About us

Al Memmolo brings over three decades of experience in clinical, quality and regulatory leadership to Tullo, helping guide the company’s innovations through the complex landscape of FDA compliance and medical device regulation. 

Al has held executive roles across the medical device industry, including Vice President of Clinical, Quality, and Regulatory Affairs at Ra Medical and Chief Operating Officer at orthopedic manufacturer Dallen Medical, where he oversaw the sale of multiple product lines to Zimmer-Biomet. He also co-founded Salt Creek Medical Device Development and Salt Creek Fund 1, where he helped launch and fund several medtech startups. 

Earlier in his career, Al led regulatory and clinical functions at companies acquired by major players such as Johnson & Johnson, including Vascular Control Systems (Ethicon) and PhotoMedex. His engineering background and early roles at Camino NeuroCare, McDonnell Douglas and ALCOA add depth to his cross-functional expertise. 

At Tullo, Al plays a critical role in ensuring the company’s medical devices meet rigorous FDA standards while maintaining the speed and agility required to bring new surgical innovations to market. His leadership helps bridge innovation and compliance — enabling Tullo to deliver products that are not only effective but also regulatory-ready. 

Al holds a B.S. in Chemistry-Geology from Bridgewater State College and an MBA from National University. 

Dr. Nicholas Schoch is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and the visionary founder of Tullo, a platform dedicated to advancing surgical innovation through collaboration, education and precision-driven tools. With more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Schoch specializes in shoulder and knee reconstruction, as well as comprehensive orthopedic trauma care.

Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Dr. Schoch discovered a passion for medicine at an early age. He earned his undergraduate degree from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick before completing medical school at Michigan State University. He went on to complete his orthopedic residency at McLaren Macomb Hospital (formerly Mount Clemens General), where he also began his commitment to medical education and resident training.

Throughout his career, Dr. Schoch has remained focused on improving surgical outcomes through consistency and simplification. His approach combines deep clinical knowledge with a forward-thinking mindset, which led to the founding of Tullo — a space where surgeons, engineers and educators work together to refine procedures, invent smarter implants and elevate patient care.

Dr. Schoch’s surgical practice centers around total and reverse shoulder replacements, arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs, shoulder stabilizations, complex knee reconstructions, ligament repairs and cartilage transplant procedures. He is dedicated to delivering thorough assessments and personalized solutions for patients experiencing joint pain and mobility challenges.

At the intersection of surgery, teaching and invention, Dr. Schoch continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in orthopedic care.

Luke Holst is Tullo’s Patent Attorney, bringing a rare combination of legal, technical and regulatory expertise to protect the company’s intellectual property as it develops innovative surgical tools and systems. A registered patent attorney and former U.S. Patent Examiner, Luke has deep knowledge of patent and trademark law, gained from years of experience across the USPTO, federal courts and Capitol Hill. 

Luke supports Tullo’s mission by ensuring that the company’s ideas are not only inventive — but defensible. His work includes U.S. and international patent and trademark strategy, preparation and prosecution, with experience across utility and design patents, PCT filings, the Hague Agreement and the Madrid System. He provides patentability and infringement opinions, due diligence and litigation support to safeguard Tullo’s IP from concept through commercialization. 

Before joining Tullo, Luke served as Legislative Counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives and clerked for the Honorable Mark W. Bennett in federal court, where he gained key insight into the litigation process and strengthened his ability to interpret complex legal and technical issues. He has represented clients across industries including medical devices, life sciences, mechanical systems, agriculture and chemical processing. 

With a degree in biology and over 25 years of experience as a part-owner of a working family farm in Iowa, Luke brings both practical and scientific insight to his work. At Tullo, he plays a critical role in ensuring that the company’s innovations are protected, strategically positioned and built to last. 

Dr. Nicholas Schoch is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and the visionary founder of Tullo, a platform dedicated to advancing surgical innovation through collaboration, education and precision-driven tools. With more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Schoch specializes in shoulder and knee reconstruction, as well as comprehensive orthopedic trauma care.

Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Dr. Schoch discovered a passion for medicine at an early age. He earned his undergraduate degree from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick before completing medical school at Michigan State University. He went on to complete his orthopedic residency at McLaren Macomb Hospital (formerly Mount Clemens General), where he also began his commitment to medical education and resident training.

Throughout his career, Dr. Schoch has remained focused on improving surgical outcomes through consistency and simplification. His approach combines deep clinical knowledge with a forward-thinking mindset, which led to the founding of Tullo — a space where surgeons, engineers and educators work together to refine procedures, invent smarter implants and elevate patient care.

Dr. Schoch’s surgical practice centers around total and reverse shoulder replacements, arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs, shoulder stabilizations, complex knee reconstructions, ligament repairs and cartilage transplant procedures. He is dedicated to delivering thorough assessments and personalized solutions for patients experiencing joint pain and mobility challenges.

At the intersection of surgery, teaching and invention, Dr. Schoch continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in orthopedic care.

