HR news at Tactile Systems Technology

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Jan. 3, 2013—Tactile Systems Technology Inc., a Minneapolis-based developer of chronic swelling and vascular disease therapies, is adding veteran leadership and top medical talent as it prepares to enter new markets and broaden its treatment portfolio. The appointments include a new chairman of the board of directors, a scientific advisory board and a chief medical officer.

“Attracting this level of business and clinical experience prepares us to accelerate our growth in new markets,” said Jerry Mattys, CEO. “Having the full support of these key industry thought leaders speaks to the potential of our products. Tactile will leverage their expertise for its expansion plan in 2013.”

Seasoned med-tech business leader Peter H. Soderberg has been elected by the company’s board of directors to serve as its chairman. As former president and CEO of medical device manufacturers Hill Rom and Welch Allyn, Soderberg will provide strategic direction as Tactile Systems Technology plans to expand existing and develop new products and markets for treatment of chronic swelling.

“Tactile continues to hone its therapies and develop products that dramatically impact patients’ well-being,” Soderberg said. “I’m excited to work with the company to help them advance the standard of care in treating chronic diseases at home.”

Tactile has formed a new scientific advisory board to strengthen the company’s clinical development, strategic direction and oversight. The board consists of top international medical experts and will assist the company in planning, designing and implementing clinical trials. In addition, the board’s research will fuel further therapy exploration. The advisory board includes:

• Thomas F. O’Donnell, Jr., M.D. (panel chairman): Senior vascular surgeon at Tufts New England and the Benjamin Andrews Professor of Surgery Emeritus at Tufts University School of Medicine.
• Hugo Partsch, M.D.: Professor emeritus of Dermatology at University of Vienna, past – president of the International Union of Phlebology and founder, International Compression Club.
• Anthony J. Comerota, M.D.: Director of the Jobst Vascular Institute at The Toledo Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, and adjunct professor of surgery at the University of Michigan.
• Steven M. Dean, D.O.: Director of the vascular medicine program, director of cardiovascular medicine’s noninvasive peripheral vascular laboratory and associate professor of clinical medicine at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

Alan T. Hirsch, M.D., will serve as Tactile’s new chief medical officer, overseeing protocol design, safety reviews of new therapies and clinical education programs. He is professor of Medicine and the current director of the University of Minnesota Medical School’s vascular medicine program.

Tactile Systems Technology Inc., is dedicated to advancing the standard of care for the at-home treatment of chronic diseases. The company’s Flexitouch system is a programmable pneumatic compression device designed to help patients with edema and vascular disease improve their overall health and enjoy a higher quality of life. As a leader in lymphedema treatment, and serving tens of thousands of patients throughout the U.S., the mission of Tactile Systems is to establish Flexitouch system as a standard in the treatment and care of lymphedema and chronic wound patients at home. Visit www.tactilesystems.com for more information.