYN with over two decades of clinical experience and a distinguished career driving innovation in women's health across the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, and medical device industries. Prior to transitioning to industry roles, Dr. Loken specialized in minimally invasive surgery and the treatment of pelvic pain during her 20+ years in clinical practice.

    She has held leadership positions at organizations such as HerMD, FEMSelect, Roche, Hologic, and Eli Lilly. Dr. Loken is actively involved in advancing women’s health initiatives, serving on the ACOOG Research and Awards Committee, the Board of the Indiana Immunization Coalition, and the Board of the National Society for the Prevention of Meningitis. She is also a steering committee leader with a national women's health advocacy group focused on increasing funding for women’s health research.

    Through her consultancy, Loken & Associates, Dr. Loken provides medical affairs expertise and fractional Chief Medical Officer (CMO) services, helping early-stage companies bridge the gap between scientific innovation and industry application. At Lasa Health, she serves as a strategic advisor, supporting clinical trial strategy development and medical affairs planning.

  • Lily Shanta Howlader

    Software Developer

    With a background in healthcare management and software development, Lily Shanta Howlader combines firsthand clinical experience with technical innovation. After spending a decade leading OBGYN clinic operations, she transitioned into software development, where she builds intuitive, patient-centered applications like LasaAI. Lily holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and ensures Lasa Health's solutions are both technologically advanced and grounded in the realities of clinical care.