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William A. Hawkins, Medtronic Chairman and CEO, Receives Distinguished Achievement Award from Biomedical Engineering Society

Lecture Published by Annals of Biomedical Engineering

MINNEAPOLIS – March 9, 2010 – Medtronic, Inc., (NYSE: MDT), today announced William A. Hawkins, chairman and CEO, recently received the Biomedical Engineering Society’s Distinguished Achievement Award. As part of the award, the plenary lecture he delivered to the organization was published in the March 2010 edition of the Annals of Biomedical Engineering.  The Distinguished Achievement Award is given to a company, charitable foundation, or nonacademic institution that has made great contributions to the field of biomedical engineering/bioengineering.

Hawkins’ lecture, “Reverse Engineering: The Future of Medical Technology,” http://www.springerlink.com/content/m4t7r44248m3574r/?p=415f59ea41b648688882333bfcaeefa2&pi=13  describes his vision for advances in disease management and how innovation will play a part in improving world health.  He explains how healthcare is evolving from palliative therapies that primarily alleviate the symptoms of disease to restorative therapies customized for each patient. These changes will ultimately empower patients to take an active role in managing their own care and reduce healthcare costs.  Hawkins also discusses current cultural, legal and regulatory challenges that threaten to erode the healthcare industry’s ability to rapidly innovate and ultimately, to provide critically needed solutions to combat the global burden of chronic disease.

Hawkins was named Chief Executive Officer of Medtronic, Inc. in 2007 and assumed the additional role of chairman in 2008. He joined Medtronic in 2002 as senior vice president and president of the company’s Vascular business before serving as president and chief operating officer. Hawkins has nearly 35 years of career experience in the medical device industry, serving in leadership positions at Novoste Corp.; American Home Products; Ethicon Endo-Surgery – part of Johnson & Johnson; Guidant Corp.; and Eli Lilly. He began his medical technology career with Carolina Medical Electronics in 1977.

Hawkins received his bachelor’s of science degree in electrical and biomedical engineering from Duke University in 1976. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, in 1982. He is a member of the Pratt Board of Visitors of the Engineering School at Duke University, the University of Minnesota Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Board of Directors of the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis.

ABOUT BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING SOCIETY
The Biomedical Engineering Society is the leading organization for innovators in biomedical and bioengineering research and development. Members include researchers from major universities, government agencies, students, doctors and BME industry leaders in all biomedical disciplines worldwide.  BMES fosters technology transfer; the exchange of current information and advances in the field; promotes the profession by supporting education and career advancement; and enhances the impact of biomedical engineering and bioengineering on the economy and human health.

ABOUT MEDTRONIC
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world.

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