Layout 1 - Synthes

Transcription

Layout 1 - Synthes

A publication of Synthes (USA) • Volume 29, Number 1 • Spring 2011
frag
features
VEPTR II Update
3
Race to the Clouds
4
The MATRIX Spine System 6
Chester County Futures
7
“Opportunity for Success”
Tour de Synthes
8
CMF Surgical Planning
10
An Unprecented PSI
12
Mobile App
13
Photo Contest Winners
16
Synthes Biomaterials
23
Histology and Micro-CT Labs
Synthes Heroes
24
People Profiles
28
Retirees
35
Leadership Connections
36
ments
Trauma Launches a Major Product Line–
the VA-LCP Forefoot /Midfoot System
Hallux valgus, hallux rigidus, tarsometatarso fusion, flatfoot correction,
the list goes on and on. These are all procedures related to
reconstructive foot surgery. Synthes has generally supported
our surgeons who perform these procedures, however,
we haven’t made a concerted effort to really tap into
this market. Reconstructive surgery represents a
majority of foot surgeries, so this equates to new
market opportunities.
In recent years, smaller competitors have
recognized this opportunity and capitalized on
this market by developing products designed by
foot surgeons, for foot surgeons. It was time for
Synthes to step up to the plate and recapture the
title of being the vendor of choice for our foot
surgeons. In the spring of 2009, we embarked on
a journey to interview more than 75 surgeons globally,
to develop the ultimate system for reconstructive foot
surgery. In anticipation of this system, the sales force was
trained on the different reconstructive foot procedures, and what
products we already had to support our surgeons. Support literature,
the Footbook and the Foot Matrix, were developed to aid in this
training—these are now the go-to guides for our consultants to learn
about the different procedures for reconstructive foot surgery.
continued on page 2
Service Awards
37
In Memoriam
38
fragments · Spring 2011
1
Trauma Launches a Major Product Line–the VA-LCP Forefoot/Midfoot System continued from page 1
The culmination of the surgeon interviews,
countless hours of global product development,
manufacturing development, and training
was introduced at the October 2010 Annual
Trauma Sales Meeting. The 2.4 mm/2.7 mm
Variable Angle LCP Forefoot/Midfoot System
launched in the US on October 27.
Along with new technology, we are addressing
new markets with this system. It consists of
48 anatomic and procedure-specific implants
for reconstructive foot procedures. The system
is compatible with the Modular Graphic Case
System, allowing customization of sets to meet
the surgeon’s needs and hospital budgets.
Market preference evaluation was a huge
success, with 29 sets made available in the
field and 185 cases generated in just
two-and-a-half months! Our consultants
did an incredible job of sharing sets
across regions and areas. Everyone
involved in the MPE did their part
in getting this system approved
and launched on time for the sales
meeting. We learned a lot from the
MPE, one of the most important
being that our surgeons are using
multiple implants in one patient!
Icing on the cake for this system is the extensive
product support information available at
launch. The technique guide is so informative
that it had to be spiral bound, with tabs
for quick access to the different sections.
Consultants were provided with six 2-minute
drills addressing different system components,
a detailed competitive matrix, an animation
video, and various other support materials.
So, what is so great about this system?
For starters, there’s plenty of new technology.
An innovative compression feature was
introduced with this system, consisting of
compression wires for preliminary fixation of
the plate to the bone. Most plates in the
system include a compression wire hole and
a compression wire slot. By placing a second
compression wire in the far side of the slot,
compression forceps can be used to close a gap.
The plates in the system accommodate up to
4 mm of compression; however, the beauty
of the compression feature is that it can be
designed with almost any amount of compression and applied to a variety of plate designs.
Another new element in the system is the
2.7 mm Variable Angle LCP technology, similar
to our existing 2.4 mm VA-LCP system, with
15° off-axis angulations. As an additional
benefit, the plates can accept both 2.4 mm
and 2.7 mm VA locking screws. They are also
backward compatible with existing 2.4 mm
and 2.7 mm locking screws, as long as these
screws are used on-axis, and not off-angle.
2
This system is truly a global effort with global
surgeon input, global product development,
global marketing communications and global
manufacturing. This is a great example of what
can be accomplished at Synthes when everyone works together toward a common goal.
by Dipan Patel
VEPTR II Update
The Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium
Rib (VEPTR) is a humanitarian device designed
to mechanically stabilize and distract the
thorax to correct three-dimensional thoracic
deformities and provide improvement in
volume for respiration and lung growth in
skeletally immature patients diagnosed with
thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS). TIS is
defined as the inability of the thorax to
support normal respiration or lung growth.
The VEPTR devices are attached perpendicular
to the patient’s natural ribs, lumbar vertebra
or ilium. Once the device is in place, its design
allows the surgeon to perform expansion and
anatomic distraction, as well as the replacement
of components through less-invasive surgery.
Differentiating the VEPTR II system from VEPTR
is the wider range of fixation options, as well
as the significant decrease in required inventory
resulting from new internal manufacturing
processes. These constructs are adaptable to
individual patient anatomy, and allow for
adjustment during patient growth.
One of the major modifications has been to
the rib hooks and cradles, which are to be
manufactured in the Brandywine, Pennsylvania,
facility. Two pins are pressed into several
of the current devices which
require very close tolerances
of the pin diameters and
bores that they are
pressed into. The
design change and
manufacturing
process will
integrate the pins
into the device as
one component,
eliminating the
need for an
assembly process.
Finishes on these
configurations of
components are
machined and then
anodized. Providing an
“as machined” surface without
performing secondary finishing operations
(vibratory or bead blast) has been a challenge,
but positive results have been achieved.
by Mariah DiGuglielmo and Brian Dougherty
David Burkhart, Dianne Hosford, Ken Godschall, Mary Shive , Shari Glowacki, Elizabeth M. Wolf, Susan McClain,
Craig Lovell, Brent Oberholtzer, Joseph Kamerdze III, Ryan Freeze, Brad Bouchard, Rob Almy, Dean Padovani,
Bill Neas. Photo by Lem Tyre
3
Race to the Clouds
Through the ages men have sought to conquer
mountains, first on foot, then horseback, then
by wagon, and now using the horsepower of
the modern automobile engine.
The Pikes Peak Hill Climb, also known as
“The Race to the Clouds,” is
one of those events that tackles
just that urge. The second
oldest automobile race in
America (second only to the
Indianapolis 500) it was
first run in 1916.
The 12.42 mile course
starts at an elevation of
9,390 feet and ends at the
summit of Pikes Peak, at
14,100 feet. There are 156
turns along the way, many of them
tight switchbacks that are posted as
10 mph limits for the normal driver. Drivers
pass such places as Devil’s Playground and
sheer drop-off cliffs as they climb to the top.
Each summer since 2008, one of Synthes’ own,
Jesse Neal, a twenty-two year engineering tech
at the Monument plant, has participated in the
hill climb. The first year he ran it solo, in his
1971 Plymouth Barracuda. In 2009 he offered
a friend the opportunity to “ride shotgun.”
4
That first lucky passenger was fellow Synthes
employee, Keith Hendry, an engineer in the
Monument heading department. In 2010
another Synthes employee, Jerry Mullins, a
quality engineer with thirteen years at Synthes,
rode with Jesse.
Jesse, a self-proclaimed motorhead bought the
car in 1999. He and his wife, Lisa Neal— who
is also a Synthes employee and the backbone
of Jesse’s crew, flew back East to see it. They
knew immediately that they were taking the
car home. It had been modified to be fast, but
after bringing it home, Jesse only managed to
make one race before disaster struck. The small
block blew itself to pieces “in a spectacular
fashion.” For three months, the ‘Cuda sat in
the garage, alone and dismantled.
He started over, learning, building and creating
a machine that would not only attempt the Hill
Climb, but which would qualify in vintage road
races as well. History in the making— literally.
The Pikes Peak Hill Climb was a “must-do
race” for Jesse. The location is breathtaking,
the chance to have your name carved into
the record books with names like Unser,
Andretti, Millen, Dallenbach, Vasholtz and
others doesn’t come often, and the challenge
of the mountain itself, undeniable.
He offered Keith the opportunity to ride with
him as a way of saying thanks for crewing at
the previous year’s hill climb and to Jerry as
payback for the guitar lessons he’d been
getting. Jerry is also a motorcycle enthusiast,
and at first, Jesse wasn’t sure the race would
offer enough thrill for Jerry.
But Jesse was up on a north road one day
practicing, and Jerry was there with his bike,
nearly laying it down. Jesse knew he’d found
his partner for the hill.
The Hill Climb itself is a six-day event. The
meetings, parties and get-togethers are fun,
but the meat of it all is the practices and the
race itself.
