FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2007
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AdvaMed Highlights Medical Innovation at Capitol Hill Event
Actress Jane Seymour
Discusses How Medical Technology Affected Her Life
Talk Show Host Regis Philbin Emcees Event
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Washington, D.C., June 20, 2007 – AdvaMed, the Advanced Medical Technology Association, held a “Value of Technology” event on Capitol Hill today to showcase current and future medical innovations that are leading to longer, healthier lives for millions of Americans.
“Everyone who has joined us here today can attest to the extraordinary value of medical technology, and its role in transforming how we live,” said Edward J. Ludwig, AdvaMed Chair and the Chairman, President and Chief Executive officer of BD. “This is a time of tremendous momentum in medical technology, with patients, physicians, policymakers, advocacy groups and the medical technology industry all working together to transform health care delivery and outcomes, saving and improving lives.”
Lifesaving technologies in fields such as orthopedics, ophthalmology, diagnostics, cardiology, endocrinology, oncology and trauma care were on display.
The event featured master of ceremonies Regis Philbin, talk show host and one of America’s most popular celebrities, and Jane Seymour, Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress, who spoke about their personal experiences with advanced medical technology.
Philbin’s son Daniel was born with a rare, serious spinal condition and uses a wheelchair. Daniel has benefited from advanced medical technology and first-rate urology care that has prevented him from contracting serious infections. “My son is just one of the millions of Americans who is living a better life because of the availability of advanced medical technology,” Philbin said. “Daniel is highly independent, but without the amazing medical care he has received, virtually all aspects of his life would be seriously limited.”
Seymour’s life has also been changed for the better through medical innovation. Until a few years ago, she suffered from a painful, chronic back condition that gradually worsened. At one point, her pain became so severe that she underwent an emergency discectomy, a minimally invasive spinal procedure which completely ended her pain. “One day I was lying on the floor and I couldn’t move at all, I couldn’t even call for help,” says Seymour. “But after that surgery, I was back to work in one week, and today I’m in the best shape of my life.”
“Telling the stories of people like Daniel Philbin and Jane Seymour and the millions of other people whose lives have been saved or restored by medical technology is one of the reasons AdvaMed began its Value of Technology educational campaign,” said Jim Mazzo Chairman, President and CEO of Advanced Medical Optics, and chair of AdvaMed’s VOT Board Committee.
Steve Ubl, AdvaMed President and CEO, added that the promise of medical innovation has never been greater. “It is critical that we ensure access to lifesaving technologies,” he said. “It is not enough to develop these extraordinary treatments – we also have to make sure they are available to people who need them.”
The event also featured patients and physicians from around the country who shared their stories of how advanced medical technology has positively impacted their lives:
- Ruth Green of San Francisco, who suffered from spinal stenosis until she was treated with a new spinal implant delivered through a minimally invasive procedure to relieve her chronic pain, and her physician (and device inventor) James Zucherman, M.D., also of San Francisco. Ruth, who will turn 80 on Wednesday, is very active with square dancing and gardening.
- Ramon Moncada of San Diego, who lost half the vision in both eyes after a stroke and whose vision was mostly restored through the use of a rehabilitation therapy device that reteaches the brain how to see, and his doctor, Jose Romano, M.D. of Miami, FL.
- Mary Stanford of Port Washington, NY, who suffered from diabetes until she underwent minimally invasive gastric bypass surgery and lost 150 pounds, and her doctor, Alfons Pomp, M.D., of New York. Mary now runs long distances and just qualified for the New York City Marathon.
- Evelyn Pappas of Columbus, OH, whose bronchiestasis severely impacted her breathing until she was treated with an airway clearance system called “The Vest,” which relieved her congestion. Evelyn regained her freedom and mobility. She has brought medicine to villages in Africa and handled dogs on the Iditarod.
For more information, visit http://www.progressyoucansee.org/.