Boston Scientific Co-Founders John Abele, Pete Nicholas Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) bestowed the fourth annual AdvaMed Lifetime Achievement Award to Boston Scientific co-founders John Abele and Pete Nicholas, for their work in helping to build one of the world’s largest medical device manufacturers and for their pioneering work in promoting minimally-invasive medical technologies.
 
“John and Pete have spent their entire careers dedicated to advancing medical devices to improve, extend and enhance the lives of patients around the world,” said Scott Whitaker, president and CEO, AdvaMed. “Today, the company they created is one of the world’s top medical technology developers, known for providing more accessible, lower cost and less invasive medical devices to treat more than 22 million patients worldwide. We are honored to present this year’s award to John Abele and Pete Nicholas.”
 
Abele and Nicholas met each other in 1979 and co-founded Boston Scientific to foster the concept of minimally-invasive surgery. That chance meeting turned into a life-long business partnership and the formation of one of the world’s most innovative health care companies. Today, Boston Scientific is one of the world’s leading medical device companies represented in more than 100 countries and over $7 billion in sales. With more than 13,000 life changing products, Boston Scientific products treat 22 million patients each year in countries around the world.
 
“It is a great honor to be recognized by one’s peers, and I proudly accept this award on behalf of the entire worldwide Boston Scientific team, fully knowing that their collective accomplishments and contributions to patient care and well-being are the true essence of what is being celebrated here today,” said Pete Nicholas.
 
John Abele added, “I echo Pete’s sentiments and add that it has been an extraordinary privilege to help grow and shepherd less invasive medicine into the respected role it has today in providing ‘more, better for less’ solutions to both old and new diseases, injuries and other medical problems.”
 

AdvaMed’s Lifetime Achievement Award highlights the accomplishments of pioneers in the medical technology sector whose contributions have had a significant impact on patients’ lives and the industry as an essential part of America’s economy. The award was presented during AdvaMed 2016, the industry’s annual MedTech Conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center.