Drivers are divided into three groups, and each
are assigned a third of the road to run practice
for a day. They switch to a different section
the next day. There are a couple of turns that
aren’t practiced, just because of the logistics
of so many drivers needing the road.
It all begins at 3:30 am in the cold and dark
of the high mountain. All practice runs must
be completed by 8:30 am, as the highway is
opened at 9:00 am to the public, for tourists
to crawl up and down in their sedans and RVs.
Race day is the only time drivers actually
experience the whole course. So surprises are
more common than not. Even those drivers
who have run the course before get a different
taste of it each year, thanks to the City of
Colorado Springs’ ongoing project to pave
larger portions of the road.
And as to the weather— it can be sunny and
dry, cloudy, rainy, muddy — and there have
been reports of snow at that altitude, even
in July. There’s no way to predict the road
conditions from one practice session to the
next, much less the specifics of the race day.
That’s just part of the challenge.
So, race day arrives. Jesse and Jerry are on the
mountain long before dawn thinks of raising
its sleepy head. They’ve ridden up the hill
multiple times, testing, adjusting, learning the
road the best they can.
The car and the men are as prepared as they
can get for what Jerry calls “a ride that’ll
make you scream like a little girl.”
They slip into their required
safety equipment—fireresistant shoes and socks,
2-layer fire suit, gloves,
head sock and helmet.
Then they climb into the
car with the neck and
head restraint system.
Minutes later, two men, a car
and the clock, face off against
the mighty mountain.
Last year the texture of the road, thanks
to the city’s use of Magnesium Chloride to
clear the roads in bad weather, completely
changed. Previously, Jesse had to go up in 3rd
gear, slowing down at least a couple of times
and adding minutes to his time. This time the
car had more grip and a “better feel,” so
Jesse was able to make the full run in 4th gear,
with the pedal to the floor and no slowing.
When they got to the end of their run,
Jerry was awfully glad Jesse knew the
road, as there were a couple places
he’d expected him to slow down.
He didn’t, and Jerry grabbed the
seat to brace himself.
It was the ride of a lifetime.
The ‘Cuda took third place in the Vintage
Class in 2010, with a time of 13 minutes and
54.8 seconds. Not too shabby considering the
first race back in 1916 was won by Fred Junk
with a time of 20 minutes and 4.6 seconds.
The next race, the 89th time the men and cars
will challenge the mountain, is scheduled for
June 26, 2011. You can bet that Jess and the
'Cuda are raring to give it another go. He
hasn't chosen this year’s passenger, though
he’s definitely keeping his eye open.
Any volunteers? Mr. Wyss?
by Angel Smits
5
The MATRIX Spine System
The goal is to provide a comprehensive and
efficient modular spinal deformity/degenerative
correction system that accommodates
innovative surgical techniques in an intuitive
and ergonomic manner.
After successfully launching the Pangea and
Synapse systems, the unified spine focus
became Pangea XT (aka project Gemini,
which eventually became MATRIX 5.5).
The goal of the system was to design
and manufacture Synthes’ first 5.5 mm
diameter rod system, with a singlestage cap for degenerative and
deformity conditions, as well as the
ability to pop the screwhead onto
the bone screw after it is inserted
into the pedicle. The system was
intended to be all inclusive, and the
largest new product launch in Synthes’
history. This new design goal forced the
team to rethink the individual part geometries,
gauging, and manufacturing processes. The
process-driven cell concept, which allows the
same or similar components to be produced
together, has proven to be significantly more
efficient. This concept enables optimization
of resources and easy reaction to changes in
production schedules, while allowing maximum
production levels.
After intense development, a quick turn on
mechanical testing, prototyping, and the
unprecedented concurrent engineering,
Synthes Spine launched MATRIX 5.5. Starting
with implant quality titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-7Nb)
annealed round bar, the manufacturing team
focused on high quality lean processes. The
net result was a significant cycle time and
cost reduction with improved part quality
and throughput.
6
Based on previous process development work
with other machining centers, the latest
robust approaches were introduced not only
to the new MATRIX designs, but also provided
major improvements for the machining of
other systems (i.e. Pangea). Gauging systems
were developed and stringent quality-related
documentation incorporated to check
new features.
As the final design and improvements
progressed, the team began focusing on
the “staking” of the collets used in the body.
The resultant discovery prompted the design
of the dual head orbital riveter for the assembly
operations. MATRIX manufacturing relies on
a long list of extremely tight-tolerance custom
cutting tools. The design of new tooling
resulted in significant savings, a qualified
tool system, and dual sources of supply.
Improvements were also realized in the finishing
operations as well as many other areas in the
manufacturing process. Everyone involved
with launching the Matrix project is extremely
proud of the achievement, and the benefits
provided for patients worldwide.
by Mariah DiGuglielmo and Brian Dougherty
Chester County Futures
“Opportunity and a Plan for Success”
Many Synthes employees volunteer in their
communities, and many times our leadership
makes decisions to contribute to important causes.
Sometimes these endeavors come together! This
was the case for me, Synthes, and an organization
called Chester County Futures (“Futures”). As a
volunteer at Futures, I mentor an at-risk high
school student, with the goal of getting her to
college. A college education is an important step
in breaking the cycle of poverty. I have been
working with the same student since she was in
ninth grade; she is now in her senior year and has
been accepted to the colleges of her choice. But
getting into college isn’t enough— the program
works with seniors such as my mentee to make
sure they apply for all pertinent scholarships and
also keep their grades up. A college program helps
them to stay in college once they get there.
Chester County Futures enrolls students from five
Chester County high schools when they enter
high school, based on low income criteria and
recommendations from guidance counselors. They
must maintain good grades and attend regular
after-school academic enrichment meetings,
in order to stay in the program. They also visit
colleges and attend career fairs, the better to
motivate them to succeed. Early on, each student
is matched with a mentor, whose job it is to
be a friend, coach and sounding board to their
mentee. My mentee and I have gone to the
movies, to plays, and to museums, but we
mostly just meet over a meal and discuss school,
sports, family events, and, of course, the college
application process.
The program works—in its 14 years of
existence, 100% of its students have made
it to high school graduation and 93% have
enrolled in post-secondary schools. Futures’
students have achieved an impressive 82%
college retention rate—32% better than
the national 50% rate for students at all
income levels, and nearly double the national
rate for low-income minority students like those
Futures serves. As word of these achievements
has spread, the number of participating school
districts has grown.
In mid-2010, Rick Gennett, Chairman of
Synthes Trauma, was introduced to Futures
and met with its leadership team and
chairman, Jeremy Allen. Rick came to understand the impact of Chester County Futures;
on a return flight from Switzerland, he presented
the importance of the organization to Synthes
Chairman of the Board, Hansjörg Wyss. The very
next day, Mr. Wyss approved the single largest gift
ever pledged to Futures: $480,000, an eight-year
commitment sponsoring twenty ninth graders.
On September 20, 2010, Futures held a fund raiser,
during which Rick Gennett presented Futures with
a $60,000 check on behalf of Synthes, to cover
the first pledge year. This is yet another reason to
be proud of what our company stands for.
If you are in the Chester County area, you too
can join Synthes in helping this worthwhile
organization. Go to www.ccfutures.org for
more information.
by Samantha Jouin
7
Tour de Synthes
Tours of Synthes facilities have become an
essential part of the introduction to the Synthes
culture. Among other responsibilities, Jill Hayes
and Amanda DeVogel have established an
excellent tour program in Brandywine. The
organizers and guides in all of our facilities
take pride in providing the participants with
a quality visit.
During 2010, 140 tours took place in the
Brandywine manufacturing facility alone. Tour
groups average seven people each, or about
900 visitors per year, and vary in audience;
approximately 105 surgeons, 17 doctors from
China, residents, and nurses visited in 2010.
Synthes Basic Training classes from CMF and
Spine, MBA candidates, co-ops, international
employees, various vendors, and local school
groups also toured.
Spine
Synthes Spine arranged approximately 30 plant
tours in 2010, for a number of surgeon groups.
Each tour was tailored to the specific group and
allowed participants to view several different
product cells, including ProDisc, Hooks and
Screws (i.e. USS Dual Core, Synapse, Pangea,
and MATRIX) and/or VEPTR. Feedback was
positive, with specific appreciation for the raw
material, sophisticated equipment, and plant
personnel. While surgeon visits place emphasis
on product development, providing individuals
Trauma surgeons and consultants during a recent tour: Greg Turnbow, Ben Stewart,
Aaron Bates, MD, Jules Dumas, MD, Kevin Kerlin (RM), Marc Zussman, MD, Jared Deahr,
Gloria Lauria, Customer Management Program Manager
8
an opportunity to tour the plant is extremely
important. A tour allows surgeons and sales
consultants alike to view first-hand the expertise
required to produce a quality product.
