Tag Archive for: Medical Devices

Hal Mathews, MD to Become VP Medical Affairs for Medtronic Sofamor Danek

To Lead Clinical, Regulatory, Reimbursement Strategy and Physician Relations

Life Science Partner announced today the recruitment of Hallet H. Mathews, MD, to become vice president, medical affairs for Medtronic Sofamor Danek. 

Medtronic Sofamor Danek is the world’s leading orthopaedic company which develops and manufactures products that treat a variety of disorders of the cranium and spine, including traumatically induced conditions, degenerative conditions, deformities and tumors.  Medtronic Sofamor Danek markets its products worldwide and has FY2003 revenue of approximately $1.3 billion.

A leader in the field orthopaedic basic and clinical research, Mathews is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon.  He is the Founder and President of MidAtlantic Spine Specialists, a multi-disciplinary, multi-specialty group that incorporates Orthopaedic, Neurosurgery and Pain Management & Rehabilitation specialties in Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia.

“He is a demonstrated clinical leader and general manager – as he now oversees a 10,000 square foot clinic with 45 employees in Richmond and a smaller clinic facility in Williamsburg,” said Tom Callaway, MD, founder and president of Life Science Partner.  “In addition, he has already established strong relationships with the Sofamor Danek clinical investigators worldwide, having participated in and led clinical trials for many of Medtronic’s products.”

In his new role, Mathews will oversee clinical development and regulatory affairs for the Company, with an emphasis on working with business units to identify potential drug or device technologies with strong clinical indications, managing the regulatory strategy globally and overseeing Medtronic Sofamor Danek’s relationships with physicians worldwide.

  Medtronic Sofamor Danek is the leader in the use of biological materials, including the first product using a bioengineered bone morphogenetic protein, INFUSE, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with titanium interbody implants in the lumbar spine.

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Ray Cohen Appointed CEO of Symphony Medical

Former CEO of Cardiac Science to Build New Atrial Fibrillation Company

Life Science Partner announced today the recruitment of Ray Cohen to become Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Symphony Medical, a clinical development stage company commercializing biopolymer-based products for cardiovascular conduction abnormalities, including atrial fibrillation.

A Cleveland Clinic spin-off company, Symphony Medical recently raised more than $6 million in equity funding to develop treatments for atrial fibrillation and other ailments.

Symphony Medical was founded in 2002 with technologies that focus on the development and commercialization of novel treatments of cardiovascular conduction abnormalities. Using practical and cost-effective approaches, Symphony’s products are designed to correct cardiac conduction disorders through safe biologic, non-ablative means.

Presently, Symphony is engaged in the clinical development phase of its first product for the prevention of post-operative atrial fibrillation.

Tom Callaway, MD, President of Life Science Partner noted, “Cohen is an acknowledged leader in the field of the early-stage company in cardiac disease – having revived Cardiac Science, the early leader in the field of Automatic Atrial Defibrillators.” Joining Cardiac Science in 1997, he identified the vision, hired the scientific and sales leadership team, raised over $130 million in equity and debt capital, and captured 25% the world market share in AEDs.

Cohen led a very aggressive acquisition strategy, acquiring and integrating four companies – Cadent Medical, Survivalink, Comlient and Artema), that enabled the company to continue its rapid growth and build its technology portfolio.  Versed in international business, Cohen’s team established OEM relationships with Medtronic Physio-Control, GE and Japan’s Nihon Kohden Corporation. 

In September 2005, Cohen merged Cardiac Science with Quinton Cardiology Systems, Inc., where he remains as Chairman of the Board and strategic advisor of the merged company still operating under the Cardiac Science name (www.cardiacscience.com).

Cohen’s experience in building companies based upon novel technologies did not begin with Cardiac Science. He was previously the owner of a cardiac diagnostic monitoring and device company, Diagnostic Monitoring, and the President of BioAnalogics, a developer of bio electrical impedence devices.  His early career is marked by a successful track record as a sales leader in the field of medical devices rising to the level Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Brentwood Instruments in Torrance, California.

Under Cohen’s leadership, Symphony expects to commercialize its atrial fibrillation technologies and other products through corporate partners with global marketing and sales capabilities. The company has established a culture of rapid product development, continuous expansion of intellectual property, minimization of capital and personnel expenses, and superior science and clinical know-how.

