Co-Founders and Subject Matter Experts

Dr. Brett A. Freedman, COL, MC is a co-founder of Clear Choice Therapeutics and a co-inventor of the game-changing wound care innovations marketed by Clear Choice Therapeutics. He is an orthopedic spine surgeon, who currently serves as the Chair of Spine Surgery and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Prior to that he served for 24 years in the US Army, which included a tour in Iraq where he earned a Bronze Star for his meritorious service, followed by almost 8 years stationed in Germany where he treated casualties evacuated from Iraq and Afghanistan. It was during his time as a military orthopedic surgeon that he learned how to manage the worst wounds known to man—war wounds. In that experience he learned 2 absolute truths: (1) NPWT is the most effective method for managing open wounds and (2) the sponge is not an ideal wound filler. Sponges cause real problems, that until the PREVENT, have been unanswered for the last 30 years. He is driven to provide the best outcomes for patients, by researching known problems and inventing devices and techniques that produce reliable and effective solutions. This has led to the conception and development of several orthopedic surgical devices. But the next-gen wound care products that have been released by CCT and the exciting ones still yet to come have been his baby. From conception as a resident at Walter Reed to iterative design and development over the last 15 years, he has never lost sight of the impact that an optimized NPWT dressing can and will deliver to military and civilian patients alike. He has published over 200 articles and book chapters and trained over a hundred orthopedic surgeons. He is internationally recognized for his excellence in orthopedic surgery.

U.S. Army, (Colonel, Retired)

• Orthopedic Surgeon (WRAMC/LRMC)
• Bronze Star/Legion of Merit/O2M3

Mayo Clinic

• Chair, Division of Spine Surgery
• Associate Professor

Education

• Fellowship, Emory University (2008)
• Residency, Walter Reed (2006)
• MD, University of Illinois (2000)
• BS, Vanderbilt University (1995)

Michael Shuler, MD is a Co-Founder of Clear Choice Therapeutics. Dr Shuler grew up in Atlanta, GA and attended the University of North Carolina. He majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry and Business Administration. He attended Johns Hopkins University for Medical School in Baltimore, MD. He trained at Emory University in Atlanta for his residency in Orthopedic Surgery. He completed his training by attending the University of Washington in Seattle, WA for his Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship.

Dr. Shuler has been active in research and been published over 15 times in peer reviewed articles. He has also received over 25 US and international patents. He has been the principal investigator or co-co-principal investigator in multiple Department of Defense grants totaling over $10,000,000 in funding. He is also a clinically active as a hand and upper extremity orthopedic surgeon in Athens, GA.

Athens Orthopedic Clinic

• Senior Hand & Upper Extremity Surgeon

Education

• Fellowship, University of Washington (2008)
• Residency, Emory University (2007)
• MD, Johns Hopkins University (2002)
• BS, University of North Carolina (1998)