CMF
While attending the annual meeting of
neurosurgeons in Philadelphia, Dr. Jorge
Alonso López-Magaña (Mexico City) visited
Synthes, accompanied by Eric Lichtenstein,
Product Manager in CMF neurosurgery.
Dr. López-Magaña commented on the amount
of detail in the manufacturing process, as well
as the equipment and personnel involved.
Dr. Stephen H. Johnson, neurological surgeon,
and his son Geoff, currently a senior at the
University of Pennsylvania (Engineering) and
a Synthes intern, were among the visitors in
2010. Also with the group were Craig Wencis,
Spine Sales Consultant, and Ryan Garrity,
Seacoast Regional Manager. Dr. Johnson and
Geoff commented on the appearance of the
facility and their familiarity with machining
operations. Synthes personnel are honored to
have such esteemed visitors tour the facility.
Trauma
With an eye on the needs of our surgeons,
Synthes Trauma has gone beyond their Trauma
Tour and Technology Review to offer specialty
tours. The first dual specialty tour was held in
August for Hand & Wrist and Foot & Ankle
surgeons. Each anatomic-specific Product Group
had the opportunity to expand on new trauma
and reconstructive implants with presentations,
informal discussions and hands-on sawbones
labs. Feedback was highly positive. As one
consultant commented, “This visit was very
organized, structured, and relevant. PD session
was great. Really showed the surgeons that
the PD personnel are aware of the challenges
of their specific specialty and are looking
for solutions.”
Due to the increasing occurrence of obesity
and diabetes in the US population, the demand
for podiatry procedures has escalated. The
statistics are grim. Diabetes is predicted to
double by 2034, and currently 57% of the
US population is overweight, with one in
six identified as obese. Together or alone
both of these conditions can lead to foot
and/or ankle impairments requiring operative
treatment. Synthes Trauma is responding to
the DPM-trained Foot and Ankle surgeons
with a day dedicated to their surgical needs,
including a cadaver lab featuring our recently
launched 2.4 mm/2.7 mm VA-LCP
Forefoot/Midfoot System.
Trauma’s tours begin with a welcome and
introduction by our VP of Sales, Ken Carpenter,
or Director of Product Development, Colleen
Flesher, and are followed by presentations
that engage the surgeons in Synthes history
and our relationship with the AO. Our legal
counsel gives an overview of the process for
taking a surgeon idea for a new implant or
instrument from concept to development by
“Partnering with Industry.” New and upcoming
products are presented by a Product and
Program Manager, followed by Gloria Lauria
outlining all the “extras” we offer such as
custom implants and online education for
orthopaedic or podiatric residents and operating
room personnel.
A tour of the Tech Center takes surgeons
chronologically through our product development process from CAD drawings, to the
Prototype Shop (fondly referred to as a Home
Depot for surgeons) to our ‘OR’, the Bioskills
lab, and Mechanical Testing. A visit to the
Plant is la cerise sur le gâteau (the cherry on
the cake), as surgeons see our state-of-the-art
equipment and gain an understanding of all
the behind-the-scenes processes involved in
manufacturing implants and instruments.
A full schedule of Trauma and Specialty Tours
is planned for the new year. Alice Sanborn,
Trauma Meeting Coordinator, arranged visits
for nearly eighty surgeons last year and will
be even busier in 2011, as slots are filling
up quickly.
by Mariah DiGuglielmo, Brian Dougherty,
and Gloria Lauria
S yn
the
sM
-F
ra
gm
en
t
Where’s
Graphic Productions?
i ni
The department formerly known as Graphic Productions, Corporate Communications,
or the Marketing Department is now the one-stop shopping, in-house vendor:
Global Marketing Services & Communications.
While our services vary slightly depending on location, our internal customer-oriented structure is consistent.
Dedicated teams (Corporate Communications, Product Communications, Graphics & Production, Distribution,
Web, and eCommerce) with designated Project Managers ensure that all projects are given the same careful
attention. Designing, editing and overseeing the production of fragments is one of our favorite annual projects!
“It's a fascinating and demanding experience between the many different cultures, time zones, languages and
markets.” (Rainer Schlegel, Director MS&C) Learn more about our department, our services, and our personnel, by visiting our recently updated global intranet site: Synthes Intranet–eu > Services > Marketing Services & Communications.
9
CMF Surgical Planning
For craniomaxillofacial surgery, both function
and aesthetics are key objectives for the
surgeon and the patient. Complex
facial reconstructions, due to tumor
resection, deformities or trauma,
can create challenges for the
surgeon trying to provide
optimum results for the
patient. Traditionally,
preoperative planning may
use CT scans and anatomic
bone models, though many
decisions are made in the
operating room. Providing
tools for preoperative planning
allows the surgeon to simulate
the surgical steps and make the
clinical decisions before entering the
operating room. Beyond surgical planning,
providing guidance in the OR will allow the
surgeon to accurately and effectively transfer
the surgical plan to the OR, further enhancing
the surgical outcome.
Over the past five years, the CMF division has
offered our customers various solutions for
preoperative planning. Anatomic Bone Models
are physical representations of the patient’s
anatomy, used to perform tactile surgical
planning such as precontouring and checking
the fit of implants. While this provides good
10
visualization of the anatomy, it does not
allow surgical simulation and optimization.
With Patient Specific Implants, we can provide
surgical planning, as we collaborate with the
surgeon to develop an implant to match the
patient’s anatomy and meet the surgeon’s
goals for aesthetics and function. Although
this service has been very successful, surgeons
need even more advanced tools for visualizing
the patient’s condition, simulating the surgery,
and transferring a virtual plan into the
operating room.
The Synthes CMF Customized Surgical
Solutions team is addressing the growing
need for better visualization and simulation
with the introduction of ProPlan CMF. The
Synthes ProPlan CMF software provides
visualization and functionality for the surgeon
to plan a variety of surgical procedures,
including mandible and maxillary reconstruction,
orthognathics, and distraction osteogenesis.
The software includes a library of our standard
implants, allowing the surgeon to select the
appropriate implant for the surgical plan.
Using this application, surgeons can simulate
the surgery on a computer, before taking a
case to the operating room.
It all starts by importing the patient’s CT data
into ProPlan CMF. The data can then be
segmented, allowing the surgeon to see
specific patient anatomy, such as bone.
ProPlan CMF includes wizards for simulating
surgery. These wizards include an osteotomy
wizard for planning bone resections and a
fibula wizard for optimizing the form and fit
of a fibula graft. By using these functions, the
surgeon can plan the position and angle of
the osteotomies, and then optimize the final
outcome by creating and shaping a virtual
graft to fit the patient.
To support surgeons who are interested in
using ProPlan CMF, but do not have the time
to become proficient in the software, CMF
offers a planning service facilitated by a clinical
engineer. The clinical engineer hosts a web
meeting with the surgeon, operating the
ProPlan CMF software and executing the
surgical simulation under direction by the
surgeon. This allows the surgeon to focus
on the surgical plan and clinical decisions,
while the engineer focuses on following
the surgeon’s directions and operating the
software. The outcome of the planning session
is a surgical plan approved by the surgeon.
For surgical procedures where exposure and
visualization are possible, a physical surgical
guide can be used. The surgical guide is a
patient-specific, single-use instrument that
directs the location and trajectory of drills
and/or saws. Surgical guides help the surgeon
perform an osteotomy, or locate an implant,
as planned during the planning session. The
guide can also be used to maintain occlusion
of the teeth. Specific features of the patient’s
skeletal anatomy or dentition are replicated in
the guide to provide a secure, appropriate fit.
The final result is the execution of preplanned
procedures in the operating room. The key
goals of preoperative planning include reduced
operating time and consistent and predictable
aesthetic results. These goals can be achieved
through informed clinical decisions before
surgery, and the ability to transfer those clinical
decisions to the OR.
The addition of the ProPlan CMF surgical
planning software, planning service, and
surgical guides to our product portfolio
complements our current offering of
customized, patient specific implants. With
ProPlan CMF, we are involved earlier in the
surgical workflow, supporting the surgeon
from initial surgical planning all the way
through surgery. For more information,
go to: http://www.synthescss.com.
by Michael Barthold
11
An Unprecedented PSI
By definition, all of the
900+ Patient Specific
Implants designed by
the CMF PSI team
in 2010 were
unique. The PSI
designed by Joe
Bravo for a show
horse named
Jack can be called
unprecedented.
