AdvaMed 2013 Closes on Wednesday with Blockbuster Programming, Presentation of First-Ever AdvaMed Lifetime Achievement Award

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AdvaMed 2013: The MedTech Conference will conclude on Wednesday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with leaders from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) taking center stage. Notable CEOs Unplugged sessions will shed light on topical issues including in vitro diagnostics regulations, management insights for mid-size companies, business development and mergers and acquisitions, and the future of the MedTech industry. The final plenary session of the conference will include a presentation of the first-ever AdvaMed Lifetime Achievement Award.

During the morning plenary, "Looking Under the Hood at the 'New' FDA," FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg will address key activities at the agency impacting the medical technology industry, including the implementation of last year's reauthorization of the Medical Device User Fee Act and other new initiatives to expedite product reviews. Following her remarks, the audience will hear from a panel of FDA experts, moderated by Susan Dentzer, senior health policy adviser to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The panel will include: Mike Carusi, a MedTech investor with Advanced Technology Ventures; Dr. Rita Redberg, professor of medicine at UCSF Division of Cardiology; and Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

In the afternoon plenary session, David Dvorak, AdvaMed Board chairman and president and chief executive officer of Zimmer, Inc., will present the first-ever AdvaMed Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing an industry pioneer who has significantly contributed to improving patient care through medical technology innovation.

Programming on Wednesday will also include several notable panel sessions, including a Town Hall meeting with the leadership of FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, featuring center Director Dr. Jeffrey Shuren along with four of CDRH's office directors. Participants will learn the latest on the device center's device evaluation, compliance, post-market surveillance and in vitro diagnostics activities as the office directors discuss priorities and answer questions. The CEOs Unplugged series will close out with "The Future of MedTech: Discussing Tomorrow's Challenges and Opportunities," featuring an impressive panel of executives from Abbott Diagnostics, Baxter International and Cardinal Health. Lester Knight, founding partner and co-chairman of RoundTable Healthcare Partners, will serve as moderator.

For a full conference agenda, visit http://www.advamed2013.com.

About AdvaMed 2013: The MedTech Conference
AdvaMed 2013: The MedTech Conference is the leading gathering in North America of global MedTech executives with regulatory, reimbursement, business development, legal, IP, marketing, quality, compliance, and other key responsibilities. Along with industry leaders, the conference attracts business development professionals, investors, policy-makers, members of the media, legal experts, consultants, distributors, and other important stakeholders will attend this international conference.

More than 2,000 attendees will network, conduct business, gain access to capital and share insights in Washington, D.C. from September 23-25.  The conference also features world-class plenary speakers, networking and business development opportunities. Visit http://advamed2013.com, follow @AdvaMed2013 on Twitter, or join the AdvaMed 2013 LinkedIn group to learn more.

SOURCE AdvaMed 2013