Tactile Systems Appoints Chief Medical Officer

Tactile Systems Technology Inc., a developer of medical devices for the treatment of chronic diseases at home, has appointed Thomas F. O’Donnell, Jr., M.D., as chief medical officer (CMO), effective June 19.
 
O’Donnell is the senior vascular surgeon at Tufts Medical Center and the Benjamin Andrews Emeritus Professor and chair of surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine. He has served on the faculty of Tufts University School of Medicine for over 41 years and was the CEO and president of Tufts-New England Medical Center Hospitals Inc. from 1996 through 2004. O’Donnell has also served as the president of the Society for Vascular Surgery, the American Venous Forum, the New England Society for Vascular Surgery, the Eastern Vascular Society and the Boston Surgical Society, and is currently on the editorial boards of The Journal of Vascular Surgery, Phlebology, and WOUNDS. He has produced more than 180 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 67 book chapters and 15 films on techniques primarily related to the subject of vascular disease. His career-long interest in venous and lymphatic disease was sparked by a post-surgical residency year in London at St. Thomas’ Hospital working under the late John Kinmonth and Sir Norman Browse, both seminal figures in the treatment of these vascular diseases.
 
Prior to his appointment as chief medical officer, O’Donnell served as the chair of Tactile Medical’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) for four years.
 
“With his impressive career as a practicing surgeon, leading academic and accomplished executive at leading medical institutions, Dr. O’Donnell is an established thought leader in the field of vascular surgery,” said Gerald R. Mattys, CEO of Tactile Medical. “Building on his four years as the chair of our Scientific Advisory Board, Tactile Medical welcomes Dr. O’Donnell to the senior leadership team, where he will be an invaluable resource as we continue to focus on developing advanced at-home therapies that provide relief to patients with chronic conditions.”
 
“I have enjoyed working with the Tactile Medical team and our SAB thought leaders,” said O’Donnell. “In this new position I am excited to have a greater involvement with current and future clinical trials with Tactile Medical devices, which we expect will help patients with the innovative treatment of lymphatic and venous disease.”
 
Tactile Medical develops and markets at-home therapy devices that treat lymphedema and chronic venous insufficiency. Its unique offering includes advanced, clinically proven pneumatic compression devices, as well as continuity of care services provided by a national network of product specialists and trainers, reimbursement experts, patient advocates, and clinical staff. The company is based in  Minneapolis, Minn.