Jack suffered a
tripod fracture
including an orbital
floor blowout, caused by
running into a tree after he
was startled. The first attempt to
repair the horse’s injured eye with plates
and screws was unsuccessful, as the eyeball
was not fully supported by the orbital floor.
M
F ra
nt
Sy
nt
s
he
ini
e
gm
Dr. Rohit Khosla, a plastic surgeon at Stanford
University, who had recently been reintroduced
to PSI technology during a tour of the Synthes
Tech Center, reached out to the CMF PSI team
for consultation. The PEEK implant was more
complex than most PSIs and took six days
to machine. It was successfully implanted by
Dr. Khosla with the assistance of David Garfinkle,
the local CMF Sales Consultant. Jack has had
a remarkable full recovery and the family is
eternally grateful to Joe, David, and the
supporting cast from Synthes who made
this repair a success!
Local Press
for Synthes Vet
When Kimberly Burke, Synthes Vet Sales Consultant, got the
call from the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center on the
morning of January 29, 2010, she anticipated a phone consultation on
how to fix a fracture on a 1000+ pound horse with Synthes Vet Large Fragment plates and screws. Little did she know that she would be asked to perform a
field consultation on correcting an angular limb deformity on a 70-pound dwarf miniature
horse. The surgery was successfully performed using 3.5 mm plates and screws, which are
uncommonly used by equine surgeons. Tank was standing immediately after surgery without
postoperative complications—always a major concern in equine patients. Synthes was given
public accolades in several local and online publications and Kimberly received a personal letter
from Pennsylvania Senator Andrew Dinniman, thanking her for her contribution to the
success of the surgery.
by Ryan Buck
12
by Ryan Buck
Mobile App
With the continuous evolution of technology,
companies are faced with the challenge of
keeping pace and finding creative ways to
deliver support materials. More and more,
people are relying on their smart phones to
serve not only as a phone, but also as a means
of access to the web, e-mail, text, and social
media. Our society has become much more
mobile, and to keep up, Synthes has created
and launched a cross-divisional mobile application for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.
We are very excited to offer a comprehensive
application that spans our Trauma, CMF,
Spine, and Veterinary divisions. This free
mobile app is available in the US and Canada,
and offers a variety of features to medical
professionals, and our Sales Consultants and
internal employees.
View content without 3G or
WiFi connection
Sales Consultants and medical professionals
can easily access information previously
downloaded to their devices, without the
need for 3G or WiFi connection.
Sales-specific content
In addition to the information available to
the general public, Synthes offers a passwordprotected area containing sales resource tools,
intended to aid in competitive positioning.
This section offers additional information for
Sales Consultants to support their surgeons
and the patients they treat.
Synthes has formatted the content to optimize viewing on the iPod touch,
iPad, and iPhone, respectively
E-mail PDF content from device
Users have the ability to e-mail any PDF product
support files directly from the mobile application,
while connected to the internet.
Content update feature
Users are prompted to update the application
every seven days, to ensure that the most
up-to-date content is always available.
How to Register (two-step process):
1. From a computer (not the mobile device)
– Follow Synthes Intranet link:
http://portal.synthes.com/IT/WPP/MobileReg.aspx
– Select Company
– Click “Register”
– Your ID and Password will be e-mailed to your synthes.com address
2. From the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch
– Launch the Synthes Application
– Click “Settings” then the Account Information tab
– Click “Login information”
– Enter ID and Password that were e-mailed
– Click “Check Connection” to register
– Click “Update” to get the latest Synthes information
– Click “Home” to begin using the application
13
Mobile App continued from page 13
The launch of this multidivisional support
mechanism was monumental for Synthes,
and was no easy feat. Driven by the IT-Multimedia Department, it was an extremely
well-collaborated effort, pulling resources
from many departments, to successfully meet
a target launch for the Trauma and Spine
National Sales Meetings in October and
November 2010, respectively.
Mobile App—CMF
The CMF section of the Synthes USA Mobile
App brings with it a wave of on-the-go information for our busy surgeons, OR personnel
and Sales Consultants. At its introduction, the
App came loaded with thorough information
on all of CMF’s products. Also, key technologies
are highlighted with ample video, literature and
journal abstracts for important new products.
With the aggressive launch date successfully
met, we look forward to the continual growth
of this application. It is intended to serve not
only as a platform for launching new product
support materials, but also regular product
updates and enhancement information. We
are very pleased with the response received so
far, and look forward to the future!
We have buoyed the contents with critical
“Customer Resources” where you will find
comprehensive contact numbers, website links,
and a calendar of important events. The
“Additional Resources” section is reserved
strictly for Synthes Sales Force and contains
a wealth of information, such as the catalog,
price list, internal training and meetings. Sales
Consultants will remain an invaluable resource
to their customers with this information at
their fingertips.
A very special thanks to the many Synthes
groups who contributed to the success of
this project.
by Mariah DiGuglielmo
January
iPad announced by Apple
April
iPad available for sale
May
Project requests from Synthes received by Multimedia
June
Began compiling documentation for pilot
(genesis of project was KYO)
July
Pilot commenced, feedback received and pilot concluded
August – October
Interface and existing content was refined (based on
feedback from pilot phase) and new content developed
October
Software validation
Application approved by Apple
Application added to iTunes
14
Feedback so far is very positive. Consultants
are saying, “wonderful” and “love it!”
Content enhancements are made frequently,
and future waves will include competitive
analyses, additional key technologies to support
new product launches, and much more. So
download and sync up your new Synthes
CMF App!
by Sandy Folta
Mobile App— Spine
At the touch of a finger, Sales Consultants and
medical professionals now have access to a
variety of presentations, PDFs, videos, product
and x-ray images, and product support materials
spanning key clinical areas and products such
as MATRIX Spine, Oracle, and Zero-P. A new
Browse by System feature is also available–
which is a more inclusive extension of Know
Your Options. Interactive Quick Reference
Techniques serve as an OR tool to support
proper technique, as well as a unique way
to host product in-services. This application
can aid in personal education, as well as the
treatment and support of patient care.
Mobile App—Trauma
At the Fall Trauma Sales Meeting, we had the
opportunity to announce the launch of the
exciting new Synthes Mobile Application. For
the first time surgeons and Sales Consultants
have access to product and educational information at their fingertips. The Trauma section
highlights and introduces some of our Key
Technologies, reinforcing the message through
technique guides and videos. In addition to
the Key Technology section, users can browse
products by anatomy, through “Know Your
Options,” and view our comprehensive line of
trauma offerings for anatomical segments
through “Synthes Solutions.”
The Synthes Spine Sales Force has received the
launch of the mobile application with great
enthusiasm, stating that, “this app is exactly
what the sales force needs,” and, “it is the most
useful sales support tool that I’ve ever seen
since coming on board.” This overwhelmingly
positive response is a testimony to the hard
work of many internal teams, and the potential
we have for future growth.
Here are some comments that summarize the excitement:
“This app is amazing, and thank you for this huge resource”
–Sales Consultant
“I just wanted to say my surgeons really like the app. Every
surgeon I’ve told has been impressed that we have one and
with the amount of content.” –Sales Consultant
“It’s a life changer having this information at your fingertips”
–Sales Consultant
“This app is tight” – Ortho Resident
by Rebecca Black
Mobile App for Vet
As part of the October launch of the Synthes
Mobile Application, a dedicated link for Synthes
Vet was created. Although initial functionality
of this link is limited to an overview of the Vet
division, contact information, and direct access
to our eCommerce website, the Synthes Vet
team is anticipating future uses such as online
ordering, access to technique guides and
videos, and additional surgical resources. The
Synthes Vet team believes that these handheld capabilities will be well received by its
entrepreneurial and tech-savvy customer base.
by Ryan Buck
15
2010 Photo Contest Winners
Each year, fragments invites Synthes employees to submit their favorite photos for judging. The judges’ selections are
highlighted on these and the following pages. Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to all the employees who
submitted more than 270 entries.
