Shean Phelps, MD, MPH, FAAFP, has been named Medical Director for the Translational Research Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Science (TRIBES). In this role, he is responsible for providing key subject matter expertise to the development, execution and communication of TRIBES’ scientific/medical evidence plan.

In addition, Dr. Phelps provides clinical input into safety and regulatory interactions and assists with the development of global collaborations that integrate broad medical, scientific, and commercial concepts into the program. These efforts are designed to shepherd the transition of viable ideas into useable products across and between the fields of medicine, technology and science.

“We are excited to have someone of Dr. Phelps’ broad clinical expertise as part of our leadership team” said Barbara Boyan, Executive Director of TRIBES and the Price Gilbert, Jr. Chair in Tissue Engineering in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation for Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering.

In addition to his role as TRIBES Medical Director, Dr. Phelps serves as the Director of Health Systems Technology Research and Development at the Georgia Tech Research Institute where he manages and facilitates health-related technological synergies internally and externally.

Dr. Phelps retired in March 2011 from the U. S. Army with over 30 years of total active federal service. He started in the military as a Special Forces Senior Non-Commissioned Officer.  Following his commission, he completed medical school and residency and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Medical Corps.  His duties included planning, supporting, and/or directing numerous Department of Defense research and development projects totaling over $150 million. 

Widely regarded as an expert on a variety of special operations/operational medicine, injury biomechanics and wilderness medicine topics, he currently focuses on research into the cause, prevention, and development of applied solutions to human injury. He is certified as both a Senior U.S. Army and U.S. Navy Flight Surgeon/Aerospace Medicine physician, and is a distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

The Translational Research Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Science (TRIBES) links biomedical research and educational activities at Georgia Tech with key medical institutions and organizations for the benefit of diagnosis and treatment of patients in the healthcare system. TRIBES provides critical capabilities to pre-commercial engineering development activities for the license and transition of technology into industry.

TRIBES is part of the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University and includes three centers directed by Boyan – the Center for Advanced Bioengineering for Soldier Survivability, the Center for Pediatric Healthcare Technology Innovation and the Atlanta Pediatric Device Consortium.