Mr. Webber brings more than 25 years of experience leading manufacturing and operations in the medical device industry.
TUCSON, Ariz. – May 16, 2018 – SynCardia Systems, LLC, manufacturer of the world’s only clinically-proven and commercially approved total artificial heart, announced today that Don Webber has joined the company as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Effective immediately, Mr. Webber will assume responsibility for Manufacturing Operations and will direct Engineering, Quality and Supply Chain Logistics for the SynCardia product line, which includes the commercially-approved 70cc temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH); the new, smaller 50cc TAH* designed to fit more women and adolescents; the Companion 2 Hospital Driver; and the Freedom® Portable Driver, which allows stable TAH patients to be discharged from the hospital.
“With extensive management experience spanning more than 25 years in both public and private sector life science companies, Don is uniquely qualified to drive strategic transformation and growth at SynCardia, with a solid focus on operational excellence,” said Michael Garippa, President and CEO of SynCardia. “He is a seasoned and committed leader who has consistently delivered breakthrough results. Don’s track record of success will ensure that SynCardia continues to direct its commitment, investment and technical expertise to bringing lifesaving, life-sustaining devices to patients with end-stage biventricular heart failure throughout the world.”
Prior to joining SynCardia, Mr. Webber had been COO at OptiScan since 2010. He previously served as VP of Manufacturing Operations at C.R. Bard, Vice President of Operations at EKOS Corporation and President and CEO of Mitralign. Mr. Webber holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering Technology from the State University of New York and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University.
*The 50cc TAH is approved for use in Europe and Canada and undergoing an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical trial in the U.S.
Don Webber has joined SynCardia as COO.
About SynCardia Systems, LLC
Headquartered in Tucson, Ariz., SynCardia manufactures the world’s only commercially approved total artificial heart. In clinical use for more than 35 years and with more than 1,800 implants, the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH) is the most widely used and extensively studied TAH in the world.
By partnering with, training and supporting healthcare teams at more than 140 transplant hospitals and heart failure programs in more than 20 countries, SynCardia helps create better outcomes for critically ill adults and adolescents whose best chance at survival is total heart replacement. When a donor heart isn’t an available option, SynCardia provides a new heart without the wait for patients with end-stage heart failure affecting both sides of the heart (biventricular failure).
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Media Contact:
Kris Peiffer, kpeiffer@syncardia.com, (520) 618-1859