Rafael (Rafa) is the founder and principal of DGBI Consulting, LLC; a consultancy for the biotechnology industry. He has worked in global clinical research and development and patient advocacy in the biopharma industry for nearly 30 years. Prior to founding DGBI Consulting, Rafa was the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs, Policy, and Patient Engagement at BridgeBio's Gene Therapy division. Rafa's approach is to be highly considerate of the ethical implications of conducting and participating in clinical research, especially in rare conditions, in under-served and vulnerable populations of all types. He is currently a member of the Pediatric Gene Therapy Medical Ethics Working Group (PGTME) at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and has served as adjunct faculty at the University of California Berkeley's Clinical Research Management Program as an educator in clinical trial ethics, human rights, and justice. He holds graduate degrees in Cardiovascular Physiology, Public Health/Medical Ethics, and a Graduate Certificate in Pediatric Bioethics.