In the News
PartsSource SVP of Operations Makes the Top 25 Women Leaders in Medical Devices of 2021
January 25, 2021 - The Healthcare Technology Report is pleased to announce The Top 25 Women Leaders in Medical Devices of 2021. The medical device industry is evolving at an accelerated pace, incorporating developments in robotics, materials science, analytics and other technology to produce breakthrough devices that are transforming outcomes for patients. Focus, operational excellence, and a collaborative approach are hallmarks of exceptional leadership, and these women executives have demonstrated each of these attributes in advancing the competitiveness of their companies and products. Across orthopedics, surgery, wound care, drug delivery, monitoring, and other areas, this year’s awardees have produced some of the most innovative and pervasive medical device technologies worldwide.
After reviewing each nominee’s background, expertise, and achievements, the women comprising this list stood out for their depth of specialized knowledge and overall impact on their organizations as well as the medical device field. Furthermore, many have led initiatives within and outside their corporations to promote and support women's leadership in the healthcare technology sector, further solidifying their positions as role models in the space. Please join us in recognizing the accomplishments of The Top 25 Women Leaders in Medical Devices of 2021.
- Ashley McEvoy
Company: Johnson & Johnson
Title: Executive Vice President, Worldwide Chairman of Medical Devices
Ashley McEvoy is the Executive Vice President and Worldwide Chairman of Medical Devices at Johnson & Johnson and is a member of the Executive Committee. She leads the surgery, orthopedics, interventional solutions, and eye health businesses, which generate approximately $27 billion in revenue and employ 70,000 associates. McEvoy has been with Johnson & Johnson for more than 20 years and has served in leadership roles in Consumer and Medical Devices. In 2006, she co-led the integration of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare into McNeil, the largest acquisition Johnson & Johnson had done to date. McEvoy has been critical in mobilizing her teams to partner with healthcare professionals, health systems, and patients to help educate on safely re-entering the healthcare ecosystem and ensure safe and efficient access to treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, Johnson & Johnson also unveiled its new robot-assisted surgery system in November of 2020.
In 2009, as the worldwide president of Ethicon, McEvoy ran the global wound management business and grew leadership share in sutures and hernia care while advancing key innovations. In her most recent role as company group chairman for Johnson & Johnson Vision and a member of the Management Committee, McEvoy and her team redefined Johnson & Johnson’s position in eye health, one of the largest and most underserved need areas in healthcare today. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and business from the University of Pennsylvania.
- Karen Parkhill
Company: Medtronic
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Karen Parkhill is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Medtronic, the world’s leading medical technology company with $30 billion in annual revenue and operations reaching more than 150 countries worldwide. Parkhill serves on the company's Executive Committee and is responsible for leading the Medtronic global finance organization and key supporting functions, including Treasury, Controller, Tax, Internal Audit, Investor Relations, Corporate Strategy, and Business Development. In addition to her leadership role in finance, Parkhill serves as the Executive Sponsor of the Medtronic PRIDE Employee Resource Group and Women’s Network “Commit to Connect” leadership program, which supports senior women leadership development at Medtronic.
Parkhill joined Medtronic from Comerica Incorporated in June 2016, where she was vice chairman and chief financial officer. Before Comerica, she was at JPMorgan Chase and Co., where she served as the chief financial officer for the Commercial Banking business. She currently sits on the Board of Directors at American Express and previously served as a member of the International Women’s Forum, as a National Trustee for the Boys and Girls Club of America, on the Board of Directors of Methodist Health System, and on the Executive Board for Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business. She was named among American Banker’s “25 Most Powerful Women in Banking” in 2015, and “25 Women to Watch” in 2011 and 2013. Parkhill earned Bachelor of Science degrees in business administration and mathematics from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
- Mojdeh Poul
Company: 3M Health Care
Title: Executive Vice President, Health Care Business Group
Mojdeh Poul is the Executive Vice President of 3M’s Health Care Business Group, which encompasses medical and oral care, drug delivery devices, health information systems, and food safety. Under her leadership, 3M has been integral in producing and distributing PPE and other medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, propelling it further as a leader in the industry. Poul joined 3M in 2011 as the global marketing leader for the critical and chronic care solutions division of the Health Care Business Group. Now in her current role, Poul is known for her establishment of business vision and strategic imperatives, courageous portfolio prioritization, disciplined P&L management, and passionate talent development.
