Medtech Takes the Big Apple

Be sure to take advantage of these opportunities at the MD&M East conference and exposition in New York City June 9–11, 2015.

Jamie Hartford

New York City will again play host to the best and brightest minds in medtech when the industry gathers at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center June 9–11, 2015, for the MD&M East conference and exposition. This three-day interactive event will feature live demonstrations, education programs, and other opportunities you won’t want to miss. Here are a few things we recommend checking out.

Keynotes from Industry Leaders

Anchoring this year’s MD&M East conference are keynote addresses from medtech industry leaders. On Tuesday, June 9, you’ll hear from Sean Hughes, vice president of Philips Design, the team tasked with ensuring the Philips brand continues to churn out meaningful, relevant innovations. Then, on Wednesday, June 10, Andy Christensen, vice president of personalized surgery and medical devices at 3D Systems Corp., will bring you up to speed on how innovations in the exciting field of 3-D printing are making their way into medtech.

In-Depth Learning

Following the keynotes, we’ll delve into conference tracks designed to send you home with actionable insights and spur innovation. One track on June 9 will focus on design innovation for medical devices, including a can’t-miss presentation on designing a medica

l device that will be used in space by NASA's Baraquiel Reyna. For a more nuts-and-bolts approach, attend the June 9 track on mastering process validation to benefit from an FDA update on general process validation principles and practices. The June 10 track will cover sensors, energy harvesting, flexible electronics, and other next-generation technologies, including a talk on electronic aspirin by Anthony Caparso, vice president of research and chief scientist at Autonomic Technologies. Last but not least, the June 11 track will focus on 3-D printing for medical device design and manufacturing, including a look at this emerging technology from the physician’s perspective.

Free Educational Sessions

Even if you're not heading to the conference, there are still opportunities to advance your learning right on the show floor. The Center Stage and Tech Theater areas will feature an assortment of free sessions you can take advantage of. On Tuesday, June 9, don't miss Bill Evans, founder of Bridge Design, discuss 10 ways innovation, design, demogrpahics, and global trends will affect healthcare in 10 years. On Wednesday, June 10, you can test your knowledge in a one-of-a-kind engineering trivia game sponsored by Nordson Medical. And on Thursday, June 11, Bill Betten, vice president of business solutions at Logic PD, will detail five ways Big Data is affecting digital health.   

Opportunities to Connect

With so many of your medtech industry peers under one roof, MD&M East presents an unparalleled opportunity for networking. To get in the mix, sign up for a speed networking session on June 9 or 10. Based on your answers in the registration questionnaire, we’ll pair you with other professionals who share your interests for 10 brief meetings. Best of all, it’s free with your MD&M East registration.

A Toast to Medtech Innovation

MD&M East also plays host to medtech’s version of the Oscars, the Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA). Each year, the MDEA program honors the most innovative medical devices on the market in categories ranging from over-the-counter and self-care to surgical equipment, instruments, and supplies. This year’s winners will be announced at a June 9 ceremony during which we’ll also honor 2015 MDEA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner John Abele and recognize up-and-coming innovators through VentureWell’s BMEIdea student competition. You can RSVP for the event when you register for the show.

Products and Services Showcase

If you’re looking for suppliers and service providers to help your medtech company innovate, be sure to set aside plenty of time to stroll the exposition floor. MD&M East is the leading industry innovation showcase on the East Coast, and you can browse booths exhibiting everything from next-generation materials and batteries to cybersecurity services and contract manufacturing capabilities. To help you get the lay of the land, we’ve put together guided Innovation Tours that will highlight advances in robotics, 3-D printing, and tools that make digital health possible.

Jamie Hartford is MD+DI's editor-in-chief. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @MedTechJamie. 

[image courtesy of THEPHOTOHOLIC/FREEDIGITALPHOTOS.NET]