# Stephen Fransen

> Stephen R. Fransen, MD, is a retinal specialist, medical educator, and the founder, chairman, and chief medical officer of Lumata Health. After seeing that treatable eye disease could still lead to vision loss when distance, transportation, scheduling, or other practical barriers interrupted care, he spent decades bringing retinal services to tribal communities across Oklahoma. He later carried the same idea into Lumata Health: care should continue between office visits, with people and technology working together to keep patients connected to treatment.

- **Role:** Founder, Chairman and Chief Medical Officer at Lumata Health
- **Organizations:** Lumata Health, Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Nica Eyes Project
- **Education:** MD, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Transitional internship, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Ophthalmology residency, Dean McGee Eye Institute / University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Fellowship in medical retina, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami
- **Known for:** Created a diabetic retinopathy outreach program serving tribal clinics across Oklahoma., Helped establish durable eye-care partnerships with the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Pawnee Nations., Conducted early work in digital retinal imaging and teleophthalmology, including a 2002 peer-reviewed validation study of the Inoveon system.

## Career timeline

- **1990** — Joined the Dean McGee Eye Institute and University of Oklahoma faculty as a medical retina specialist.
- **1991** — Began working with the Chickasaw Nation as it developed an independent tribal healthcare system.
- **1993** — Received the Edward and Thelma Gaylord Faculty Honor Award, selected by Dean McGee residents for outstanding teaching.
- **1990s** — Started traveling across Oklahoma with portable laser equipment to bring retinal procedures closer to patients in tribal communities.
- **2002** — Co-authored a peer-reviewed evaluation of the Inoveon diabetic retinopathy telemedicine system in Ophthalmology.
- **2008-2009** — Began ophthalmology outreach in Nicaragua and helped establish the Nica Eyes Project with his wife, Cindy.
- **2017** — Founded Retinal Care, the company that became Lumata Health.
- **2023** — Recognized by The Journal Record as an Oklahoma Health Care Hero.
- **2023** — Retired from Dean McGee Eye Institute after 33 years while continuing his leadership work at Lumata Health.
- **2025** — Lumata Health announced a $23 million Series B, bringing its reported total funding at the time to $36 million.

## Achievements

- Created a diabetic retinopathy outreach program serving tribal clinics across Oklahoma.
- Helped establish durable eye-care partnerships with the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Pawnee Nations.
- Conducted early work in digital retinal imaging and teleophthalmology, including a 2002 peer-reviewed validation study of the Inoveon system.
- Received the 1993 Edward and Thelma Gaylord Faculty Honor Award for teaching.
- Was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society for an empathetic, holistic approach to care.
- Was named a 2023 Health Care Hero by The Journal Record.
- Founded Retinal Care, now Lumata Health, in 2017.
- Mentored and trained multiple generations of ophthalmologists during 33 years at Dean McGee Eye Institute and the University of Oklahoma.

## Latest updates

- **2025-04** — Appeared on the Sight for Sore Eyes podcast to discuss Native American communities, ophthalmology access, and the experiences that shaped Lumata Health.
- **2025-03** — Lumata Health announced a $23 million Series B led by LRVHealth, McKesson Ventures, and Cencora Ventures, with participation from Cortado Ventures.
- **2023-12** — Retired from Dean McGee Eye Institute after 33 years and continued his role with Lumata Health.
- **2023-03** — Recognized as a Health Care Hero by The Journal Record.

## Links

- Website: https://lumatahealth.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-fransen-md-278580105
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/lumatahealth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lumatahealth

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/stephen-fransen
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27