Prior to her current role, Poul held global leadership roles in the Food Safety and Infection Prevention businesses before being named president and general manager of 3M Canada in 2016, then executive vice president of 3M’s Safety & Graphics Business Group in 2018. Previously, Poul held several leadership roles of increasing responsibility with Medtronic and Boston Scientific, developing her expertise in leading business and global operations for major medical device and healthcare organizations. She arrived in the United States in 1984 to pursue both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in mechanical engineering at the University of Louisville. She later earned a Master of Business Administration degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Julie Coletti
Company: Align Technology
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer
Julie Coletti is the Senior Vice President and Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer at Align Technology. Align Technology is a global medical device company with industry-leading innovative products including the Invisalign® system, iTero® intraoral scanners and digital services, and exocad CAD/CAM software. In her senior role, Coletti is responsible for all aspects of the company’s global legal and regulatory systems, enabling global expansion through transformational implementations of technology and improving governance and processes.
Before joining Align, she was VP, chief compliance officer, and global general counsel for Danaher Corporation’s Dental Platform, a $3 billion venture. She also served as VP and chief legal officer for Bayer HealthCare’s MEDRAD/Radiology and Interventional Division and guided Strategic Energy LLC through complex compliance and regulatory issues in a senior management role. Coletti serves on the Board of Directors for several non-profits, such as Humane Animal Rescue and Gilda’s Club. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
- Myriam Curet
Company: Intuitive
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Myriam J. Curet, M.D. is the Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Intuitive. Founded in 1995, Intuitive develops robotic-assisted systems that help empower doctors and hospitals to make surgery less invasive than an open approach. The company continuously works with doctors and hospitals to develop new, minimally invasive technology to solve complex healthcare challenges. Curet joined Intuitive in December 2005 as chief medical advisor. She assumed the Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer position in 2014 and was promoted to Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer in 2017. For more than 17 years, she has also held a faculty position at the Stanford University School of Medicine, serving as a Clinical Professor of Surgery since October 2015 with a part-time clinical appointment at the Palo Alto Veteran's Administration Medical Center.
Curet received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Harvard Medical School and completed her general surgery residency program at the University of Chicago. She then worked for the Indian Health Service for four years before finishing her Surgical Endoscopy Fellowship at the University of New Mexico. She was on the faculty at the University of New Mexico for six years before joining the Stanford University Department of Surgery in 2000.
- Caren Mason
Company: STAAR Surgical Co.
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Caren Mason is the President and Chief Executive Officer of STAAR Surgical Company, an optical medical device company. STAAR develops and manufactures implantable lenses for the human eye, as well as companion delivery systems, for the treatment of a wide array of vision disorders, including myopia, astigmatism, and more. Since 2015, Mason has served as STAAR’s top executive, as well as a member of the company’s Board of Directors, leading strategic transformation and creative commercialization.
She boasts decades of leadership experience developing and managing healthcare products and systems, as well as overseeing the sales and marketing of medical equipment. Before joining STARR, Mason served as the CEO of Verinata Health, a leading provider of non-invasive prenatal genetic testing services, and as an advisor after the company’s 2013 acquisition by Illumina. She also previously held executive positions with Quidel Corporation, MiraMedica, eMed Technologies, and GE Healthcare, and built her foundational experience with Bayer Healthcare and Baxter International. She received her degree from Indiana University, Bloomington.
- Lena Hagman
Company: Getinge Group
Title: Executive Vice President, Quality and Regulatory Compliance
Lena Hagman is the Executive Vice President of Quality and Regulatory Compliance at Getinge, a global medical technology company. Getinge provides hospitals and life science institutions with products and solutions that aim to improve clinical results and optimize workflows. In her role as EVP, Hagman is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing the company’s quality and regulatory compliance strategy and initiatives. In parallel she is also leading the company’s cardiopulmonary product area.
