BioTissue® Founder, Pioneer in Ocular Use of Amniotic Membrane Mentors Minority Students During 2019 American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting

Scheffer C.G. Tseng, MD, PhD meets with underrepresented undergraduate and medical students to promote diversity in ophthalmology    

Miami, FL – November 4, 2019 – Scheffer C.G. Tseng, MD, PhD, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of BioTissue, Inc., a TissueTech company, shared insights with underrepresented undergraduates and medical students about the rewards and opportunities of studying ophthalmology during their residencies at this year’s Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring Program on October 13, 2019 at the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s annual meeting in San Francisco.

Underrepresented minorities include those who identify as Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, or Native American (American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian). Many underrepresented adults face significant disparities in health care and are at risk of being uninsured, face barriers to care, and experience worse health. Data shows that minority physicians tend to be more likely to practice in underserved areas, as evidenced in a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology regarding the practice locations and patient populations of minority physicians.^1.

“It was an honor to spend time with these students on their way to becoming successful ophthalmology residency applicants,” said Dr. Tseng. “I applaud the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology for addressing health disparities by creating this program and giving program participants the opportunity to connect with ophthalmologists who support their career development.”

Dr. Tseng is a world-renowned surgeon in ocular surface reconstruction and a widely published physician scientist with more than 360 peer-reviewed clinical and scientific papers. He pioneered limbal stem cell transplantation and developed and commercialized the proprietary CryoTek^® cryopreservation of umbilical cord and amniotic membrane allografts to preserve the natural therapeutic properties of human birth tissue. His research focus for the past 32 years has been to identify the biological components of human birth tissues, to develop products to deliver their properties, and to expand their clinical applications.

Dr. Tseng holds a medical degree from National Taiwan University and a Doctorate in Experimental Pathology; Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, California. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins and his fellowship in cornea and external diseases at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. Prior to co-founding TissueTech and BioTissue, Dr. Tseng was a Chair Professor at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

About BioTissue, Inc.

BioTissue, Inc., a TissueTech, Inc. company, is the market leader in the clinical application of cryopreserved amniotic membrane-based products for the treatment of diseases and disorders of the ocular surface. Established in 1997, BioTissue serves an unmet need for better surgical and therapeutic alternatives for helping eye care professionals manage ocular surface conditions, such as keratitis, recurrent corneal erosions, conjunctivochalasis, pterygium, and dry eye. Connect with BioTissue on our Website, Facebook,LinkedIn and Twitter.

About TissueTech, Inc.

TissueTech, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiaries BioTissue, Inc. and Amniox Medical, Inc., are innovators and scientific leaders in the field of regenerative medicine. TissueTech manufactures a broad range of ocular, surgical, wound care and soft tissue products to support regenerative tissue healing using amniotic membrane and umbilical cord birth tissue donated from healthy, pre-screened mothers after elective cesarean section delivery of a live birth. The organization brings a skilled approach to innovation in evidence-based medicine with more than 20 years of clinical experience and more than 34 years of scientific research funded by the National Institutes of Health. TissueTech is committed to an unwavering culture of integrity that places our patients’ safety and clinical outcomes above all else. Learn more at www.biotissue.com.