AdvaMed 2010 Premier Medical Technology Conference Opens Today in Washington D.C. With Executive Workshops, Company Presentations, Innovation Alley Exhibits and Featured Keynote Speakers: FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg, CMS Administrator Dr. Donald Berwick, CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and U.S. Representative Erik Paulsen

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AdvaMed 2010 is proud to announce its conference keynote speakers include: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Donald Berwick; CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric; U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg; and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and U.S. Representative Erik Paulsen (R-MN). Each will address more than 1,500 national and international medical device and technology leaders in Washington, D.C. this week, October 18-20 for AdvaMed 2010: The MedTech Conference.

AdvaMed 2010: The MedTech Conference opens today with a series of Executive Workshops.  Workshop topics range from bringing medical devices to the U.S. market to harmonization and an entrepreneurship boot camp with investors and CEO mentors. Over the next three days nearly 170 industry experts will participate in more than 35 educational panels while Wallace H. Coulter Foundation supported Universities and company entrepreneurs will make presentations highlighting new technologies, and innovation alley will display the latest in life changing and life saving medical innovations.

The first AdvaMed 2010 keynote address will take place on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The 7:30 am keynote will feature Dr. Donald Berwick, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  Dr. Berwick has an extensive background in health policy and medicine.  A key task for Berwick, as CMS Administrator, will be implementing the newly passed healthcare reform law known as the Affordable Care Act. Tuesday afternoon Katie Couric, the anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, will address conference attendees at 12:15 pm. Well known for her accomplished career in journalism, Couric also is recognized as a leading spokeswoman for colorectal cancer awareness. She has played an instrumental role in the "Stand Up To Cancer" effort: and has long been an advocate for preventative medical measures that can save lives. She will be joined on the stage with CBS Evening News Medical Correspondent, Dr. Jonathan LaPook.

Dr. Margaret Hamburg, Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will offer the Wednesday, October 20 morning keynote address. Hamburg is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in public health systems and is expected to address the new direction of the FDA under her leadership, particularly with regard to the medical device industry. Later Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke will discuss his efforts to expand exports of medical devices and technologies and grow jobs in the U.S. and U.S. Representative Erik Paulsen (R-MN) will discuss the importance of the medical device community working with elected officials.

"In addition to these dynamic plenary speakers and world class panels, I am pleased to note we will again host a series of CEO's Unplugged sessions on the AdvaMed 2010 Spotlight Stage," said Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of AdvaMed.

To learn more about the AdvaMed 2010 program, visit www.AdvaMed2010.com

About AdvaMed

AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems that are transforming health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. For more information, visit www.advamed.org.

SOURCE AdvaMed 2010 and AdvaMed