Vascular Solutions CEO Elected to MDMA Board of Directors

    WASHINGTON, July 14 /EMWNews/ -- The Medical Device

Manufacturers Association (MDMA), a national trade association based in

Washington, D.C., welcomed Howard Root to the Board of Directors at the

MDMA Annual Meeting held in Washington in June.



    (LOGO: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041004/MDMALOGO )



    "I am honored to serve on the Board of the Medical Device Manufacturers

Association," stated Root. "MDMA has a long history of advocating on behalf

of entrepreneurial medical technology companies to promote innovation and

enhance patient care."



    MDMA's Executive Director, Mark Leahey stated, "MDMA's Board of

Directors has historically reflected the ideals of the innovative,

entrepreneurial companies that comprise our membership, and Howard is no

exception." Leahey went on to say, "The Association remains committed to

achieving legislative and regulatory policies necessary to ensure the

research-based entrepreneurial sector of the medical device industry

continues to flourish."



    Other board members include; Wayne Barlow of Wescor, Inc.; Wil Boren of

Biomet, Inc.; Nancy Briefs of Eleme, Inc.; Chris Chavez of Advanced

Neuromodulation Systems (ANS); Kelvyn Cullimore, Jr. of Dynatronics

Corporation; Ryan Drant of New Enterprise Associates; Brad Gary of

Allergan, Inc.; Ken Hayes of Biomerix Corporation; Eamonn Hobbs of

AngioDynamics, Inc.; Joe Kiani of Masimo Corporation; Alex Lukianov of

NuVasive, Inc.; Casey McGlynn of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; Guy

Nohra of Alta Partners; Jo Ellen Slurzberg of Almyra, Inc.; Mark Sieczkerek

of Conceptus, Inc.; Thomas Thompson of Neuro Resource Group (NRG); Paul

Touhey of Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc.; Russ Trenary of Advanced Medical

Optics (AMO) and Mark Wan of Three Arch Partners.



    As founder of Vascular Solutions in 1997, Root led the company since

inception; including taking the company public in 2000. Over the last five

years, he has guided Vascular Solutions in the development and launching of

over 30 new devices for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular conditions,

resulting in over $50 million in annual sales and profitability.

Previously, Mr. Root was Vice President of ATS Medical, Inc. and practiced

corporate law at the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney



    The Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) is a national trade

association based in Washington, D.C., representing innovators and

entrepreneurs in the medical device industry. MDMA seeks to improve the

quality of patient care by encouraging the development of new medical

technology and fostering the availability of innovative products in the

marketplace.