Leading CA MedTech Policy Org Elects Five Execs to Board

The California Healthcare Institute (CHI; La Jolla, CA) has announced the election of five senior executives to serve on its 30-member board of directors.

The five new board members are Jeffrey D. Armstrong, PhD, president, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Donald E. Bobo, Jr., corporate vice president, heart valve therapy, Edwards Lifesciences; Kenneth E. Drazan, MD, head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation Centers in California; Michael "Mick" Farrell, chief executive officer, ResMed; and Douglas S. Ingram, Esq., president, Allergan.

"We proudly welcome leaders from Allergan, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Edwards Lifesciences, Johnson & Johnson and ResMed to our board," said Todd Gillenwater, CHI president and CEO, in the release announcing the elections. "Douglas, Jeffrey, Donald, Kenneth and Mick will help shape CHI's agenda and broad support for our collective mission in advancing the life sciences industry."

Gillenwater continued, "With their varied backgrounds from the academic, biomedical and therapeutic arenas, their additions to the board will boost our efforts in representing our members in both Sacramento and Washington."

Founded in 1993 and boasting more than 275 member organizations, CHI describes itself as "the voice of the California biomedical community in Sacramento and Washington D.C." CHI is a nonprofit, public policy research organization. According to its website, CHI's mission is to "advance biomedical research, investment and innovation through effective advocacy of policies to improve public health and ensure continued vitality of the life sciences sector." CHI works to influence law, regulation, reimbursement, and key government agencies by providing timely thought leadership, statewide industry reports, economic data, white papers, and policy forums.

The trade association brings together biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics companies, as well as leading California universities and private research institutions, and the legal, accounting, consulting and financial service organizations that support them. The organization works with its members to advocate policies and actions that promote the economic well-being and emphasize the value of the work of its member companies. For the benefit of all in the biomedical industry, CHI also offers receptions, roundtables, and other events that encourage biomedical executive-legislator interaction.

Stephen Levy is a contributor to Qmed and MPMN.