Hagman first joined Getinge as a VP quality assurance/regulatory affairs within the ArjoHuntleigh subsidiary, today Arjo, which focuses on elderly extended care equipment and systems. Shortly after she joined, her role was extended to VP QA/RA and Innovation. Previously, Hagman worked as a business & operations director for Noventa Medical and as a quality and process director for Capio Group. She began her medical technology quality assurance career with Mölnlycke Health Care, a well-established Swedish medical solutions company. She received her undergraduate degree from Chalmers University of Technology (Gothenburg, Sweden).
- Victoria Carr-Brendel
Company: Sonova
Title: GVP of Cochlear Implants and President of Advanced Bionics
Victoria Carr-Brendel is the Group Vice President of Cochlear Implants and President of Advanced Bionics at Sonova. Advanced Bionics was acquired by Sonova and is a global leader in developing the most advanced cochlear implant systems in the world, restoring hearing to those with severe-to-profound hearing loss. Carr-Brendel brings over 24 years of medical device development experience to her current role, where she is responsible for defining and developing new products that drive significant growth and technological development.
Carr-Brendel joined the company from JenaValve Technology, a global and innovative transcatheter heart valve company, where she became CEO in mid-2015. At JenaValve, she was responsible for bringing the company through new product development, clinical trial completion for CE mark, and optimizing the commercial launch of their next-generation valve and system. Before JenaValve, she worked as franchise general manager at Boston Scientific, in the Peripheral Interventions division, where she ran global business operations, including the Bayer interventional radiology acquisition. She started her career as a scientist in research and development and took on increasingly larger business roles throughout her career. Carr-Brendel received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Monmouth College, her Master of Science degree in microbiology from Iowa State University, and her PhD in immunology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
- Carrie Anderson
Company: Integra LifeSciences
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Carrie Anderson is the Chief Financial Officer for Integra LifeSciences, a world leader in medical technology. Integra LifeSciences provides novel solutions in orthopedic extremity surgery, spine surgery, and reconstructive/general surgery and is a leader in neurosurgery-related devices and systems. Anderson has over 20 years of financial management experience across multiple sectors, specializing in strategic direction, implementing initiatives to enhance performance, and improving fiscal control and oversight.
Before joining Integra, she spent several years in executive leadership roles within Dover Corporation, including the Dover Engineered Systems (DES) and Printing & Identification segments, as well as its global corporate finance and accounting organization. She also spent 12 years with Delphi in both corporate finance and investor relations positions. Anderson began her career with General Motors before joining the Delphi team’s spinoff from the automotive giant in 1998. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University and her Master of Business Administration degree from Ball State University.
- Valerie Asbury
Company: LifeScan
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Valerie Asbury is the President and Chief Executive Officer of LifeScan, a global leader in glucose monitoring and diabetes management. LifeScan is well known for its popular OneTouch brand, which is used by millions of consumers worldwide. Most recently, LifeScan launched its OneTouch store with subscription offerings and live coaching services. In her role, Asbury is responsible for leading the global LifeScan organization and has effectively guided LifeScan’s mission to pioneer patient-centric technologies and foster cooperation and partnership within the healthcare industry. She has a depth of proven experience and expertise honed over 30 years of cross-functional leadership in guiding healthcare organizations through change in complex and challenging environments.
Prior to LifeScan, Asbury spent over 20 years with Johnson & Johnson, serving in various leadership roles of increasing responsibility across five different medical device and pharmaceutical businesses, including 10 years in the diabetes consumer medical device space, where she focused on strategic growth and talent development. A registered nurse, Asbury also has a passion for volunteerism and serves on the boards of various organizations. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and completed executive-level business, marketing, finance, and strategic management education programs at Xavier University, Penn State, and Harvard University.
- Rebeccah Brown
Company: MiMedx Group, Inc.
Title: Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs
Dr. Rebeccah Brown is the Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs for MiMedx Group, Inc. an advanced wound care and therapeutic biologics company developing, manufacturing, and marketing regenerative biologics utilizing human placental allografts for multiple healthcare sectors. Her responsibilities include executing regulatory strategy and advancing regulatory approvals for MiMedx products worldwide. Dr. Brown has over twenty years of experience leading teams to produce innovative and impactful products. She has an impressive track record for integrating customer needs with company goals. Her unique combination of engineering rigor and business acumen have not only positioned her company and its products for success but is shaping the regenerative medicine field with a purpose-driven focus on how to best help patients.
