JOHN A. BARDIS, President and CEO, MedAssets, Inc. SEMDA 2014 Conference Gala Keynote Speaker

ATLANTA, April 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- John A. Bardis, President and CEO of MedAssets, Inc., will headline the SEMDA 2014 Conference Thriving During Healthcare Reform as the Gala speaker. The SEMDA 2014 Conference is May 7-8 at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center.  Mr. Bardis founded MedAssets in June 1999 and has served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer since its inception. With more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, beginning with American Hospital Supply and Baxter International, he has held various senior management positions, including Vice President of the Baxter Operating Room Division and General Manager of the Eastern Zone.

"SEMDA is honored to have John Bardis as our gala keynote speaker," said Bob Crutchfield, SEMDA President and General Partner at Harbert Venture Partners. "John is one of the healthcare industry's most outstanding leaders and MedAssets one of the industry's most innovative companies.  John is sure to inform, inspire and challenge our audience."

Mr. Bardis left Baxter in 1987 to join Kinetic Concepts, a publicly traded company, which was the nation's largest specialty bed and medical equipment rental company at the time of his departure as President in 1992. From 1992 to 1997, Mr. Bardis was President and CEO of TheraTx, Inc., another publicly traded company and a leading provider of rehabilitation services and operator of skilled nursing facilities. In 2011, Mr. Bardis was appointed to the board of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). He serves on the Board of Advisors of the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona and formerly served for 12 years on the Board of USA Wrestling (1995 to 2011). He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce for 2014. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business from the University of Arizona.

Industry Recognition
Mr. Bardis has been named by Modern Healthcare as one of the "Top Most Influential Leaders in Healthcare" for the last three years (2011, 2012, and 2013). In 2013, he was the recipient of Becker Healthcare's Annual Healthcare Leadership Award, which named him as one of the Thirty Top Leaders in healthcare.  In 1995, while President and CEO of TheraTx, INC. Magazine named Mr. Bardis "Entrepreneur of the Year." That same year, the publication named TheraTx as the second fastest growing public company in America, growing from $15 million to over $500 million in revenue in five years.

Ernst &Young named Mr. Bardis as Healthcare Entrepreneur of the Year, National Finalist in 1995. In 2012, he again received recognition from Ernst & Young as the Technology Entrepreneur of the Year in the Southeast.

In June 2013, Mr. Bardis was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as an Outstanding American, an honor bestowed to those who have used the disciplines of the sport to launch notable careers in other walks of life, such as science, technology and business. He is among 49 individuals to receive the award.  Mr. Bardis also has been recognized as a McGuire Center Entrepreneurial Fellow by the Eller College of Management at the University Of Arizona and has served as the University of Alabama LR Jordon Distinguished Lecturer. 

Philanthropy
Mr. Bardis founded the MedAssets Norman Borlaug Humanitarian Award, which each year provides the recipient with $100,000 in direct financial aid to carry out their charitable mission. In addition to regular and ongoing support for multiple non-profit organizations, Mr. Bardis was instrumental in establishing MedAssets corporate charity status for Mully Children's Family Charitable Foundation, Heart for Africa and MedShare International. He was named the Atlanta West Point Society Citizen of the Year in 2010. In 2011, he received the "Atlanta Healthcare Leader" award from Business to Business Magazine.

Mr. Bardis was recognized for his civic outreach by Modern Healthcare as the inaugural recipient of the Community Leadership Award, which recognizes leadership, dedication and financial contributions in support of numerous charities, responsiveness to global human tragedies, and care and provision for people in need. He is the founder and Chairman of the Atlanta Fire Youth Ice Hockey League, and has received the University of Arizona C.A.T.S Silver Anniversary Award from the Athletics Department for his life-long involvement with and support of sport for youth. 

Support for Our U.S. Military
Mr. Bardis is the Founder and Chairman of Hire Heroes USA, the nation's largest veteran employment integration and veteran training organization. In 2011, Mr. Bardis established the MedAssets "George Herbert Walker Bush Pacesetter Award," which recognizes and honors our nation's veterans who have embraced the opportunity to serve others inside and outside the U.S. Armed Forces. In 2012, he provided ongoing leadership and financial support for "The American Fallen Solders Project" and creation of its National Portrait Gallery at the MedAssets Plano, Texas office. The organization provides an original portrait of their fallen loved one to comfort and heal grieving families of America's fallen military.

In addition to these worthwhile programs, Mr. Bardis' leadership resulted in MedAssets' support of our U.S. troops overseas through the Marine Staff Sgt. Oscar Canon Military Care Package Program, which sends care packages each quarter to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. To date, the company has shipped more than 17,925 packages. 

The Olympic Games
Mr. Bardis served as Team Leader of the U.S. Greco-Roman Wrestling Team for the 2007 World Championships where Team USA won the world team for the first time in wrestling history. He also was named Team Leader of the U.S. Greco-Roman Wrestling Team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In February 2013, Mr. Bardis was among highly respected leaders within the American wrestling community to serve on the Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling (CPOW), whose mission is to insure that wrestling remains as a core sport of the Olympic Games. He was selected by the committee to serve as Director of Development and Finance. In September 2013, CPOW succeeded in its mission when the International Olympic Committee voted to reinstate wrestling back onto the program for the 2020 and 2024 Games.

The SEMDA 2014 Conference's theme is Thrive During Healthcare Reform, and will bring together medical device industry professionals from throughout the United States. Other conference highlights will include:

• A selection of 20 Presenting Companies that will be well vetted and prepared, and of interest to investors
• Workshops on a variety of critical business issues including CEO's Unplugged
• Poster Presentations for Early Technologies, and a Technology Transfer Panel of University Emerging Technologies
• An all-star line up of Keynote speakers over two days, discussing industry Hot Topics
• An investor / presenting company private breakfast

To learn more about the SEMDA 2014 Conference, http://www.semda.net.  Early bird registration discounts end April 7^th, so register NOW at: http://thrivingduringhealthcarereform.com/. For questions about the conference, please contact [email protected], or [email protected].

About SEMDA
The Southeastern Medical Device Association (SEMDA) is a non-profit trade association that supports and promotes Medical Device and Medical Device Data Systems (MDDS) companies in the Southeast. Created in 2004, the association provides a unique resource and networking opportunity for medical device companies, inventors, physicians, and investors interested in accelerating the growth of the medical device industry in the Southeast. Through quarterly and members-only meetings, as well as its highly regarded annual Conference, SEMDA meets the needs of members and sponsors of the medical device community. Learn more at www.semda.net.  

Media Contact:  Joanne Martin Sanders| [email protected] | 404-644-2779 

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140402/CL95805       

SOURCE Southeastern Medical Device Association (SEMDA)