Best Portrait
John Reilly, SUSA Sales Consultant
Best Use of Color
Niagara Falls, Canada
Nabeel Bhatti, Brandywine
16
Best Use of Light
Allan Kimble, West Chester
Best Pet
Jaime Fiorito, Tech Center
17
Best Wildlife
Great Blue Heron
Loantaka Brook Reservation,
Morristown, New Jersey
John Doyle, West Chester
Best Architecture
St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Italy
Hamilton Durow, Monument
Honorable Mention
Verlatta Edouard, Monument
18
Best Black & White
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Lance Philips, Spine Sales Consultant
Best Action
Near the Matterhorn,
Zermatt, Switzerland
Amanda Randall, Tech Center
Honorable Mention
Andrew Davison, Tech Center
19
Honorable Mention
Yosemite National Park, California
Ken Lessig, West Chester
Honorable Mention
Bryan Harlacker, Elmira
20
Honorable Mention
Kelly Kramer, Tech Center
Honorable Mention
Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii
Brian Dec, West Chester
Honorable Mention
Seward Jonson Sculpture
Grounds for Sculptures Park,
Hamilton, New Jersey
Tanya Brodsky, West Chester
21
Honorable Mention
Maui, Hawaii
Brandon Randall, West Chester
Honorable Mention
Waimea Canyon, Kauai, Hawaii
Brian Dec, West Chester
Honorable Mention
Niagara Falls, Canada
Nabeel Bhatti, Brandywine
22
Synthes Biomaterials Histology and Micro-CT Laboratories
Approximately two years ago, Synthes
Biomaterials moved forward with an initiative
to expand our R&D capabilities through the
build-out of a new histology laboratory. The
primary purpose of this lab is to evaluate and
characterize tissue specimens being generated
by the various preclinical programs within the
Biomaterials organization. Most of these
studies are designed and intended to evaluate
new and innovative technologies in various
stages of development. Typically, these studies
culminate with the collection of tissue samples
which are characterized to determine the
safety and efficacy of the subject device.
Before developing our internal capabilities in
this area, Synthes relied on outside contractors
to provide these services. For a variety of
reasons, a consequence of this was that
histological work was often a bottleneck for
project timelines. Protracted turn-around
times also compromised our ability to make
effective and timely decisions regarding
emerging data proof-of-concept studies
associated with new technologies. Recognizing
these issues, Synthes management made a
strategic decision to restructure the existing
floor plan of the Development Center in West
Chester to dedicate approximately 600 square
feet of space to this new facility. Activities in
the lab are broadly classified into two groups;
micro-computed tomography (CT) and
histological analysis.
Micro CT
In recent years, this technology has become
increasingly important in orthopaedic research.
With these systems, it is possible to quantitatively and qualitatively assess mineralized tissues
in three dimensions, with an extremely high
level of accuracy and precision. The Scanco
μ-CT 80 system we acquired is capable of
resolving details down to an 18 μm voxel size.
Using this system, explanted tissue specimens
can be scanned and quantified within
days after retrieval. This is in contrast
to any type of histological processing
which can take weeks or months
under the best circumstances. This
system can also be used to interrogate
nonmineralized and nonbiologic materials such as structural polymers. In
fact, the system has been instrumental
in the development of several critical
initiatives. The ability to accurately
and rapidly generate data has been
essential in quickly moving through
iterative development processes, and
has shortened development timelines
considerably when compared to traditional
engineering and analytical methods.
Histology
The lab is completely outfitted for
performing all phases and types of
histological work, including both
paraffin and plastic embedded sections.
For plastic embedding, a complete
Exakt tissue processing system was
acquired. This system includes equipment for processing and embedding
tissues, followed by sectioning on band
saws and grinding and polishing slides
for final slide preparation. A brace of
Olympus microscopes outfitted with
high-resolution digital cameras and a
specialized software package for generating
quantitative histomorphometric data
complete the operation.
In summary, the new histology lab
has been a very welcome addition
to the Biomaterials organization.
Not only has it enhanced and
complemented our existing in-house
analytical capabilities, but it has also
resulted in timely, high-quality work
at reduced operational costs.
by Robert Harten
Histological images of bone
(red) growing into a porous
PEEK structure
Micro-CT image of a polymer
injected around a hip-screw
in a mini-pig femur
Micro-CT image of healing
bone defects in a rat skull
23
Synthes Heroes—Above and Beyond
In the spring of 2010, Synthes USA
was presented with two awards by the
National ESGR Organization. Chris Lockett
received the “Patriot Award” in recognition
IV Hall, Michel Orsinger,
Paul Murach and Ken Carpenter
of his outstanding support of an employee
in the National Guard or Reserve Forces,
and Synthes USA was presented with the
“Above and Beyond Award” in recognition of their support (above and beyond
that required by federal law) of their
employees in the National Guard and
Reserve Forces.
When Duty Calls
On the evening of December 17, 2008, I
arrived home at 1:00 am after a long day
of covering cases in my northwest Georgia
S
t
yn
s
he
M
ini
-F
m
rag
territory.
To my
surprise,
I was
greeted
by a large
certified-mail
envelope from the
United States Department
of Defense. Immediately a knot began to
grow in my stomach— I knew what this
was, and that the next year of my life was
about to take a dramatic turn.
I had previously served five years on Active
Duty in United States Army, as part of an
eight-year commitment for accepting an
ROTC scholarship that paid for my college
tuition. For my final three years, I had
chosen to serve in the IRR (Inactive Ready
Reserve), a sort-of emergency force, only to
be called upon if the United States military
ever had a critical shortage of manpower.
I was in my second year of service in the
IRR when I received this letter – the
seventh year of my eight-year obligation.
When I opened the certified letter from
the DOD, it contained official military orders
calling me back to active duty, for a
12-month deployment in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
e nt
Five minutes to save a life!
Five minutes of terror ended happily recently, thanks
to Mike Connolly, a third-shift machinist in the Brandywine plant.
When a seven-year-old boy choked on a marshmallow after church in January, his
father couldn’t clear the boy’s throat before the lad passed out. The father scooped up
his son and ran into the church for help. Mike’s wife Emily, who is certified in CPR, began the
Heimlich maneuver but wasn’t strong enough to dislodge the marshmallow. She called for Mike,
who is also CPR certified, and after seven upward thrusts, the boy began to cough. “I heard him
cough a little bit and he started to cry, and it was so good to hear him cry,” Mike said.
24
The knot in my stomach grew, for I knew
that I had to wake my wife and inform
her that I would be leaving for a year —
again — to another combat zone.
I crept into our bedroom, and broke
the news as gently as I could.
My orders required me to report for
duty on February 22, 2009, a little
more than two months after receiving
them. My first concern was for my wife,
Amanda, but she is a tough cookie—
we had been through this before, in 2005,
when, after having been married for only a
month, I deployed to Iraq for 12 months with
the United States Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.
My second concern was for my job and the
business I had grown in my territory. I immediately called my Regional Manager, Chris Lockett,
and informed him of the situation. Chris took
the news quite well—his first concern was for
me and my well-being. In the ensuing days
before my deployment, Chris hired a tenured
ASC, Joe Starnes, to look after my territory
while I was gone. He then ensured, with the
help of our HR department, that all administrative functions continued in my absence and
that my transition to the military was seamless.
During my deployment, Chris and Joe worked
tirelessly to ensure that my territory was well
taken care of and all my surgeons’ needs were
met. Chris went above and beyond what was
expected of a regional manager when, during
the heavy rains in September of 2009—while
I was still deployed—my backyard began to
flood and threatened to flood my house. Chris
drove over to my house, in the torrential rain,
and dug trenches in my backyard to alleviate
the flooding—much to the relief of my wife.
This is but one example of the overwhelming
support I received from Synthes and my
coworkers during my deployment. All of the
e-mails, letters, care packages, and administrative support I received from Synthes, as well
as the piece of mind provided by Chris and
Joe, were the critical components in ensuring
that I was able to complete my military mission
and return home safely in early 2010.
by Paul Murach
Sy
h
nt
es
ni
i
M
-
gm
F ra
e nt
Thanks to Dr. David Beigler,
who sent Kevin Kerlin an e-mail
praising Dave’s heroism, we are able to
embarrass David Schmidt, SUSA-411, with
the following report.
One Monday in June 2010, Dave was on his way
between cases and hospitals in the Chicago suburbs.
Talking to his wife on his cell phone while sitting at a stop
sign, he saw what he thought was dust from construction
beyond a house across the street. When he realized that it was
actually smoke from the burning house, Dave told his wife,
“Gotta go, there’s a house on fire,” and hung up to call 911.
Checking for anyone at home, Dave and a passing bicyclist
hammered on doors, heard voices, and finally convinced two fearful
little boys to open the door and come out of the house. When asked
repeatedly if there was anyone else there, they answered “no”
several times, before one said, “Where’s our brother?” So Dave
opened the door and yelled, until the third and youngest child ran
up from the basement and out the door.
Dave got their mother’s cell phone number
from the boys, and called to tell her the boys
were safe at a neighbor’s, her house was
on fire, and the fire department was on
the way. Fire engines arrived within
about five minutes of the 911 call.
Dave then called to tell his surgeon,
Dr. Beigler, why he was late. Meanwhile,
Dave’s wife worried as she tried to call
him for about an hour after he hung
up on her.
