AdvaMed Appoints New Board Chairman

The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) has named José E. Almeida, chairman, president and CEO of Covidien plc, as chairman of its board of directors for a two-year term.

Almeida has been an active member of the AdvaMed board since 2005 and its Executive Committee since 2010. He served as a former chair and vice chair of the association’s International Board Committee and immediate past chair of its Ethics Committee. Almeida also was chair of the AdvaMed 2012 Conference and Exhibition Committee, overseeing the association’s annual meeting.

“It is a great honor to be chosen to lead and represent an organization that distinguishes itself by promoting life-changing innovations for patients worldwide,” said Almeida. “Advances in medical technology are allowing patients to live better, longer lives. Yet the challenges of getting medical devices and diagnostics into the hands of patients and physicians are still formidable, highlighting the imperative for AdvaMed and continued industry partnership.”

As chairman, according to the Washington, D.C.-based trade group, Almeida will:
• Work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ensure progress on improving the timeliness of medical technology reviews, in line with the agency’s commitments under the latest user fee deal;
• Advance pro-innovation and pro-competition tax policies, and support repeal of the medical device excise tax;
• Pursue global regulatory harmonization initiatives to help reduce unnecessary and redundant regulations, which limit patient access and drive health care costs; and
• Promote AdvaMed’s Code of Ethics globally, with particular emphasis on adoption of common codes of ethics in Asia and Latin America.

“AdvaMed is delighted and extremely fortunate to have Joe as its new chairman,” said AdvaMed President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl. “He is a dynamic leader who brings a wealth of knowledge and a global perspective on issues impacting our industry, as well as an unwavering commitment to medical innovation and improvement in patient care.”

Almeida succeeds Zimmer President and CEO David C. Dvorak, who has led the board since 2012.

“David’s chairmanship has been extraordinarily impactful and successful,” Ubl said. “We are grateful for his tireless dedication to the association, to the industry and, most of all, to the patients worldwide we all serve.”

AdvaMed also announced new committee and board chairs for 2014-2016:
• Nominating Committee: David. C. Dvorak, president and CEO, Zimmer Holdings
• Treasurer & Finance, Audit & Compensation Committee: Kieran T. Gallahue, chairman and CEO, CareFusion
• Secretary: Jeffrey R. Binder, CEO, Biomet
• Payment & Healthcare Delivery: Timothy M. Ring, chairman and CEO, C. R. Bard
• Technology & Regulation: Vincent A. Forlenza, chairman, president and CEO, BD
• International: Debra A. Rectenwald, president and general manager, 3M Infection Prevention Division Health Care Business
• Membership: Peter J. Arduini, president and CEO, Integra LifeSciences
• Legal: Gerhard F. Burbach, president, CEO and Director, Thoratec
• Ethics and Healthcare Compliance: Michael A. Mussallem, chairman and CEO, Edwards Lifesciences
• AdvaMed PAC: Michael R. Minogue, Chairman, president and CEO, Abiomed
• Industry Communications: Caroll H. Neubauer, chairman and CEO, B. Braun Medical
• Strategic Planning: Mike Genau, senior vice president and president, U.S. Region, Medtronic
• Emerging Growth Company Council: Nadim Yared, president and CEO, CVRx
• AdvaMedDx: John L. Bishop, chairman and CEO, Cepheid