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Patrick Pennie, a Certified Clinical Perfusionist Emeritus and Critical Care Registered Nurse, is a trailblazer in the field of regenerative medicine, with over 30 years of experience transforming patient care through innovation, compassion, and scientific rigor.
His career began in 1987 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New York City, where he cared for veterans suffering from heart disease. Simultaneously, he became deeply involved in supporting HIV/AIDS patients, many of whom were underserved and stigmatized. His work extended into home healthcare and collaborative research on investigational therapies, laying the foundation for his lifelong commitment to translational care.
To advance his clinical expertise, Mr. Pennie joined the inaugural class at Barry University’s Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Sciences Program, becoming a Certified Clinical Perfusionist. He soon joined Lee Memorial Health Park in Fort Myers, FL, where he performed over 1,000 open-heart surgeries and developed deep expertise in extracorporeal circulation and blood management.
It was during this time that Mr. Pennie envisioned repurposing blood components—especially platelet-rich plasma (PRP)—for wound healing and tissue repair. He pioneered one of the first autologous PRP therapies for chronic wounds, initially using large autotransfusion machines. While effective, he saw the need for simpler, same-day solutions.
This led to over two decades of groundbreaking innovation. Despite no formal engineering background, Mr. Pennie developed and patented more than 10 medical devices, including the industry-leading PURE Concentrating Systems—compact technologies that extract high-potency biologics from small blood or bone marrow samples.
He later founded EmCyte Corporation, a state-of-the-art regenerative biologics company in Fort Myers. EmCyte integrates research, manufacturing, and clinical training through its Biofyl Scientific Lab and Gulf Coast Biologics Training Center.
Today, with over 2 million patients treated worldwide, Mr. Pennie continues to innovate in scaffolding technologies and biologic analytics. His legacy is one of empathy-driven innovation, dedicated to making regenerative care more effective, accessible, and transformative.
Scientific Director
Scientific Director Sina Farzaneh, PhD, holds a doctorate in tissue engineering and brings extensive expertise in medical sciences with a focus on combining stem cells and their derivatives with smart biomaterials to enhance wound healing and promote musculoskeletal and skin tissue regeneration.
His forward-thinking approach and proven track record in the field align perfectly the mission to provide sustainable, nonsurgical therapies that improve patient outcomes and enable durable tissue repair. As Scientific Director, he will guide the company’s initiatives to expand the possibilities of regenerative therapeutics, offering hope and improved quality of life to patients worldwide.
Clinical Support Specialist
Ewa Profiruk provides clinical support for the EmCyte product line, ensuring its highest efficacy and successful clinical outcomes. She conducts training sessions for healthcare professionals on how to prepare autologous biologics products for regenerative treatments, offering continuous guidance and education while prioritizing patient care. For Gulf Coast Biologics, Ewa delivers product demonstrations and training sessions, showcasing the benefits and features of the products offered.
Ewa holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences. Her extensive educational background and expertise contribute significantly to her role in providing comprehensive support and training to healthcare professionals.
As a world traveler, Ewa is fluent in Polish, Russian, and English, allowing her to effectively communicate and connect with clients and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
Clinical Ultrasound Educator
Leslie Aja is an expert diagnostic sonographer who creates curriculum and provides training for Musculoskeletal (MSK) sonography. Leslie trains in-house EmCyte staff and outside clinicians to utilize MSK ultrasound guided injections for regenerative medicine including treatments using plasma-rich platelets (PRP). She also contributes to conference and course development for Gulf Coast Biologics.
With nearly two decades of experience, Leslie holds multiple credentials and enjoys showcasing her expertise in Abdomen, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Vascular, and MSK ultrasound. Beyond clinical practice, Leslie plays a key role as an ARDMS registry item writer and reviewer, shaping exams for sonographers and physicians. She also volunteers her time across the globe with Rad Aid International, where she serves as a volunteer sonography educator and program manager for Liberia, West Africa.
Clinical Nurse Educator
Heidi Colombo is focused on successful patient outcomes and the clinical support needed to educate and train practitioners. She supports both the products and the process. Heidi also works to onboard new customers, providing product demonstrations, and keeping the EmCyte client base up-to-date regarding the ever-evolving regenerative biologic treatment options.
Heidi is a highly experienced surgical scrub nurse with specialization in joint orthopedic surgery. Having spent more than 20 years as a Registered Nurse, she brings a wealth of operating room knowledge to the team. Heidi has a BS in Nursing and is a world traveler who speaks English, Italian, and Filipino.
Dr. Gayan Poovendran is the doctor behind the PRO institute, he has over a decade of experience in regenerative medicine. With an athletic background, he brings a passion for minimally invasive treatments to his practice and specializes in primary care sports medicine and regenerative medicine
Dr. Randy Miller is a board certified cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon practicing in Miami, Florida, USA. As one of the nation’s leading innovators in aesthetic surgery of the face, hand, breast and body, and a pioneer of reconstructive surgery and stem cell procedures, Dr. Miller is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
Ronald Davison Gardner, MD, is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and specializes in orthopedic surgeries and sports medicine at Gardner Orthopedics in Fort Myers, Florida.
Dr. Gardner completed his undergraduate studies at Samford University in Hoover, Alabama, and then went on to graduate school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. To round out his education, Dr. Gardner completed a General Surgery Internship from the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, an Orthopedic Surgery Residency from the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, and a Sports Medicine Fellowship from the American Sports Medicine Institute.