Butterfly Medical Names Dr. Jim Ulchaker as Chief Medical Officer

Butterfly Medical, a company developing technology to alleviate suffering in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), has named Cleveland Clinic urologist Dr. James (Jim) Ulchaker as its new chief medical officer (CMO).

Dr. Ulhacker’s career includes service as vice chairman and co-director of the Prostate Center at the Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute. He’s made contributions to the field through his clinical expertise, research, and as an author of many peer-reviewed publications—including his textbook Office Urology: The Clinician’s Guide.

He’s also worked in leadership positions as president of the Ohio Urological Society, board director of the American Urological Association (AUA), and the chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the AUA.

Dr. Ulchaker will focus on aligning Butterfly Medical’s novel BPH treatment with patients’ medical needs, while contributing to the company’s medical safety, professional society alignment, and product strategy as the company seeks U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

The company developed an implantable device that doesn’t need cutting or removing tissue to treat BPH, which currently has limited available treatment options. Clinical trials have demonstrated the procedure is minimally invasive, fully reversible, and effectively retracts the lateral lobes of the prostate without piercing or burning tissue.

The device has CE mark approval and is being evaluated in a U.S. pivotal clinical study.

“The opportunity to contribute to the development of such an innovative treatment for BPH is extremely exciting,” said Dr. Ulchaker. “Butterfly Medical’s minimally invasive device is uniquely shaped to fit the anatomy of the prostatic urethra, dilating the obstructed area to restore urine flow and improve quality of life. It has the potential to provide a safe and effective new option for patients seeking relief, and I look forward to helping to bring the device to those who can truly benefit.”

“With the high prevalence of BPH and the increasing demand for treatment, developing a minimally invasive solution to address key clinical challenges has the potential to significantly improve patients’ quality of life,” said Patrick MacCarthy, CEO of Butterfly Medical. “Dr. Ulchaker’s urological expertise and dedication to advancing treatment options will help the company prepare to bring our BPH treatment to the U.S. market.”

MacCarthy was appointed as the company’s CEO in May 2024.