CCS Establishes Scientific Advisory Council

CCS has added four new leaders to its management team.

The company is following up its hiring of Arti Masturzo, M.D., as chief medical officer by creating a Scientific Advisory Council that will help CCS redefine patient at-home care via a holistic approach. The new members are Alexander Ding, M.D.; Karmeen Kulkarni, MS, RD, CD, CDCES, BC-ADM; Steven Wittlin, M.D.; and Francine Kaufman, M.D. 

Ding is a practicing diagnostic and interventional radiologist, associate vice president of Physician Strategy and Medical Affairs at Humana, and a board member of the American Medical Association. He has deep expertise in nurturing physician-health plan relationships and in the advancement of digital health as a tool for patient engagement and empowerment.

Kulkarni is a global clinical leader in diabetes management with more than 30 years of experience. Prior to spearheading her own consulting group, she spent 15 years with Abbott Laboratories as the director of Global Scientific Affairs. Kulkarni brings a unique understanding of integrating devices, technology, coaching, and clinical services to drive measurable impact on outcomes for patients living with diabetes.

Wittlin is an endocrinologist, frequently published author, and director of Diabetes Services at the University of Rochester. His prior experience includes new modalities of therapy that integrate best practice approaches to medical devices, technology, and clinical services in the treatment of diabetes.

Kaufman is a practicing pediatric endocrinologist, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and the former president of the American Diabetes Association. She was chief medical officer at Medtronic Diabetes and currently holds that position at Senseonics Inc. Kaufman has been serving as an integral member of the CCS Strategic Advisory Board and will now be included as part of this new Scientific Advisory Council.
 
“Dr. Masturzo has assembled a multi-stakeholder group of experts to comprise our newly formed Scientific Advisory Council,” CCS CEO Tony Vahedian stated. “Dr. Ding, Ms. Kulkarni, Dr. Wittlin, and Dr. Kaufman each bring unique industry expertise to the council. Arti will lead the council in helping to inform new approaches to simplifying chronic care management for the patients we serve.”
 
Considering more than 11% of the U.S. population has already been diagnosed with diabetes and the projected rise in the disease among American youth and young adults, the need for partnerships, technologies, and services focused on fully supporting people in effectively managing their diabetes has never been greater. 

“CCS is fundamentally redefining how care should be provided to people who are facing the fear and information overload associated with the diagnosis of a chronic disease,” Masturzo noted. “I am energized to work hand-in-hand with these council members to fast-track the development of new clinical solutions that prioritize a simpler, more effective approach to home-based care for those living with diabetes and other chronic diseases.”
 
CCS provides clinical solutions and home-delivered medical supplies for those living with chronic conditions, particularly diabetes. CCS supports more than 150,000 people living with chronic conditions in the United States and delivers more than 1.2 million shipments of medical supplies directly to their homes annually. The company works specifically with health plans, employers, and providers to offer both technology and hands-on educational services to holistically support members living with diabetes.