Dr. Brown holds a PhD and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech, where she was an NSF Graduate Research Fellow, and a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from MIT. She is the inventor or co-inventor on multiple U.S. and international issued patents, serves on the Georgia Tech School of Mechanical Engineering External Advisory Board, volunteers with MIT, and is active in multiple industry organizations.
- Leslie Trigg
Company: Outset Medical
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Leslie Trigg is the Chief Executive Officer of Outset Medical, a pioneering medical technology company. Outset Medical provides a first-of-its-kind technology in advancing kidney dialysis treatment in home settings, providing patients with an easy-to-use, safe, and effective alternative to in-clinic therapy. Outset’s Tablo system also provides advanced automatic data reporting, allowing healthcare professionals and physicians to monitor patients’ progress and needs remotely. Since 2014, Trigg has served as the company’s CEO, as well as a member of the Board of Directors.
Before joining Outset, she was an executive in residence at Warburg Pincus, a New York-based private equity firm, and executive vice president of commercial strategy at Lutonix, a cardiovascular medical device company (acquired by Bard Medical). Trigg also held executive roles with AccessClosure and FoxHollow Technologies, and she currently serves on the Board of Directors for Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University and her Master of Business Administration degree from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
- Erin Tournoux
Company: PartsSource, Inc.
Title: Senior Vice President, Operations
Erin Tournoux is the Senior Vice President of Operations of PartsSource Inc., one of the world's largest providers of medical parts, products, and solutions. With more than 3,500 member hospitals and 15,000 clinical sites in its network, PartsSource helps organizations maximize efficiency and savings, offering sophisticated supply chain management technology in addition to medical equipment repairs and services. Tournoux brings more than 15 years of industry experience to her position, including in the supply chain and biomedical product divisions of PartsSource, and she currently oversees the company’s operations, including purchasing, on-demand sourcing, customer care, order management, warehouse operations, and logistics.
In her time with the company, Tournoux has established a new department focused on implementation and integration of supply chain solutions for new health system clients, worked on strategic planning with independent service organizations and original equipment manufacturers, directed supply chain programs in cooperation with primary and secondary partners, and implemented a Net Promotor Score (NPS) process and active management strategy to execute continuous enhancements to the customer experience. Before joining PartsSource, she served as director of business development with Tenacore, a healthcare technology manufacturer and repair service company. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach.
- Holly Sheffield
Company: Cooper Companies
Title: President, CooperSurgical, Inc.
Holly Sheffield is the President of CooperSurgical, Inc., Cooper Companies’ women's healthcare business, and has served in this role since July 2020. Cooper Companies is a dynamic, innovative medical device company that provides a wide range of products and services designed to advance vision care and women's health. Sheffield joined Cooper Companies as executive vice president and chief strategy officer in June 2018. Now in her current role, she guides CooperSurgical’s mission to advance the health of women, babies, and families with diverse products and services focused on women’s health, fertility, and diagnostics.
Sheffield came to Cooper Companies from investment banking, where she has over 20 years of experience. Most recently, she was managing director and global head of medical technology at UBS Securities, a role she held since 2009. She was also involved in several key cultural initiatives at the investment bank, including co-heading the America’s Investment Bank Diversity and Inclusion Council. Prior to UBS, Sheffield was managing director at Credit Suisse. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and her Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia Business School.
- Noemi Ray
Company: PaceMate
Title: Co-Founder and Vice President, Product Operations
Noemi Ray is a Co-Founder and the Vice President of Product Operations at PaceMate, a cardiac medical technology company. PaceMate provides an innovative digital cardiology technology—a cloud-based platform that monitors and manages implanted cardiac devices, allowing physicians to track real-time data from their patients as they go about their lives. As a leader within her company, Ray brings a wealth of experience across medical fields, including as a clinical specialist, pharmacy manager, and Registered Nurse, in addition to being hands-on with medical sales and marketing. She is part of the pioneering team behind PaceMate LIVE, her company’s signature customized cardio implantable electronic device monitoring software and service.
