AdvaMed Taps AZBio CEO to Lead State Medical Technology Alliance

The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) has named Joan Koerber-Walker as chair of the organization’s State Medical Technology Alliance (SMTA). Koerber-Walker is president and CEO of the Arizona Bioindustry Association (AZBio), the Grand Canyon State’s life-science trade association, representing emerging and established leaders across the full spectrum of medical technologies and industrial biotechnology.

SMTA is a consortium of state and regional trade associations representing local medical technology companies. SMTA’s mission is to collectively support the medical technology industry on the local, state and national levels by fostering a collaborative environment through sharing of best practices, promoting the industry, and advocating for public policies that support innovation.

“Now more than ever, our communities and our nation rely on the innovations being developed and delivered by our medical technology innovators,” said Koerber-Walker. “Medtech innovations are saving, sustaining and improving the lives of people here at home and around the world. From the statehouse to our nation’s capital, SMTA members are providing the information our elected leaders need to make decisions on key issues, to foster medtech innovation and ensure that we remain a global leader in this vital industry.”

Koerber-Walker began her term as SMTA chair on Oct. 7 at AdvaMed 2014: The MedTech Conference in Chicago, Ill., where she moderated a roundtable discussion among state medtech association leaders. The roundtable featured an update by U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on the 21st Century Cures Initiative.

The fourth leader to serve as SMTA chair, Koerber-Walker will build on the initiatives established by past SMTA Chair Stephen Rapundalo of MichBio (2011-2014), Michigan’s biotechnology industry association.

“I look forward to Joan’s leadership as we advance our competitiveness agenda and highlight the role our industry plays as an engine of medical and economic progress,” said Stephen J. Ubl, AdvaMed president and CEO. “SMTA has consistently supported the medical technology industry on the state and local level, an industry that helps patients live longer, healthier lives while lowering long-term healthcare costs.”

“It is an honor to have this opportunity to work together with our SMTA members, the team at AdvaMed, and our elected leaders to support our medical technology innovators in delivering life-changing innovations,” said Koerber-Walker. “Medical technology products and services make life better for our loved ones and our communities, and that is what innovation is all about.”