BD Chairman, President and CEO Vincent Forlenza Named Chairman of AdvaMed's Board of Directors

Outgoing Chairman Joe Almeida lauded for success on international issues, diagnostics payment reform

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Dec 17, 2014, 03:51 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) today announced that BD Chairman, President and CEO Vincent A. Forlenza has been named chairman of the AdvaMed Board of Directors for a two-year term.

Forlenza has served on both the AdvaMed Board and its Executive Committee since 2010 and is the current chair of the association's Board Committee on Technology and Regulation. In addition, he served as chairman of the Board for AdvaMedDx, a division of AdvaMed focused on the unique needs and issues facing diagnostics manufacturers. As AdvaMedDx chair, Forlenza oversaw significant growth of the division and helped establish AdvaMedDx as the leading advocate for the value of diagnostics.

"I am proud to assume AdvaMed's chairmanship and to help lead the association as it continues to grow in the U.S. and abroad, advancing innovation and helping the economy grow. It is an honor to be selected to lead an organization that does so much to ensure that patients worldwide have access to the life-changing innovations they depend on," said Forlenza.

"In this century of the life sciences, medical devices and diagnostics are helping countless individuals live longer, healthier lives while improving the effectiveness and efficiency of health care systems. But our innovation ecosystem faces many challenges – from regulatory and reimbursement to taxes and trade – and I look forward to working with AdvaMed staff and member companies to meet these challenges head on," Forlenza said.

"Vince is a proven leader who knows how to get things done," said AdvaMed President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl. "As chairman of AdvaMedDx, he was instrumental in growing the association's diagnostics sector and effectively advocating for regulatory and reimbursement policies that support continued innovation in this increasingly important area of medtech. AdvaMed is extremely fortunate to have someone of Vince's caliber and experience at its helm."

Forlenza succeeds Covidien Chairman, President and CEO Joe E. Almeida.

"Joe had a remarkable record of success as AdvaMed chair," Ubl said. "We thank him for his leadership and support of the association, his advocacy on behalf of our dynamic and innovative industry, and for his dedication to improving patient care."

Among AdvaMed's accomplishments under Almeida's leadership were:

Continued progress in the effort to repeal the medical device tax;
Enactment of historic legislation which will modernize Medicare's clinical lab fee schedule and recognize the value of diagnostics to health care outcomes;
FDA's release of draft guidance establishing a risk-based approach to the regulation of laboratory-developed tests;
The opening of an AdvaMed office in China and further development of codes of ethics in China and other countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum;
Constructive engagement with the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on their 21^st Century Cures initiative; and
A highly successful AdvaMed 2014 med tech conference in Chicago, the first time the event was held beyond the east coast.

AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems that are transforming health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. For more information, visit www.advamed.org.

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SOURCE AdvaMed