The Koch Kellan Scholarship honors a graduate medical student pursuing a career in ophthalmology

PORTLAND, Ore. – October 2, 2017 – Paragon BioTeck, Inc., a privately-held pharmaceutical and medical device company, today announced the call for the next Koch Kellan Scholar. The annual Koch Kellan Scholarship honors one outstanding graduate medical student committed to elevating the standard of eye care through social responsibility and a clinical, teaching, or research career in ophthalmology. A Paragon Gives initiative, the scholarship reinforces the fundamental mission of Paragon BioTeck to drive innovations to address unmet and underserved medical needs.

Download the 2018 Koch Kellan Scholarship application and guidelines at kochkellan.com. Application materials will be accepted until January 16, 2018.

“The Koch Kellan Scholarship program celebrates the contributions of namesakes Drs. Koch and Kellan and fosters the future leaders in ophthalmology,” said Patrick Witham, President & CEO of Paragon BioTeck. “Each year, we are astounded by the incredible pool of candidates and are honored that so many aim to cultivate an elevated standard of eye care. We are excited to welcome the next Koch Kellan Scholar to the Paragon family.”

Applications will be reviewed by industry leaders Paul S. Koch, MD, and Robert E. Kellan, MD, along with additional members of the Scholarship Review Committee. The 2018 Scholar will formally be presented with the award at the 2018 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) annual meeting held April 13-17 in Washington, DC.

The 2017 Koch Kellan Scholar, Xinxin Zhang, is a third-year student attending the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her passion for ophthalmology was confirmed during a research project dedicated to bringing diagnostic innovations to some of China’s poorest provinces, where high rates of preventable blindness occur primarily due to lack of screening. She spent 2016 researching dry eye disease and leading UNC’s student-run ophthalmology clinic.     

About Paragon Gives and the Koch Kellan Scholarship

Paragon Gives is a Paragon BioTeck, Inc., initiative that supports charities and organizations within the biotechnology and health care arena. The initiative also works with individuals and organizations that have made a positive impact on our customers, vendors, investors and industry as a whole.

The Koch Kellan Scholarship affirms the commitment of Paragon BioTeck to elevating the standard of eye care through addressing unmet and underserved medical needs and improving the quality of lives around the world. It was first awarded to Captain Edward Woodward of the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, whose compelling personal connection to the field made him the ideal inaugural recipient. Learn more about our past scholars.

About Paragon BioTeck, Inc.

Paragon BioTeck, Inc., is a privately held pharmaceutical and medical device company specializing in the development and commercialization of ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, devices and therapies. Paragon BioTeck’s portfolio of products is designed to protect and preserve eyesight and deliver comfort to the eyes.

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Stefanie Henning

Paragon BioTeck, Inc.

(888) 424-1192

marketing@paragonbioteck.com