As the director of clinical education for Boston Scientific, Viktorija Telbis (center) has been successful in mitigating the opioid crisis by teaching clinicians how to engage patients with more effective treatment options.

Telbis also supports Boston Scientific’s Bridge to the Future, a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) outreach program that provides mentoring and internships for high-school aged black students bound for college. Telbis herself graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Gannon University, and a master’s degree in microbiology/immunology from Miami University in Ohio.

“My family came to the (United States) from the former Yugoslavia with truly nothing in their pockets,” Telbis said in her acceptance speech at the BEYA Gala. “They instilled a strong work ethic in me; seeking to understand all things, solving challenges and never giving up. There’s no opportunity to complain but rather to do and to conquer. I’m a firm believer of always being restless, yet always helping others. I’m beyond grateful for my Boston Scientific work family, my sibling, my parents, my daughter, and my incredible better half. This is an honor.”

The presenter of the Corporate Promotion of Education Award at the 2019 BEYA Gala was Mona Patel, vice president of clinical training for Boston Scientific’s Neuro Modulation Division. Patel is responsible for the training and education of clinicians in the use of Boston Scientific’s spinal cord simulator products. Her team has developed training programs and tools that have contributed to Boston Scientific’s significant growth in neuromodulation.

“We all know education can have a profound effect on people’s lives,” Patel said in her introduction at the gala. “Viktorija Telbis has had a significant impact on physicians using life-changing products for chronic pain,” Patel said. “Viktorija leads a team of 14 talented individuals and holds 200 to 300 courses annually touching 3,000 clinicians and bringing relief to thousands of chronic pain patients. She’s dedicated the last decade of her career to educating healthcare professionals on selecting the right patients, implanting the device and inspiring young physicians and their fellowships to provide this option for longterm relief. To present the award with me I’d like to bring up Desiree Ralls-Morrison,” senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Boston Scientific.