Before founding PaceMate, she was a clinical specialist in cardiac rhythm management for St. Jude Medical, an emergency department RN with CHRISTUS Health, and a sales/marketing manager for Ray’s Pharmacies. Her career as a medical professional began in 2005 as a sales representative with Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Now with PaceMate, Ray aims to add a unique level of compassion to the brand, setting a standard of equality in the medical workspace that shines through in the company’s customer service, mission, and core values. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in registered nursing from Louisiana State University-Alexandria, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northwestern State University.
- Anne-Marie Costet
Company: Echosens
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Anne-Marie Costet is the Chief Executive Officer of Echosens, an innovative specialty medical technology company. Echosens is the developer and manufacturer of FibroScan, a line of products designed to accurately and efficiently measure liver fibrosis and scarring in a non-invasive manner. One of the world leaders in diagnostic devices for chronic liver disease, Echosens distributes its products and services internationally to 80 countries. As an executive, Costet has a track record of successfully transforming businesses by uniting teams around strategic visions, a formula that guides her leadership at Echosens.
Previously, she was chairman and CEO of the French restaurant chain Courtepaille, whose transformation she led with strategic brand positioning, a revamping of its corporate identity, and other positive growth changes. She also spent 15 years with European retail group Mister Minit, a company she helped successfully turnaround before ultimately rising to the global CEO position. She honed her skills in corporate strategy in her first professional position as a regional director for HR company The Adecco Group. She received post-graduate degrees in management science and international trade from the Pantheon-Sorbonne University in Paris.
- Kathleen Skarvan
Company: Electromed, Inc.
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Kathleen Skarvan is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Electromed, a specialty medical device company. Electromed is the developer of the SmartVest Airway Clearance System, an innovative respiratory therapy for patients battling lung impairments. As a leader, Skarvan specializes in transforming organizations through product innovation, quality initiatives, and improved productivity. She is known for her courageous, straightforward, and nimble leadership style and has managed diverse business situations from double-digit annual growth to product commoditization.
Before joining Electromed, she was VP of operations and strategic planning for OEM Fabricators, a steel manufacturer, and served in several executive roles at Hutchison Technology Incorporated. She began her career at Phillips Plastics, where she was a director and VP. She is also a board member of the St. Cloud State University Foundation and Citizens Community Federal. Skarvan has vast international experience, having negotiated multi-million-dollar supply agreements with high technology businesses throughout Southeast Asia. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications, management, and finance from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, and received an MEP Certification from the University of Minnesota Carson School of Management.
- Katherine S. Tweden
Company: Senseonics, Inc.
Title: Vice President, Clinical Sciences
Katherine S. Tweden, Ph.D. is the Vice President of Clinical Sciences at Senseonics Inc. Over the span of her 30-year career in the medical device industry, Katherine has held several executive and leadership positions in research and development, clinical research and operations, and regulatory affairs. At Senseonics, she is responsible for directing all aspects of clinical affairs, including the conduct of U.S. and global clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness, safety, and performance of current and next-generation implantable continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. Katherine has also authored several scientific publications to support reimbursement of the Senseonics Eversense CGM System in just the last two years. She has been recognized as an expert in the field of CGM and is frequently invited to review manuscripts for BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism Journals, and others.
Prior to joining Senseonics in 2017, Katherine guided a novel, Class III, active implantable obesity medical device from invention through FDA approval at EnteroMedics Inc. (renamed ReShape Life Sciences) as one of the co-inventors and company founders. Earlier in her career, she led research and development teams in the fields of coronary vascular disease, heart valve disease and periodontal ligament regeneration at HeartStent Corporation, St. Jude Medical, and W.L. Gore and Associates, respectively. Dr. Tweden has more than 75 patents and publications in related fields. Dr. Tweden holds a B.A. in chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College, a M.S. and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Iowa State University, and post-doctorates in oral biology and surface chemistry from The State University of New York at Buffalo.