25
Search and Rescue–On the Right Track
Almost 20 years ago, Chuck Wooters, a
Senior Designer for Trauma graphic cases,
began search and rescue (SAR) with his first
German Shepherd Dog, Tikki. “My interest
started because I wanted to work with my
dogs outdoors, and has continued because it’s
a beautiful, amazing thing to watch and learn
what these dogs are capable of doing,” he
states. Currently, he and his wife have seven
German Shepherds that are retired
SAR dogs, operational working dogs, or
puppies in training. Chuck trains his own
dogs, which are certified similarly to police
dogs in tracking and human scent, water
search, and wilderness rescue. His dogs hold
multiple certifications with the International
Police Working Dog Association, the PA Police
Canine Association and the National Association
for Search and Rescue. With his dog Falco by
his side, Chuck has gone across the country
and into the wilderness of Canada to search
for missing people. All search results may not
always be what the family of the missing
person hopes for. While working with the
police, Chuck and Falco recently found the
hidden burial location of a local West Goshen
man who was allegedly murdered by his wife,
in a highly publicized “lover’s triangle.” Chuck
is part of the Search and Rescue Dogs of PA,
which is a nonprofit group that is listed with
the 911 Emergency Services. They are available
as a resource for police, fire, park and forest
services at no charge. To learn more, visit their
web page at www.sardogs.org.
by Janice Garnett
40th Anniversary
of the First AO Course in the U.S.
In March 1970, at the Fawcett Center for Tomorrow in Columbus,
Ohio, the first AO course was held in the United States. Orthopaedic legends
such as Howard Rosen and Joe Schatzker were on the faculty list, as US orthopaedic
surgeons were now able to learn about the AO principles of fracture fixation without having
to make the long trek to Davos, Switzerland. But why were world-renowned veterinarians Jacques
Jenny and Bruce Hohn also listed as faculty? The reason was that this was billed as an AOVet course.
From 1970 to 1974, veterinarians and human orthopaedic surgeons were trained together at the AOVet course
held in Columbus each year. It was not until 1975 that the first solo human course was held in Chicago, Illinois.
The AOVet course in Columbus is the largest and longest standing AO course in the US. Each year, approximately
250 veterinarians from resident programs, private practice, and academia travel to Columbus to learn about the basic and
advanced principles of large and small animal fracture fixation. Due to the growing popularity of the Columbus course, a second
US AOVet course was added in 2007 in La Jolla, California. Synthes Vet proudly supports both of these courses each year!
by Ryan Buck
26
Elmira Veterans
George Washington once said, “The willingness
with which our young people are likely to serve
in any war, no matter how justified, shall be
directly proportional to how they perceive the
veterans of earlier wars, and how they are
treated and appreciated by their nation.”
When we think of heroes, we may think of
those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, those
whose names appear for receiving our country’s
highest award, the Medal of Honor. It has been
written, “Courage is almost a contradiction in
terms. It means a strong desire to live taking
the form of readiness to die.” Those who have
died were not thinking about being heroic.
They were just trying to do what their country
called for them to do.
Air Force: Front row: Kristie Sackett, R.J. Mack, Michael Keegan; second
row: Dave Coolbaugh, Steve Howell, Mitch Rought, Robert Bydairk (not in
photo: John Cowilich, Al Lukowski, Jeremy Smith)
As veterans working for Synthes here at Elmira,
and at other Synthes plants, we always
remember those we served with. We may
not have made the ultimate sacrifice, but we
did make sacrifices. They may have been on
the sands of Iraq or in the jungles of Vietnam,
or even on the seas of the world, or the skies
above. Our thanks go out to every veteran who
has made some sacrifice for his or her country.
by Clyde Lahnum
Navy: Front row: Don Wheaton, Clyde Lahnum, Joseph Whitney, Robert
Sharp; second row: Kevin White ( Air Force), Eldon Smith, Chris Wiehe,
Ron Becker, Joel Buice, Jesse Knox (Army). (not in photo: Tim Benesh)
Army: Front row: Jeff Johnson, Kevin Hakes, Richard Gaboriault, Edwin Cubero, Robert
Poulin, Aaron Markle; second row: Kevin Spring, Matthew Bryant, Howard Brown, Jonathan
Cortright, Therold Davenport, Keith Cole (not in photo: Ron Baker, Robert Bonyak, Brian
Carrigan, Marty Fuller, Jesse Knox, Charles Sweeney, Lyle Vargeson, Nicholas Vitulli)
Marines: Front row: Clyde Lahnum (Coast Guard),
David Embury; Second row: Michael Sykora, Chad
Williams, Kevin Morgan
27
People Profiles
Lois Suhrie
Lois Suhrie has been working with Synthes for
25 years in various integral positions. As the
Director of Nursing Continuing Education
for much of the last decade, she has led the
department through many changes,
milestones and accomplishments.
Lois divides her professional
life into two separate
successful careers–clinical
nursing in the operating
room environment, and
the medical industry.
She started her O.R.
career as a staff nurse,
took on progressive
middle-management
positions, finally becoming
a Director of Surgical Services
and Critical Care. Lois was introduced
to Synthes while planning the opening of a
new hospital. The orthopaedic surgeons insisted
that she purchase only Synthes internal
fixation systems.
At Synthes, Lois has worn many hats. She
started her journey serving as a technical
consultant to the small 70-member sales force,
assisted with sales training, and attended the
occasional Operating Room Personnel (ORP)
course. As Synthes grew, Lois became National
Training Manager for Trauma Sales Training,
managed the Trauma division’s meetings,
conventions and trade shows, and, for a short
time, served as Product Manager for Epiguard,
a wound dressing product that Synthes no
longer offers. Lois also set up and managed
the Trauma division’s New Technology Symposia
physician education offerings. Concurrent
with all of these roles, Lois has maintained
her interest and involvement with nursing
continuing education.
28
Under Lois’ direction, the number of ORP
courses has grown and the courses have
become specialized for not only Trauma,
but Craniomaxillofacial and Spine. In addition
to major ORP courses, the department also
offers local Bioskills Workshops, and accredited
online continuing education on the Skeletal
Simulations website. The department is
accredited to be its own provider of continuing
education for registered nurses and surgical
technologists, and issues over 5,000 certificates
a year. Lois thinks that one of the strengths of
Nursing Continuing Education is that providing
education is an ethical way to positively
influence business and satisfies what is the
most important goal of Synthes– to improve
patient care.
Originally from Paterson, New Jersey, Lois
attended college and initially worked in the
Washington, DC, area. She moved to Chicago
for her first medical industry job, and 25 years
ago, moved back east to work with Synthes.
(Currently the Nursing Continuing Education
offices are located in Paoli, Pennsylvania). In
her free time, Lois enjoys interior design, laying
claim to the distinction of earning a Certificate
of Interior Design from Temple University. Lois
relishes the opportunity to travel anywhere
there is sun, sand and a warm ocean to sit
next to or wade into. Lois enjoys reading and
travelling with friends. She is very close with
her sister and likes spending time with her
nieces and nephews.
by Lauren Hysek
Tony Wilkes
Tony gained his hands-on approach to
engineering and his passion for launching new
products during his college years, when he
participated in Penn State’s engineering Co-Op
program, working for Hershey Foods and
McNeil Consumer Products. His assignments
ranged from pushing cast-iron bathtubs full
of molten chocolate across the factory, to
watching focus groups, from behind a twoway mirror, review products he helped to make.
He also participated in two undergraduate
research projects in the fields of petroleum
recovery and refining.
After Tony received his B.S. in Chemical
Engineering from Penn State University in
1996, Tony began his engineering career as
a process and product development engineer
for Orthovita, a start-up medical device
manufacturer. He was involved in the early
research and development of the Cortoss
and Vitoss product lines, and he contributed
to the build-out of a GMP manufacturing
facility with aseptic suites to support the
commercialization and launch of these new
products. In his six years at Orthovita, Tony
advanced to the level of Senior Engineer II,
with responsibility for two direct reports.
Tony joined Synthes in 2003 as a process
engineer for Norian, during the move from
Cupertino to West Chester. During his eight
years with Synthes, Tony has been one of
the driving forces behind the growth of
Biomaterials’ product pipeline. Currently,
he is an Engineering Supervisor for Norian
manufacturing, managing a group of manufacturing engineers, a packaging engineer,
and technicians. In 2008, Tony received his Six
Sigma Black Belt certification. Since then, he
has coached or assisted seven other engineers
to receive their Green Belt certification.
Tony gained valuable experience from his
involvement with the transfer of Norian
Corporation, which has been instrumental
to the successful transfer of manufacturing
from Switzerland for several products, such as
ProDisc-L in 2005, and chronOS preforms in
2007. His group has been responsible for the
manufacturing for numerous new product
launches including ProDisc-C, SynPor Porous
Polyethylene, chronOS Strip, Fiber-Reinforced
Norian and the Bone Marrow Aspiration
System (BMAS). Tony’s German language skills,
learned from five years of study in high school
culminating with a two-week exchange to
Germany, have also aided in these efforts.
