EPISODE 028
For years, Intuitive Surgical appeared to be the only company capable of cracking the code for medical robotics. But with companies like Medtronic, Stryker, Johnson & Johnson, Google, and others creating their own efforts the sector appears to be stabilizing. Is there room for early-stage entrepreneurs and VC investors in this capital-intensive sector?
Podcast Guest
Paul LaViolette
Managing Partner & COO
SV Life Sciences Advisers, LLC
Paul joined SV Life Sciences Advisers in 2009 and is focused on medical devices investments and brings over 33 years of global medical technology management experience.
Paul was most recently Chief Operating Officer at Boston Scientific Corporation (BSC), an $8 billion medical device leader. During his 15 years at BSC, he served as Chief Operating Officer, Group President Cardiovascular, President, Cardiology, Group President, Endosurgery and President, International as the company grew revenues over 20 times. Paul integrated two dozen acquisitions and led extensive product development, operations and worldwide commercial organizations. He previously held marketing and general management positions at CR Bard, and various marketing roles at Kendall (Covidien).
Paul serves as Vice Chairman of the Innovation Advisory Board for the Partners Health System and is Chairman-elect for the Medical Device Manufacturers Association.
Paul received his BA in Psychology from Fairfield University and his MBA from Boston College.
Current Board Seats: CardioFocus *, CardioKinetix, Cibiem, CSA Medical Direct Flow Medical *
Soffio, TransEnterix *, ValenTX *, Ximedica *
External Board Seats: Axon Therapies, Corvia *
John Pavlidis
President & CEO
VytronUS, Inc.
John joined VytronUS in early 2015 as the President and CEO. John has more than twenty-five years of medical device experience. Prior to VytronUS, John was President and CEO of Endoscopic Technologies, Inc. a leader in minimally invasive and endoscopic cardiac ablation, valve repair or replacement, and coronary bypass surgical technology. Endoscopic Technologies was acquired by AtriCure in late 2013. Previously, John served as President and CEO of R2 Technology Inc., the pioneer and leader in computer-aided detection of breast cancer, until Hologic Inc. acquired the company in 2006. Before joining R2 Technology, John was the President of the Ultrasound group at Siemens Healthcare for five years, where he led the acquisition and integration of Acuson Inc. and subsequent growth to $1 Billion revenue. John earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an M.S. in Engineering Sciences from the Thayer School of En gineering at Dartmouth College.
Eric Timko
Former President & CEO
Blue Belt Technologies
Mr. Timko joined Blue Belt in August 2011, bringing with him over 20 years of experience in the medical industry, and lead Blue Belt through the transition from a development stage company to a commercially driven company achieving over $10 million is revenues in the first full year of commercialization. This resulted in the recent acquisition of Blue Belt by Smith and Nephew for $275 million. Prior to joining Blue Belt, Mr. Timko served as President and CEO of NeuroVasx, Inc., President of Carl Zeiss Surgical, Inc., and as Vice President of Siemens Medical Systems, Inc. Mr. Timko possesses a proven track record in building an effective and profitable organization and brings vast experience in medical technologies at both the start-up and commercial stages and across many specialties such as orthopedics, neurosurgery, ophthalmology and several others.
Meet Our Host
Geoff Pardo
Geoff has been in medtech for over two decades in both operational and investment roles. He is passionate about the industry potential and sharing stories from the front lines of innovation.