- Peggy Hansen
Company: Collagen Matrix, Inc.
Title: General Manager, Contract Development and Manufacturing
Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Clinical Affairs
Peggy Hansen joined Collagen Matrix, a leader in the development and manufacturing of advanced collagen and mineral based medical devices for tissue repair and regeneration, in 2001. The company’s proprietary products are sold to customers across orthopedic, spine, sports medicine, dental, and neurosurgery end markets. During her 19 years with Collagen Matrix, Hansen has held leadership positions spanning quality, regulatory, clinical, marketing, and business development. Hansen joined the company when it was pre-revenue and contributed significantly to value creation by driving product commercialization, global expansion, and quality compliance. In 2020, she was appointed General Manager of the company’s Contract Development and Manufacturing business while continuing to lead regulatory and clinical affairs. In her current role, Hansen leads the expansion of the company’s capabilities in product development and manufacturing by providing customized contract development and manufacturing solutions through collaboration and partnerships.
Before joining Collagen Matrix, Hansen was manager of regulatory affairs at SurModics, Inc., a company specializing in surface modification of medical devices. Before working at SurModics, Hansen was at 3M in the Health Care, Medical Products Division and Cardiovascular Systems Division where she was responsible for global regulatory filings of medical devices and combination products. Hansen was also employed by ReGen Biologics, Inc., a start-up company involved in the development of collagen orthopedic products. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University.
- Laurel Fuqua
Company: Monarch Medical Technologies
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer
Laurel Fuqua is the Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer of Monarch Medical Technologies, a leading provider of precision insulin dosing technology for improved patient outcomes and the developer of the EndoTool® Glucose Management System. As an accomplished nurse executive and diabetes industry leader, Fuqua draws from more than three decades of healthcare experience to lead the clinical vision and guide the product strategy at Monarch. Although she has spent the majority of her career focused on high-risk population management and improving care for individuals with diabetes and other chronic diseases, more recently she has been driving innovations within the digital therapeutics landscape. She believes that the integration of technology like Monarch’s EndoTool with innovative care processes is the future of healthcare and that consumers will become the driving force behind making that happen.
Fuqua has held executive-level positions in clinical, operations, and product innovations across a wide range of healthcare settings. Before joining Monarch, she served as the senior vice president of clinical and operations at Canary Health. Previously, she was the senior vice president of population health, clinical affairs, and care innovations for InSpark Technologies. She also has held executive positions with, Alere, Inspiris, Kindred Healthcare, the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Healthways. She has served on the Board of Directors for the start-up firm Diabetes America and is currently an advisor for the Silicon Valley digital therapeutics start-up Seven.me. She has received several accolades for her work, including the ADCES Diabetes Educator of the Year Award early in her career. Fuqua received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in nursing from the University of Evansville.
- Maria Bennett
Company: SPR Therapeutics
Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Maria Bennett is President, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of SPR Therapeutics, a medical device company that has commercialized a non-opioid, peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) therapy designed to provide significant and sustained pain relief in areas such as back, shoulder, knee, and nerve-related pain, including post-amputation pain. SPR’s SPRINT® PNS System provides physicians and their pain patients a non-surgical option to use early in the treatment continuum. Bennett founded SPR in 2010 and led the development of its novel pain-relief technology to commercialization, funded by a series of responsible equity financings and federal grants and contracts. In 2020, she was named a regional finalist in Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, recognized for her leadership and SPR’s advancements in non-opioid, minimally invasive pain treatments designed to improve the lives of pain sufferers.
Before founding SPR, Bennett served as Vice President of clinical studies for NDI Medical, where she played a vital role in the development of neurostimulation technologies for therapeutic use. She also worked as a clinical project manager at Boston Scientific, and as a clinical studies manager at NeuroControl Corporation. Bennett currently serves as Vice President on the Beachwood City Schools’ Board of Education in her hometown in Ohio. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in engineering management from Miami University (OH) and Master of Science degree in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University.
