Dr. Kirnon brings over 30 years of operational experience in the biomedical and medical device industries. He currently serves as a faculty member and Program Chair for Pepperdine University’s Social Entrepreneurship Program.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kirnon has founded and led multiple healthcare companies, including Pepgen Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis; Yamanouchi Pharma Technologies, Inc. (now Astellas), which developed and commercialized drug delivery technologies to enhance medications; and Cygnus, Inc., focused on transdermal skin patches, women’s health solutions, and business development. Additionally, he has held leadership roles in sales, marketing, and business development at Allergan’s Dermatology Division and SmithKline Beecham (now GSK).

Dr. Kirnon serves on several industry and academic boards, contributing his expertise to the advancement of both healthcare and education. He holds an AB in Biochemistry from Harvard University, an MBA from Pepperdine University, and a doctorate in organizational change and transformational leadership from Pepperdine University.

A strong advocate for integrating social entrepreneurship into for-profit business models, Dr. Kirnon is deeply committed to expanding access to education and healthcare for all.