Originally Published MX July/August 2005

COVER STORY

Interview by Steve Halasey

In the medical technology marketplace, a company doesn't typically stay around very long if it isn't competitive. And keeping a company among the market leaders in even one sector can be a monumental undertaking for company executives.

But somehow, those challenges don't seem so difficult for company leaders at Abbott (Abbott Park, IL), a 117-year-old healthcare company with leadership positions in a number of the industry's major sectors. Although most consumers recognize Abbott's name because of its strong presence as a manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, the company describes itself as a "broad-based healthcare company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets products and services that span the continuum of care—from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and cure."

Richard A. Gonzalez, medical products president and COO, on portfolio reshaping and growth at Abbott. Photo courtesy Abbott