Rebecca Bergman

Vice President, Research & Technology, Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management, Medtronic, Inc.

Title of Keynote Lecture: Emerging Medical Device Technologies: Creating Better Healthcare Solutions for Chronic Disease Management

The overall burden of chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, heart and respiratory diseases, and diabetes, is rapidly rising and represents a major challenge to global health and development. Escalating health care costs, increasingly rigorous regulatory requirements, enhanced expectations for product quality and reliability, and the diverse needs in emerging markets also represent significant challenges for the industry. The desire for novel and effective solutions to these global healthcare challenges has never been greater. Advances in a variety of medical device technologies offer the opportunity to fundamentally transform the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of NCDs over the next decade. Examples of leading-edge solutions will be discussed in areas such as miniaturization, minimally invasive procedures, sensors, health informatics, and remote care delivery. Capitalizing on the convergence of multiple scientific and technical disciplines, including engineering, materials science, information technology, communication technology, and biological sciences, will accelerate the pace of breakthrough system solutions and dramatically improve the affordability and accessibility of these solutions across the world.

Biography:

Ms. Bergman has more than 24 years of experience in the medical technology industry including over 17 years of experience in research and technology management and product development at Medtronic, Inc., a leading manufacturer of products and therapies used in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of chronic medical conditions. She currently serves as Vice President, Research & Technology for Medtronic’s Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management (CRDM) business. She previously served as Vice President, CRDM New Therapies & Diagnostics as well as Vice President, Corporate Science and Technology, where she directed innovative technology, product development, and information management initiatives. She has received several of Medtronic’s highest honors, including membership in the Bakken Society, an honorary society for Medtronic’s most distinguished scientific and technical contributors, and recipient of the Wallin Leadership Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership at Medtronic. Ms. Bergman is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Since 2008, she has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Sigma-Aldrich. In addition, she currently is a member of the Board of Directors of The Bakken Museum, the Board of Trustees for Gustavus Adolphus College and a number of academic advisory boards. She previously served on the National Advisory Committee of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) of the NIH and the St. Catherine University Board of Trustees. Ms. Bergman holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University, completed graduate studies in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota, and received an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Drexel University.