Lifetime Achievement Award

Lifetime Achievement Award Nominations Now Closed

Thank you to all who submitted a nomination for the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. Our nomination period has officially closed. A winner will be announced this fall and celebrated at The MedTech Conference in Anaheim, California.

AdvaMed’s Lifetime Achievement Award honors the accomplishments of pioneers in the medical technology sector whose contributions have had a profound impact on patients’ lives and the industry as an essential part of America’s economy.

This prestigious award takes into consideration individuals from across all medtech sectors who have continuously displayed commitment, promoted progress and were a catalyst for positive change in the medtech industry. Previous recipients include Lester B. Knight (2022), Edward Ludwig (2021), Ron Dollens (2020), Cathy Burzik (2019), Vernon Loucks, Jr. (2018), Jack Wareham (2017), John Abele and Peter Nicholas (2016), Dr. Thomas Fogarty (2015), Earl Bakken (2014); and John Brown (2013).

Only with your help can AdvaMed recognize the true trailblazers whose contributions have monumentally changed the medtech industry for the better. Find the full criteria for eligibility below.

2022 Award Recipient: Lester B. Knight

Lester B. Knight, a founding partner of RoundTable Healthcare Partners and former Chief Executive of Allegiance, received the 2022 AdvaMed Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by IQVIA Medtech, at the industry’s premier annual gathering, The Medtech Conference 2022, in Boston on October 26, 2022.

Knight, with more than 40 years of health care experience, founded RoundTable Healthcare partners in 2001. RoundTable is an operating-oriented private-equity firm focused exclusively on the health care industry. He previously served as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Allegiance, the nation’s leading integrated medtech manufacturer, distributor, and provider of cost management services for hospitals. Knight and his leadership team took Allegiance public in 1996, creating an independent Fortune 500 spin-off from Baxter International. In 1999, Allegiance merged with Cardinal Health, where Knight served as Vice Chairman. Knight also spent 16 years at Baxter, where he was Executive Vice President and a member of its Board of Directors.

Award Criteria

Nominees for AdvaMed’s Lifetime Achievement Award should be outstanding individuals who have made meaningful and prolonged contributions to the medical technology industry. Eligible candidates shall have been retired from their day-to-day medtech industry responsibilities (and no longer be serving as the board chair for their signature employer) for at least one full calendar year.

When voting, The AdvaMed Selection Committee assesses and weighs the following criteria:

1. Years of sustained industry leadership
2. Contributions to AdvaMed
3. Impact on patient care
4. Commitment to mentoring and career development
5. Actions that have led to the introduction and promotion of medtech innovation
6. Significant role in medical discovery/commercialization
7. History of Entrepreneurship and/or supporting entrepreneurship
8. Actively engaged in medtech capital formation/venture capital or support for medtech ecosystem
9. Effective advocate for sound legislation, regulation and public awareness of medical technology
10. Philanthropy, community service, community leadership

Previous Recipients