Annual AdvaMed MedTech Conference Continues Impressive Growth

AdvaMed 2011 highlights industry role as engine of medical and economic progress

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Since its inception in 2007, the world’s leading medical technology and diagnostics conference has grown each year, and this year’s conference was no exception. Compared with 2010, attendance at AdvaMed 2011 was up nearly 12 percent, CEO-level participation rose five percent and business-partnering meetings climbed 21 percent. The fifth annual conference also drew attendees from 22 countries and 38 states.

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“Last week, we heard directly from the decision makers shaping U.S. policy and the business leaders who will lead the next wave of medical and economic progress,” said James V. Mazzo, president of Abbott Medical Optics and AdvaMed Board chairman. “The medical technology industry is an economic crown jewel. Policies should be put in place to foster our ability to innovate, as well as make improvements in quality and efficiency in patient care. With a comprehensive agenda for growth, we can continue to innovate our way to better health outcomes and a stronger economy,” said Mazzo.

“This has been the conference’s most successful year yet,” said Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed). “The quality of the educational programming, and the extent of the interaction between large and small companies, policymakers, industry peers and the finance community, make this conference the ‘can’t miss’ event for those in the medical device and diagnostics industry.”

AdvaMed 2011 featured plenary sessions with U.S. President George W. Bush, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Counselor John Taylor and Center for Devices and Radiological Health Director Dr. Jeffrey Shuren. Also speaking were Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Indiana Governor Mitchell E. Daniels, whose states are home to a total of nearly 25,000 MedTech jobs. Additionally, nearly 40 education panels featured the top leaders in the industry, who addressed topics as varied as information technology, health reform, compliance matters, patent reform, reimbursement challenges and globalization issues.

“With nearly 2,000 attendees, AdvaMed's MedTech Conference has become the ‘must be at’ event for medical device and healthcare professionals from across the U.S. and abroad," said B. Braun Medical Chairman and CEO Caroll Neubauer, who served as the conference committee chairman for the past two years. "This conference continues to highlight the impact of our life-changing innovations on patient care, as well as our industry's economic impact in the U.S. and abroad. By connecting companies of all sizes, advancing policies that support international and domestic growth, and bringing together industry, political decision makers, regulators, and financiers into one location, this event supports and fosters medical technology innovation for the good of all.”

With more than 60 company presentations, eight “CEOs Unplugged” sessions and nearly 950 official one-to-one MedTech partnering meetings, the key components of the AdvaMed conference continued to be business development and financing. This year, more than 200 venture capitalists, angel and private equity investors, bankers and senior medical technology business development executives attended the conference.

“Next year, we will bring the conference to Boston, a world-renowned center of the medical device and diagnostics manufacturing community, where we will continue to build this important industry forum,” said Jose (Joe) Almeida, president and CEO of Covidien and the AdvaMed 2012 conference committee chairman.  “I am excited to host AdvaMed 2012 and to welcome what I expect will be another record attendance.” To obtain information on the Boston conference, which will be held October 1- 3, 2012, visit www.advamed2012.com.  

Medical technology is one of America’s strongest and fastest-growing manufacturing sectors, creating nearly two million well-paying jobs across the United States. More than 6,000 companies in the U.S. create life-changing medical technology innovations. To learn more about AdvaMed, visit www.advamed.org and to see the full details of the 2011 conference, visit www.advamed2011.com.

SOURCE AdvaMed 2011