Participating in the launch of new products
is very motivating to Tony. He feels a sense
of accomplishment when products he has
helped to bring to market end up
in the hands of surgeons and
ultimately improve
patients’ lives.
An avid rugby player
in his college days,
Tony now enjoys
spending time with
his children, Jacob,
Gabriel, and Sarah,
and stepson Daniel.
His varied interests
include playing poker,
hiking, listening to music,
and video games. Someday he
would like to learn how to fly an
airplane, and travel to see the world.
by Linette Keynton
29
People Profiles
continued
Harold Guay
Harold Guay began his career with Synthes in
January 1999, as a consultant in the Central
Québec Region, where he carried all
Synthes product lines. Before
Synthes, Harold had completed
a business degree at University
of Laval in Québec City,
and also had ten years of
experience working for a
total joint and biologics
orthopaedic company.
During his Basic Sales
training in Paoli, Harold
finished first in all three
divisions, Trauma, Spine
and CMF, even though English
is his second language! As a
consultant, Harold received the
President’s award twice, was Canadian
senator in CMF, and was designated by his
Canadian peers to be the first speaker of the
first Canadian Sales Senate. Harold was
promoted to Trauma Regional Manager for
the Province of Québec in June 2009. Most
recently, Harold was honored as 2010
Manager of the Year, for his contribution to
maintain and grow Synthes business, in an
area where tenders are now a requirement,
under a new law in the province of Québec,
since 2009. 30
Even though Harold reports to the Trauma
business manager, he works closely with
managers and consultants in CMF and Spine
as well, in the entire province of Québec. His
sales team is composed of nine consultants,
who serve a population of eight million people
spread over a large geographical territory.
Harold and Guylaine, his wife of twenty years,
have a daughter, Elisabeth, who will turn 18
in April. He and his wife enjoy motorcycling,
golfing and traveling together. In addition to
the time he spends with his family, Harold is a
fan of the Montréal Canadiens hockey team,
and likes to tease his friends from Toronto
(especially the biggest Maple Leafs fan—
Mike Mikola!). His favorite sport is definitely
golfing; he plays all summer and likes to
make a couple of golf trips with his wife and
friends every year—away from snow! Harold
is very involved in his close community, and
feels it’s important to give to others a little of
the good things he gets from life.
by Cynthia Kenny
Kim Gagnon
Kim started her career with Synthes nine years
ago as a cost accountant, bringing with her
seven years of experience. From there, Kim
was promoted to Cost Accounting Supervisor
in 2007. Her major goal in her professional
life is to become Cost Accounting Manager,
or Plant Controller, which would be a huge
advancement from her very first job making
hoagies for Bandit Truck Stop.
The most rewarding aspect of her job is being
part of a company whose products help so
many people and animals. Jacob, Kim’s yellow
Labrador retriever, is a recipient of a Synthes
plate in his hip. Another of Kim’s goals for the
future is volunteering at animal shelters.
Originally born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania,
Kim now resides in Elmira Heights, New York.
At some point in time, she would like to live
Melissa Kucharik
While Melissa Kucharik was attending Cornell
University, a classmate was involved in a serious
auto accident and became the recipient of
numerous medical device implants. This event
sparked Melissa’s quest to enter a career that
would benefit humanity. Soon after, Melissa
began her introduction to the Synthes world,
focusing on process improvement within
the Spine Product Development team. Her
initial responsibilities included evaluation of
the current product development process,
subsequent development, and execution
of design for Six Sigma training. Melissa
then moved into Operations, expanding her
knowledge of Synthes through various projects
that included research, budgeting, and
presentation development.
Her next assignments led to the role of
Production Supervisor within the Brandywine
Finishing and Packaging Department, with
about 30 direct reports. Melissa soon found
that it is sometimes difficult to meet all business
units’ needs simultaneously, although she
recognizes this as a special challenge. There
in Carmel, California. One of the greatest
challenges in Kim’s personal life was
working full time while going to
college full time, and she is most
proud of the fact that she paid
her own way through college.
As a result, Kim now holds a
Bachelor of Science in
accounting from Wilkes
University in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Kim has been married to her
husband Gil for nine years, and has
two wonderful stepdaughters. In her
free time, Kim enjoys hiking in the woods
with her dog, reading, traveling, visiting
family, and participating in various
exercise classes.
by Holly Baker
are many stringent requirements for the
appearance of our products, and an incredible
level of activity every day.
Fascinated with the endless abilities of the
computer age, Melissa is able to utilize the
Management Science and Information
Technologies degree from Pennsylvania State
University in her daily activities. What’s next?
As a rotational MBA candidate, Melissa
continues to focus on the operations
at Synthes, medical device
markets, and enjoys every
minute of each assignment.
Having earned a fellowship
while at Cornell University,
Melissa found that the leadership education she received has
been extremely helpful in pursuing
and achieving her goals. In the
midst of all of the goings-on,
involvement, and hustle-and-bustle at
Synthes, Melissa still finds time to relax,
unwind, and participate in many enjoyable
activities with her husband, Brian.
by Brian J. Dougherty
31
People Profiles
continued
Andrew Zunino
From his first job in the mushroom houses with
his father, to AMT in 1992, and finally to
Synthes in 2006, it’s been clear to his coworkers
that Andrew Zunino is a dynamic individual.
His easy-going manner and adaptability have
made him a great asset to the Synthes family.
Perhaps Andrew’s greatest trait is his
adaptability. Earlier in his career, Andrew
worked in accounting, inventory control,
and then inspection. He credits this wide
variety of positions to having supervisors who
have always been supportive as he sought out
new challenges. Ultimately, Andrew would
like to use his skills to work with compliance
and auditing.
When talking about Synthes, Andrew’s greatest
feeling of accomplishment comes from knowing
that he has helped to make a product that
will contribute to the well being of a patient.
Receiving the e-mail ‘thank you’s from
surgeons after a successful surgery reinforces
this for him. He feels his greatest challenge is
in finding a balance between his work and his
personal life, which he has managed to
accomplish through an unusual pastime.
In the summer of 2005, Andrew decided he
needed to find a way to meet new people,
and have fun while doing it. He found this in
what many would consider to be an unusual
place, the world of ballroom dancing. Taking
ballroom dance lessons proved to be the fun
way to meet new people he had been looking
for, and has also turned into another area in
his life where he excels.
In 2006, Andrew and his dance partner
entered his first competition, as a result of a
lost bet. He competed in his third competition
with her on October 23, 2010, placing first.
Andrew’s favorite dance is whichever he
happens to be best at in the present moment,
but he prefers the cha-cha, overall. Competing in the Ohio Star Ball, the largest dance
competition in the country, is a goal for the
future.
Andrew celebrated five years with Synthes
when the Jennersville facility reached its fifth
anniversary in February 2011. We look
forward to having him with us for many more
years to come!
by Meghan Conan
32
Christoph Roth
Christoph (Chris) Roth was born and raised in
southwestern Germany. His strong work ethic
was cultivated there, when he started working
at the young age of six! His very first job was
to harvest grapes at a local vineyard with other
local kids. The kids all got paid by the bucket.
Throughout high school and university, Chris
enjoyed playing soccer and handball. This is not
the typical American handball you are thinking of.
European handball, also known as team handball or field handball, is an Olympic sport similar
to soccer, but where players use their hands.
Chris attended university in Germany and in
England, majoring in medical engineering. During
his college years, when he wasn’t studying or
playing sports, he was working as a paramedic.
From an early age, Chris knew he wanted to
work in the medical field.
In 1992, Chris came to the United States for
the first time, to complete an internship at
the University of Delaware. It was during this
internship that Chris met his wife, Jen. He
returned home after his internship, but came
back to the US in 1994 to attend graduate
school at the University of Delaware, where
he studied biomechanics.
Chris and Jen were married in 1997. They like
to celebrate big— they had two weddings, one
in the US and one in Germany! Chris attributes
his successes to Jen, and says he could not be
who he is today without her support. Chris and
Jen have three beautiful children, 12-year-old
Jonathan, 10-year-old Charlotte, and 7-year-old
William. The kids each have a favorite pastime:
Jonathan plays soccer, Charlotte has a love of
horses, and William has a love of Legos!
Maybe he’ll be an engineer like his dad.
Chris joined Synthes in 1999, and has had an
extensive career path in Trauma, Spine, and CMF.
His first position was as an engineer in Trauma
Product Development in the US, in the Ex Fix
group. He then moved to the IM Nail group,
where he led the TFN project.