In addition to his leadership as Chairman of the Board of Cardiac Science, Cohen is a member of the Young President Organization, the IndUS Entrepreneurs and a lecturer at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Merage School of Business at UC Irvine.

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Amy Boyle Joins International Team at St. Jude Medical

Life Science Partner places cardio device industry executive to guide international strategy, marketing and product launches.

Life Science Partner announces the recruitment of Amy Boyle as vice president, marketing of the International Division at St. Jude Medical, Inc. For the company’s International Division, encompassing Canada, Latin America, Europe/Middle East/Africa, Asia and Australia/New Zealand, Boyle will have responsibility for marketing strategy and performance.

Her team will coordinate product launches, oversee relevant training programs, and strengthen government relations. St. Jude, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, designs, manufactures and distributes mechanical and tissue heart valves, defibrillators, and other medical devices for use in treating heart conditions.

“Amy’s broad knowledge of this therapeutic space, coupled with her repeated success in cultivating strong productive relationships with sales forces and clients, prepares her well for this key role,” says Tom. Callaway, MD, Life Science Partner’s founder and president.

As a senior executive in the highly competitive field of cardiac rhythm management (CRM), Boyle’s career is replete with successful product launches and solid market growth. She comes to St. Jude from Medtronic, where she was a regional vice president for CRM responsible for major accounts and physician group strategy and execution, education and market development.

In various previous positions with Medtronic, Boyle has proven her ability to meet a range of challenges. As a director of sales and marketing, she held P&L responsibility for the company’s vascular business in Canada. While a regional manager, she created and led a diverse team that directed sales, field clinical support, customer education and market development for CRM, in Medtronic’s highest-grossing Canadian region. When a marketing manager, Boyle managed the company’s coronary angioplasty business across all territories in Canada—including the launch of the company’s stent technology. The business unit’s revenues grew by a factor of six in an 18 month period. Also as a marketing manager, Boyle developed Medtronic’s Canadian tachyarrhythmia business, extending market share from 51 percent to 85 percent.

Boyle began her professional career as a physical therapist at Toronto Western Hospital and Credit Valley Hospital near Toronto.   Boyle has an MBA from York University and a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy from Queen’s University.

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Shelley Hartman Tapped To Lead GMP Companies

Life Science Partner places healthcare industry strategist and investment banker to guide medical device company.

Life Science Partner announces the placement of Shelley Hartman as president and chief executive officer for GMP Companies, Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In addition to her overall responsibilities for global strategy, finance, and operations, Hartman will direct GMP Companies’ continued expansion and transformation toward a greater emphasis on commercialization of its innovative products. GMP Companies’ pharmaceutical, diagnostic and medical device technologies help treat medical conditions including diabetes, glaucoma, genetic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, immunologic diseases, cancer and neurological disorders.

“Shelley will be able to put her broad talents and knowledge of the industry to great use for a company with such farreaching complexity like GMP,” says Thomas H. Callaway, Life Science Partner’s founder and president. “As a financier who has worked with some of the biggest names in the medical device and healthcare services fields, she’ll impact GMP’s strategic partnership portfolio and commercialization efforts.”

Hartman is an experienced investment banker with a background in corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions.

Before joining GMP Companies, Hartman was vice president and managing director of Goldman Sachs’ medical technology investment banking division, a group she created to serve both emerging and established medical device companies. Also at Goldman Sachs, Hartman held the same title at the healthcare services division. In these roles, she
has helped senior executive teams define strategy at some of the nation’s largest healthcare companies.

Hartman began her career at First Boston, where she held several positions, including vice president of the mergers and acquisitions division in the firm’s healthcare division.

Hartman is a graduate of Wellesley College, with a degree in economics and math.

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Greg Vaughn Selected To Lead Key Business Unit For Medtronic Sofamor Danek

Life Science Partner places business-savvy surgeon to manage promising new interventional spine therapy division.

Life Science Partner announces the placement of Gregory J. Vaughn, MD, as general manager of the new interventional spine business unit, at Medtronic Sofamor Danek, a subsidiary of Medtronic.

In his new role for the early-stage spinal therapy division, Dr. Vaughn assumes leadership over strategic planning, technology and competitive assessment, operations, research and development, sales and marketing, and finance. Medtronic Sofamor Danek develops and manufactures a variety of products for use in treating spinal and cranial disorders.


