Tess Schulman

ADVISOR, PARALEGAL & RESEARCH CONSULTANT

Raleigh, NC

Last Modified: July 17, 2023

In 2009, Tess Schulman was implanted with the Essure medical device, a permanent female contraceptive, and subsequently developed severe adverse reactions that were irreversible and life-changing.

After a 6-year struggle to receive a correct diagnosis from a variety of specialists, Tess now uses her own health journey, scientific background in chemistry, and legal experience to raise awareness, share knowledge and help other patients who have been harmed by the device.

Essure Implant Story

I was harmed by Essure, a permanent implanted medical device intended for female sterilization. I was told the device was "pure titanium, completely inert, and as safe as heart stents."

Instead, I became very sick with a host of new-onset health issues and later learned the device contained plastics, nickel, silver, tin, gold, and other materials that were not disclosed to me at all.

I developed several new allergies to the metals in the device as well as foods, medications, and ingredients in personal care products.

I ultimately had to have the device removed to regain some semblance of health. This experience turned me into a fierce advocate for better-informed consent regarding medical devices!

I believe clear labeling of all the materials in these devices and more rigorous pre- and post-market studies aren't negotiable "nice to have" things; they should be MANDATORY!

Professional Experience

  • 5 years of combined lab experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing in quality control/assurance, analytical chemistry, and data analysis

  • 20 years experience in technology & legal field consulting with law firms and corporations to provide “plain English” summaries of scientific and case research on a variety of legal matters that require domain knowledge: testing for drugs and illegal substances, intellectual property cases, forensic reviews and other areas

  • 8 years combined experience in grassroots lobbying & patient advocacy via Essure Problems, ASHES Non-profit, and Medical Device Problems

Education

  • OSU — Theoretical Physical Chemistry, Ph.D.

  • Berry College — Chemistry & Physics (dual degree), B.S.

  • Meredith College — ABA-Approved Paralegal Certification

Achievements

Memberships

  • Medical Device Problems, Science Communications Officer & Chairperson

  • Essure Problems, Administrator

  • Patient, Consumer, and Public Health Coalition, Member

“Breast implants, in my opinion, are one of the most egregious examples of a medical device that was allowed on the market with absolutely no evidence and grandfathered into the system that is utterly resistant to the idea that it's making some people very sick and needs to be rigorously re-examined, perhaps even discontinued altogether.”