Sam Nehra plays a key role at Tullo, leading business development and operations across the company’s core functions. With a unique background that blends biomedical science, entrepreneurship and systems thinking, Sam helps ensure Tullo’s innovations move from concept to clinical impact — seamlessly and sustainably. 

Sam earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Business from Grand Valley State University. His academic experience fostered critical thinking across disciplines — biology, physiology, statistics, research and business — laying the foundation for his work at the intersection of clinical insight and operational execution. 

Before joining Tullo, Sam ran his own landscaping business for over a decade, which he founded at just 10 years old and sold at 22. That entrepreneurial journey sharpened his leadership skills, honed his ability to build systems from the ground up and gave him real-world experience in managing teams, clients and growth. 

At Tullo, Sam oversees client relations, insurance and compliance, and interdepartmental coordination. He works closely with the engineering, regulatory and marketing teams to support everything from early-stage design through production and strategy. He also drives digital integration — finding smarter tools and workflows that streamline communication, increase efficiency and align operations as Tullo scales. 

What sets Sam apart is his ability to bridge the technical and the tactical. He works directly alongside Dr. Schoch in the OR, participates in product development conversations and gathers direct feedback from surgeons and residents. This 360-degree view — spanning design, clinical use and real-world feedback — helps him ensure Tullo’s tools are not only inventive, but intuitive and impactful. 

With a founder’s mindset, Sam focuses on helping every part of the company operate better — supporting Tullo’s mission to create surgical tools that are simpler, smarter and more consistent in the hands of surgeons. 

Dr. Nicholas Schoch is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and the visionary founder of Tullo, a platform dedicated to advancing surgical innovation through collaboration, education and precision-driven tools. With more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Schoch specializes in shoulder and knee reconstruction, as well as comprehensive orthopedic trauma care.

Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Dr. Schoch discovered a passion for medicine at an early age. He earned his undergraduate degree from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick before completing medical school at Michigan State University. He went on to complete his orthopedic residency at McLaren Macomb Hospital (formerly Mount Clemens General), where he also began his commitment to medical education and resident training.

Throughout his career, Dr. Schoch has remained focused on improving surgical outcomes through consistency and simplification. His approach combines deep clinical knowledge with a forward-thinking mindset, which led to the founding of Tullo — a space where surgeons, engineers and educators work together to refine procedures, invent smarter implants and elevate patient care.

Dr. Schoch’s surgical practice centers around total and reverse shoulder replacements, arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs, shoulder stabilizations, complex knee reconstructions, ligament repairs and cartilage transplant procedures. He is dedicated to delivering thorough assessments and personalized solutions for patients experiencing joint pain and mobility challenges.

At the intersection of surgery, teaching and invention, Dr. Schoch continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in orthopedic care.

Paul Zwirkoski is the Lead Engineer at Tullo, bringing over three decades of experience in orthopedic engineering and medical device innovation. A pioneer in the field, Paul has led the design and development of advanced implant and instrumentation systems that have helped shape modern joint replacement and surgical practice. 

Before joining Tullo, Paul founded ZDR in 1992 after holding senior engineering roles at industry-leading orthopedic companies including Dow Corning Wright, Smith & Nephew Richards and Stryker. During this time, he collaborated closely with top surgeons to develop custom and off-the-shelf systems for knee, hip, trauma and spinal applications — many of which led to successful patents and enduring technologies. 

Early in his career, Paul recognized a critical gap in how surgeon insights were integrated into product development. Frustrated by the inefficiencies and bureaucratic inertia of large device manufacturers, he set out to create more agile, surgeon-centered engineering solutions — an ethos he continues to embody at Tullo. 

At Tullo, Paul leads innovation with a hands-on approach, ensuring that every engineering decision is guided by clinical need, surgical precision and a commitment to better patient outcomes. His extensive patent portfolio and continued drive for problem-solving reflect a lifelong dedication to elevating the standard of care through thoughtful design. 

Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a focus in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan. 

Dr. Nicholas Schoch is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and the visionary founder of Tullo, a platform dedicated to advancing surgical innovation through collaboration, education and precision-driven tools. With more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Schoch specializes in shoulder and knee reconstruction, as well as comprehensive orthopedic trauma care.

Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Dr. Schoch discovered a passion for medicine at an early age. He earned his undergraduate degree from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick before completing medical school at Michigan State University. He went on to complete his orthopedic residency at McLaren Macomb Hospital (formerly Mount Clemens General), where he also began his commitment to medical education and resident training.

Throughout his career, Dr. Schoch has remained focused on improving surgical outcomes through consistency and simplification. His approach combines deep clinical knowledge with a forward-thinking mindset, which led to the founding of Tullo — a space where surgeons, engineers and educators work together to refine procedures, invent smarter implants and elevate patient care.

Dr. Schoch’s surgical practice centers around total and reverse shoulder replacements, arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs, shoulder stabilizations, complex knee reconstructions, ligament repairs and cartilage transplant procedures. He is dedicated to delivering thorough assessments and personalized solutions for patients experiencing joint pain and mobility challenges.

At the intersection of surgery, teaching and invention, Dr. Schoch continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in orthopedic care.