Becoming CTBS Series
In our Becoming CTBS series, AATB features a future or current Certified Tissue Banking Specialist.
Featured CTBS - May 2019
Image courtesy of Chelsea Stuart.
Becoming CTBS Certified
I was fortunate enough to attend the 2017 Annual Meeting in Orlando where I sat for the CTBS exam. It was an easy decision to want to become CTBS certified because I knew how much knowledge I would gain from the weekly online webinars, studying for the exam, and attending the Annual Meeting. Being CTBS certified isn't widely known within Australia except for those working in the tissue banking community, which isn't many compared to the United States. For those of us in the tissue banking community, it's considered a privilege to be included with certified CTBS holders worldwide, and gives me more appreciation of the differences between standards in different countries.
Becoming CTBS certified has allowed me to interact and meet individuals within the tissue banking sector and has opened my eyes to the ever-growing world of human tissue donation. My certification has also allowed me to further understand regulations and the overall processes for all tissue banking sectors. I bring that knowledge to my role in R&D where I can apply it from the start of donation to developing a new style of graft, through to clinical applications and submitting for regulatory approval.
Since I became CTBS certified, my passion has grown tenfold. I love knowing that I am making a difference to improve someone’s life somewhere within Australia, even if I personally haven’t manufactured the allograft used for that recipient.
About Chelsea Stuart
After gaining her degree in Forensic Biology in Biomedical Science, Chelsea began working in the Tissue Services and Quality Control departments at Australian Biotechnologies where she coordinated incoming living femoral head donations. She then transitioned to the Research and Development team where she currently develops new products, researchs new allografts, validates new manufacturing processes and equipment, as well as working alongside surgeons and world leaders in research to work on studies and papers. Chelsea feels very fortunate to have a broad understanding of tissue banking as a whole - from donor screening, quality control, government regulations, as well as manufacturing skills, since starting her journey with tissue banking, and hopes to continue to grow her experience throughout her career.
Featured Future CTBS - March 2019
Image courtesy of Dr. Verdugo.
Becoming CTBS Certified
I've been involved with bone grafting for more than 10 years now. I was initially in clinical performance and now I'm working in research and development. Currently, I'm implementing a tissue transplant service as clinical management for public health (Servicio de Salud Concepción), as well as a tissue-engineering research line for academic research related to clinical operations (Universidad de Concepción).
I believe that becoming CTBS certified is an important step for my team, my career, and for our local health service, as it will demonstrate international quality levels in transplantation science. My certification is going to be the first one within my team, but other members of my procurement team also plan to become certified.
About Dr. Verdugo
Francisco Verdugo is a DDS, MRes in Advanced Therapies (Tissue Engineering), and a lecturer in bioethics. His career started in the oral and maxillofacial surgery fields, with a focus on clinical and research work. After working some years in a trauma center, he continues with academic and research activities in Concepción. Currently, he’s working as a research and development manager in Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas (Faculty of Biological Science), Universidad de Concepción, on the tissue bank implementation for the public health system. He also works as lecturer in bioethics for Universidad Andrés Bello Concepción. He also participates in health biotechnology entrepreneurships, mainly in technology innovations for the musculoskeletal market.
