Accuray President and CEO Suzanne Winter to Head AdvaMed Radiation Therapy Sector

WASHINGTON – Today, AdvaMed, the Medtech Association, announced Suzanne Winter, President and CEO of Accuray, a leading manufacturer of life-saving radiotherapy systems, will head the organization’s radiation therapy (RT) sector. In this role, Suzanne will oversee AdvaMed’s ongoing outreach on behalf of RT members. She succeeds Chris Toth, CEO of Varian, a Siemens Healthineers Company, as chair of the sector.

“AdvaMed is proud to represent the world’s leading radiation therapy companies; this group is changing how patients receive life-saving cancer care and treatment. From improving CMS’s Physician Fee Schedule methodology to working with the Biden Administration on the Cancer Moonshot initiative, the AdvaMed radiation therapy sector is actively working to bring this essential cancer treatment to patients who need it,” said Scott Whitaker, AdvaMed President and CEO. “I am proud to welcome Suzanne Winter as our next chair of the RT sector. She has deep experience in health care and medtech, and I know she will lead this organization well as we continue to grow this important work. I also want to thank Chris Toth for his leadership of this group as he steps down from the role.”

“As a cancer treatment option, radiation therapy is saving and improving the lives of millions of Americans who have been diagnosed with this disease. We at Accuray, and all our peers in the RT sector, are committed to delivering the best care possible to the patients we serve,” said Suzanne Winter. “It is an honor to be chosen to lead this important group within AdvaMed and to lend my experience to the ongoing work to improve access to innovative, non-invasive radiotherapy technology.”

 AdvaMed’s RT Sector is a collection of all major radiation therapy manufacturers and represents the interests of the industry in Washington. The group has supported the Biden Administration’s Cancer Moonshot and works alongside industry stakeholders to stabilize Physician Fee Schedule payments and make CMS’s PFS methodology more transparent.

Earlier this year, the AdvaMed RT Sector released the findings of a national poll that revealed broad, bipartisan support for greater federal investment in radiation therapy to bring down costs and expand access for patients. The poll, conducted last month by Morning Consult, surveyed 2,200 adults with a margin of error of ±2%. Key findings include:

• Four-in-five Americans (78%) and nearly all adults who have been diagnosed with cancer (93%) say radiation therapy is safe and effective at treating cancer;
• More than half of respondents note that the distance to the nearest RT facility, coupled with family and work responsibilities, are top barriers to accessing RT treatments;
• Three-in-four (75%) Americans say it should be a priority for the government to invest in proven cancer treatments;
• More than half of adults (51%) say investment in cancer treatments should be a top priority;
• Support for greater federal investment is high across political party affiliation, with strong support coming from Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike.

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