“Greg’s accomplishments make him an excellent choice to grow this high-potential division within a well established medical products company,” says Thomas H. Callaway, Life Science Partner’s founder and president. “His clinical knowledge as a surgeon and his experience in organizational performance will help him lead this division in pursuing
innovative therapies for spinal health and reconstruction.”


With Dr. Vaughn’s arrival at one of Medtronic Sofamor Danek’s key new business units, the company gains an informed, strategic thinker with exceptional collaborative and organizational talents. And Dr. Vaughn’s experience as a maxillofacial and ophthalmic surgeon lends him a deeper understanding of the medical community’s concerns.


Dr. Vaughn comes to Medtronic Sofamor Danek from NDCHealth, where, as vice president and general manager for the company’s point-of-service pharmacy information systems division, he oversaw a $100-million-revenue business and more than 200 managers in four locations. He was originally recruited to NDCHealth as vice president of strategy and planning. In that capacity, he guided the chief executive and the board through the development of a five-year corporate plan.


With McKinsey & Company as engagement manager, he led a range of cross-industry business consulting projects for clients such as Wake Forest University, Duke University, Skanska and CIBA Vision/Novartis. His assignments included organizational efficiency improvement at Wake’s technology transfer office, supply chain cost reduction for Duke, talent identification and retention for Skanska, and strategic integration plans for CIBA Vision.

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Life Science Partner Announces Four Major Placements for Medtronic during 2002

Thomas H. Callaway, MD, announces Life Science Partner’s completion of four major searches for Medtronic during 2002. The four executives recruited to the world’s leading medical device company include:

Reggie Groves, General Manager, Patient Management, Cardiac Rhythm Management – formerly Global Managing Partner, Enterprise Services, Scient.

Chris Hadland, Vice President, Quality, Medtronic Vascular – formerly VP, Operations and Quality of Timm Medical Technologies and Director, Regulatory Affairs, Mallinkrodt.

Sara Toyloy, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Medtronic Vascular – formerly Senior Director, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, Guidant Vascular.

Scot Webster, Vice President, Quality, Medtronic Corporate – formerly GM, Global Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, GE Medical and Director Quality, GEMS Asia.

This list of new Medtronic senior managers joins a list of previous recruiting efforts including Pete Wehrly (Division President, Interbody Technologies, Medtronic Sofamor Danek), Jeff Balagna (CIO), Steve Oesterle (SVP, Medicine and Technology), and Bill Hawkins (President Vascular/SVP).

“As an emerging leader among recruiters in the life sciences industry, we value our relationship with key clients such as Medtronic who trust us to provide them with top-flight candidates and excellent services,” noted Tom Callaway.

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Life Science Partner Announces Placement of Sara Toyloy at Medtronic Vascular

Life Science Partner announces the placement of Sara Toyloy, as vice president, regulatory affairs with Medtronic Vascular in Santa Rosa, California.

Toyloy will work with the senior staff, business units, and geographic areas to set worldwide strategic direction for quality, regulatory affairs, and clinical research.

Toyloy was most recently director, clinical and regulatory affairs for Guidant Vascular. Toyloy began her career in the medical device industry as toxicology and immunology technician with Northview Pacific Laboratories. She later moved into quality assurance, joining Advanced Cardiovascular Systems as preclinical research associate. Toyloy also participated in the development of the artificial heart in Salt Lake City.

Toyloy, who lives in the San Francisco area, earned her bachelor’s in biological sciences from California State University. She is a native of the island of St. Vincent in the Caribbean.

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Life Science Partner Announces Placement of Hadland at Medtronic Vascular

Life Science Partner announces the placement of Chris Hadland as vice president, quality with Medtronic Vascular in Santa Rosa, California. At this new position, Hadland will establish operational and quality standards, including developing departmental standards programs, defining performance metrics and audit guidelines, measuring the quality program’s impact, and preparing for potential audits.

Hadland was most recently vice president, operations and quality for Timm Medical Technologies. Previously, Hadland was director of quality and regulatory affairs for the Alternate Care Division of Nellcor Puritan Bennett, where he held several positions. Prior to Nellcor, Hadland worked in quality control and assurance for American Medical Systems and Schneider USA.

Hadland, who lives in Minneapolis, earned degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering from St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota. He also holds an MBA from the College of St. Thomas.

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