- Jane Clark
Company: Inotec AMD
Title: Vice President, Global Marketing and Clinical Affairs
Jane Clark is the Vice President of Global Marketing and Clinical Affairs with Inotec AMD, a specialty medical technology company. Inotec AMD is the developer and purveyor of the innovative NATROX Oxygen Wound Therapy device, technology that delivers pure humidified oxygen directly to wounds, stimulating and improving rapid healing. Clark brings both executive and clinical experience to her current role, including a tenure as a tissue viability specialist within the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS). A dynamic, highly motivated, and commercially minded professional, Clark has over ten years of commercial experience combined with 14 years of clinical experience, including as a clinical nurse specialist in tissue viability.
As a VP with Inotec, Clark combines expertise in wound treatment and tissue viability with years of experience in the commercial medical market. Previously, she was a senior marketing executive with Acelity, a global advanced wound care company, and held clinical and marketing positions with Systagenix and Johnson & Johnson. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in health studies from the University of Paisley and her Master of Science degree in tissue viability and wound repair from Cardiff University.
- Suzon Lommel
Company: Viveve Medical, Inc.
Title: Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Quality Affairs
Suzon Lommel is the Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Quality Affairs at Viveve Medical, Inc., a global women’s intimate health care company and a leader in the development of advanced medical technologies and procedures that address significant areas of unmet need in women’s health including intimate wellness and incontinence solutions. In a career that spans more than 30 years, Lommel has extensive experience in establishing and directing regulatory and quality systems in the medical device industry. She has played an instrumental leadership role in the strategic planning and development of numerous innovative and disruptive technologies from early-stage development to global commercialization.
Before joining Viveve, she was global vice president of regulatory and quality affairs at Ulthera, Inc., now part of Merz Aesthetics. She has also served in executive or senior management roles at Breathe Techniques, Inc., FoxHollow Technologies, Inc., Advanced Stent Technologies, and Boston Scientific. She has coordinated regulatory strategies including IDE, PMA, and 510k submissions, and has worked closely with regulators at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as well as international regulatory and licensing organizations. As an avid animal lover and volunteer, Lommel has worked for years with Puppy Rescue Mission, an organization dedicated to helping military personnel bring pets home from war zones. She received her degree in physics from Moorpark College in California.
- Renee Ryan
Company: Cala Health
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Renee Ryan is the Chief Executive Officer of Cala Health, a bioelectric medical technology company. Cala Health develops wearable neuromodulation therapies, including its lead product, Cala Trio, the only non-invasive prescription therapy for essential tremor. In 2020, the company and its product received Gold in its category of the Edison Awards, a recognition of excellence and innovation in diagnostic medical devices. In her executive role, Ryan utilizes 25 years of experience in developing groundbreaking healthcare companies, as well as an enthusiastic entrepreneurial spirit.
Ryan has a strong history of finding and fueling innovation to advance human healthcare. Before joining Cala, she was a medical technology investor for Johnson & Johnson Innovation, as well as managing director for the healthcare investment banking firm Baird & Co. She also built and operated the West Coast Healthcare Group of New York-based Jeffries & Co., and was director of healthcare investing with Credit Suisse. In 1997, Ryan began her career as an investment professional in the medical device and technology sector with Goldman Sachs. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Georgetown University and her Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia University.
- Jill Binney
Company: Activ Surgical
Title: Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Jill Binney is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Activ Surgical, a company that is building hardware-agnostic surgical software that allows minimally invasive surgical systems (laparoscopes, arthroscopes, and robots) to autonomously collaborate with surgeons. Activ Surgical’s ultimate goal is to eliminate unintended surgical complications, improving patient outcomes, and providing savings to healthcare systems. Binney is a proven commercial leader with nearly two decades of medical device and healthcare experience. She is highly experienced in executing successful go-to-market plans for numerous disruptive technologies and developing customer-focused strategies to build brands and grow market share.
Binney is an accomplished sales leader with a strong track record of building and scaling high performing teams. Previously, she served as the area vice president for the ENT and Video Microscope Business Units at Olympus. She has also served as an account manager for Lipo Science, as a sales representative for Athena Diagnostics, and as a regional field trainer and sales representative for IVAX Laboratories. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communication disorders and sciences from the University of Florida and a Master of Science degree in speech-language from the University of South Florida.
