Medtronic Executive Elected to National Academy of Engineering

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has elected Rebecca Bergman, vice president of new therapies and diagnostics in the Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management (CRDM) business of Medtronic Inc., as a member, according to the device manufacturer.

The NAE has 2,267 peer-elected members in the United States and an additional 196 foreign associates. They provide leadership and expertise for projects focused on relationships between engineering, technology and quality of life.

Bergman joined Medtronic in 1987 as a senior biomedical engineer and has held various roles in science and engineering at Minneapolis, Minn.-based Medtronic. She served as vice president of science and technology, responsible for leveraging technology collaboration among Medtronic’s seven business units. In 2009, Bergman was named vice president of new therapies and diagnostics for the company’s CRDM business in. In this role, she is responsible for driving research, technology and new market initiatives for the CRDM unit.

In addition to her role at Medtronic, Bergman was elected a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering in 2001 and is a member of the National Advisory Council of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, an institute within the National Institutes of Health. She also serves on the board of directors of Sigma Aldrich Corp. and on the board of trustees at St. Catherine University, Saint Paul, Minn.; and Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter, Minn.

The procedures for nomination and election of candidates involve a search in all fields of engineering by present members of the NAE for outstanding accomplishments to “engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature,” and to the “pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.”

“We are extremely proud of Becky’s election to the National Academy of Engineering. Her years of success in engineering, research, and the science of developing the next great innovations in medical device technology make her an excellent choice to serve the Academy,” said Bill Hawkins, chairman and chief executive officer at Medtronic.

In addition to Bergman, Medtronic’s co-founder Earl Bakken, and retired vice president of technology policy and academic relations, Paul Citron, are members of the NAE.