About our Speaker: Karen Talmadge

Karen Talmadge, Ph.D., is an entrepreneur and executive in the biomedical industry.

She co-founded and funded Kyphon Inc., a minimally-invasive spine company, which Medtronic acquired in November 2007 for $4.2 B. She is currently Vice President, Chief Science Officer, Kyphon Products, and Bakken Fellow, at Medtronic Spinal and Biologics, Sunnyvale, CA. Until Medtronic acquired Kyphon, she served as a member of Kyphon’s Board of Directors from the company's inception in 1994. She also served as Kyphon's Chief Science Officer from June 2003, and as its Executive Vice President from November 1998. In Kyphon's start-up phase from 1994-1998, she was the company's President, Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer. From 1983-1993, Dr. Talmadge worked at California Biotechnology, which became Scios, where she held numerous research and business positions.

Dr. Talmadge is Chair of the Board of Directors of Gynesonics, and a member of the Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Venous Health Systems and Veralight Boards. She is Co-Chair of the Board of the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation. Dr. Talmadge is a co-inventor on more than 80 patents worldwide and has published numerous scientific articles She has received multiple awards, including the 2004 Patient Quality of Life Award from the International Myeloma Foundation, the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Phoenix Medical Device Conference, and the 2010 Charles H. Best Award for Distinguished Service in the Cause of Diabetes from the American Diabetes Association. She is an invited lecturer at business, medical and scientific conferences and courses. She is an angel investor and mentor for health care industry entrepreneurs.

Dr. Talmadge conducted post-doctoral research in biochemistry and molecular biology at Harvard University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. She holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Harvard University, and an A.B. cum laude in Biology from Bryn Mawr College.

About our Sponsor: Medtronic

Medtronic is the world leader in medical technology providing lifelong solutions for people with chronic disease. We offer products, therapies and services that enhance or extend the lives of millions of people. Each year, 6 million patients benefit from Medtronic's technology, used to treat conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, neurological disorders, and vascular illnesses.

The Danvers location is part of Medtronic’s CardioVascular division. CardioVascular is a global organization leading the convergence of numerous cardiovascular specialities to develop both surgical and less-invasive therapies.

The CardioVascular business comprises four organizations, each uniquely focused on addressing unmet needs in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases:
        Coronary & Peripheral – Minimally invasive catheter and stent-based technologies for the treatment of atherosclerosis
        Structural Heart Disease – Products for the treatment of heart valve disease and atrial fibrillation
        Endovascular Innovations – Stent grafts for the treatment of aortic abdominal and thoracic aneurysms
        Revascularization and Surgical Therapies – Open heart and coronary bypass grafting surgical procedures

The Danvers location has approximately 500 employees. Our work is primarily focused in the Coronary and Structural Heart businesses.

Company Website: www.medtronic.com

Directions:
128/95 North to exit 45, bear left continuing on 128N towards Gloucester. Take Exit 22W (Rt. 62-Middleton). At end of exit ramp turn right at traffic lights, follow road under overpass and turn right onto State Street (this also leads to Rt. 128 South). Follow road straight up the hill (follow airport signs). Do not turn back on Rt. 128. At fork in road bear right. At stop sign turn right onto Conant Street. Entrance to Cherry Hill is 3/10 mile on left. Turn left into Park. At 4th building on right, take a right. Park in front of the building and enter beneath the Medtronic sign.