Spectrum Health Science, known for developing COVID-19 saliva tests, has grown into a life sciences organisation advancing solutions in oral, functional and women’s health. As part of this next phase, the company has appointed Damon Silvestry as chief executive officer of SimplyTest, its salivary testing division.
Silvestry brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across operations, commercial strategy, supply chain and organisational transformation. He was most recently chief operating officer at Caelum Diagnostics, a company developing real-time biopsy diagnostics using advanced imaging and AI. He has also held senior roles at Progenity, Natera, Caris Life Sciences, Miraca Life Sciences and Ellie Diagnostics, where he led large teams, improved operations and introduced Lean Six Sigma practices.
“I’m honoured to lead Spectrum Health Science and SimplyTest at such a pivotal moment,” Silvestry said. “We are advancing accessible, high-quality salivary testing that transforms care in oral health, women’s health and functional health. High-risk oral bacteria do not just affect the gums, they can silently drive inflammation linked to heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and other chronic illnesses. We are only beginning to unlock the role salivary diagnostics can play in personalised medicine. Oral health is our first application, but the platform can scale into functional and women’s health as well as other categories.”
Justin Hunt, who now serves as president of Spectrum Health Science, will focus on broadening the organisation’s strategic platform and fostering integration across its portfolio. He said: “Damon is an exceptional leader with a deep understanding of the complexity and opportunity in modern healthcare services. He brings the leadership experience we need to take SimplyTest from an innovator to a leader across multiple diagnostic categories.”
This leadership transition forms part of Spectrum Health Science’s wider initiative to invest in science-driven technologies designed for healthcare providers and their patients.