Chris joined the Spine division in 2003, as Group
Manager of the cervical group. He spent four years
with this group, developing the Vectra family
of anterior cervical plates and the Synapse and
OC Fusion systems. He then moved to Oberdorf
in 2007, to become Senior Group Manager for
lumbar interbody fusion and nonfusion products.
In 2008, Chris left Spine to become Director of
Product Development for CMF in Oberdorf.
In 2010, he returned to the US,
and is now the Director of
Product Development for
CMF in West Chester,
Pennsylvania. Since
then, CMF has
completed the launch
of the various craniofacial and thoracic
Matrix systems, introduced a xenograft soft
tissue repair product,
and is now gearing up to
enter the field of computerbased surgical planning and
patient-specific surgical kits.
Balancing work and life is important to Chris. In
his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, mountain
biking, Formula One racing, and working on home
projects such as woodworking and fixing old
furniture. This is a pastime familiar to his family—
both his dad and grandfather were cabinetmakers.
Chris finds enjoyment in the outdoors, and one
of his greatest pleasures is camping with his
family, where he can escape his Blackberry, cell
phones and televisions, and just rough it.
For Chris, the greatest reward in working at
Synthes is to make a difference for patients and
our surgeons. Whether it is a single small screw
or a large implant system, identifying a need,
working through the development challenges,
and then seeing the final product helping people
is his greatest reward. Chris’s hopes for Synthes’
future is to see success in what Synthes does
today and to make a difference in the future.
by Dana Connor
33
People Profiles
continued
Michael Shufelt
Picture this. A warm, sunny afternoon, kicked
back on a Harley, the Rocky Mountains on
either side of the road, the summer air cool but
not cold. Telluride is just a few miles up the
road. That’s the ideal moment for Mike Shufelt.
Looking at Mike, you’d never think he was
one of the long-timers who work at Synthes.
He just received recognition for 30 years of
service, but he’s nowhere near retirement, or
old age. Mike started working in Monument
in April of 1980 as a machine operator at the
ripe old age of eighteen. For a long time he was
by far the youngest employee in the place.
Back then it “was more like a big
family.” Everyone wore jeans
and T-shirts to work. This was
long before uniforms. And
the shoes—everyone
wore tennis shoes that
would inevitably curl up
from all the oil they
absorbed. Today’s safety
managers would
“freak” over a lot of
things that were done
back then. Now it’s not as
homey, with hundreds of
employees instead of the 22
when Mike started. But Mike believes
in what he does, in what the company does
for patients. Family is still an important part of
his job, though. A single parent, both Mike’s
sons have worked at Synthes, and his older
brother is a fellow employee.
34
A few years ago, he was able to witness a
surgery where two of the nails he’d made
were given to a young woman who’d been in
a motorcycle accident. Mike saw firsthand
what he’d been able to give her, what Synthes
had done to improve her life and care.
Mike continues to be an active part of the
growth of Synthes. He helped set up the
Elmira plant back around 2001, and just
completed his second trip to China as part of
the team getting the plant at Suzhou set up.
Mike felt China was a good experience. He
appreciated seeing another culture head on,
seeing the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square,
but mostly he enjoyed the people. “They’re
no different than us,” he says. “They’re maybe
even more interested in us than we are them.”
In China, Mike spent a large chunk of his time
as a teacher, showing the Suzhou staff how
to run the machines and make the parts. He
still stays in contact with many of them and
feels he’s made friends around the world. So
despite his love of his bike and the road, he’ll
keep coming back to Synthes to work because,
for Mike, it’s about the people: his coworkers,
as well as those who benefit from our work.
And as long as that remains true, so will Mike.
by Angel Smits
Vinny Lesniewski
Vinny Lesniewski joined Synthes in 2001—
since then, he has held positions in CMF,
Biomaterials, and Spine. In 2007, Vinny
switched gears and moved into the field to
serve as a Field Technical Specialist (FTS) and
was recently promoted to Manager, Field
Technical Support. This position allows Vinny
to provide technical support for some of the
more challenging and technically demanding
surgical procedures, including ProDisc-L,
ProDisc-C, Oracle and MATRIX MIS.
Though this Massachusetts native has found
much joy and success as a member of the FTS
team, the territory comes with its challenges.
Because his main responsibility is providing
technical support for IDE studies and surgical
procedures utilizing new product, new
technique, or new approach, Vinny’s biggest
challenge is the constant learning experience. In
addition to staying on top of new technologies,
Vinny has also experienced challenge with the
differing OR environments, and the personalities
within each. But with great challenge comes
great reward! Vinny finds value and reward
in the many opportunities that have been
presented, allowing him to learn from thought
leaders throughout the world, and thrives on
his ability to transfer knowledge and experience
to the Sales Consultants, to better help the
surgeons and patients they serve. He truly
finds joy in the success stories, and believes
that strong relationships, combined with
innovative products and technical support,
will continue to open doors.
Vinny has found a great fit with Synthes,
and is quick to mention the great personal
friendships and business relationships he has
developed along the way. As described by
his peers, Vinny is kind, patient,
approachable, knowledgeable,
and a great educator.
These characteristics are
demonstrated in his
day-to-day activities,
whether he is training
a new hire, participating in a bioskills
laboratory activity, or
supporting a surgical
case. Those who have
had the pleasure of
working with Vinny know
that he has impacted the
lives of many people.
Although Vinny has done his share of traveling
for work — more than 120,000 air miles in
2010—this has not deterred him from traveling
with his family. Vinny is a true family man who
enjoys weekend summer trips to the Jersey
shore (where he likes to jet ski) with his wife,
Bridgette, and daughters, Kaitlyn, Abigail, and
Erin. We wish Vinny the very best as he tackles
this new chapter in his professional career as
Manager, Field Technical Support.
2010
Ret
ire
Best wishes for an enjoyable retirement,
es
to the following folks who retired in 2010.
Donna Bell
Rodger Bovenkerk
Vivian Brown
William Burke
William Cadwell
James Cay
Courtney Edwards
Leoncio Flores
Frances Forbes
Thomas Higgins
Peter Kellermann
Virgil Kvaal
Brian Mannix
Betty O’Reilley
Mack Parker
Christopher Pearce
Albert Ragazzo
Lael Ravenscroft
Marjorie Seamon
Edward Sweeney
Joan Vagnoni
Arnold Valle
35
Leadership Connections
Since the 2008 inception of Leadership
Connections, a multilevel global leadership
development program, the course has had
an impact on the company, by improving the
capacity of Synthes leaders to transform
the organization.
Leadership Connections is tailored to the
Synthes culture and designed to meet its
varied needs. The program targets those
in management roles in every area of the
organization and at every global location.
The goal is to develop Synthes leaders using
a unified philosophy and approach, grounded
by a set of Leadership Behaviors that define
what it means to be a leader at Synthes.
These Leadership Behaviors are based on
Synthes Core Values & Principles, and were
developed as a result of interviews with forty
leaders at all levels of the global organization.
The program architecture includes three
levels, to include almost all Synthes leaders:
business/functional leaders, leaders of leaders,
and leaders of individuals. For all levels, the
program includes preparation work, two
instructor-led workshops, and action learning
assignments that encourage participants to
transfer leadership skills learned in the class to
36
their daily work activities. The workshops are
interactive and combine experiential exercises,
opportunities for self-reflection, and group
discussions. Participants also cite interaction
with upper management as one of the most
beneficial aspects of the program. In all classes,
participants are mixed with colleagues from
different divisions and functional groups;
in many classes, participants are also mixed
with colleagues from other parts of the globe.
This approach is intended to encourage leaders
to develop new relationships across the
organization, breaking down silos and
improving company-wide collaboration
and communication.
By the end of 2011, most Synthes leaders will
have participated in the existing Leadership
Connections core program. Also in 2011,
elective courses and additional resources will
be available.
As this new program continues to evolve, it is
clear that Synthes is creating a commitment
to leadership development to complement its
long-established dedication to excellence in
technical, process and product training.
by Lauren Hysek
Service Awards
A total 658 employees were honored in 2010, in the
US and Canada, including 180 who celebrated 10 years
and 329 who celebrated 5 years of service.
20 years
30 years
Robert W. Boudreau
Gary L. Gonser
Robert M. Lucero
Jean L. McGuire
James A. Pierce
Darek W. Reichert
Stephen Schwartz
Cynthia Shillinglaw
James W. Shufelt
Michael E. Shufelt
David M. Sparks
Steven D. Steinke
Helga M. Swain
15 years
Patricia Abrahams
Stacy Alexander
Robert Bennett
Scott R. Berner
Kevin M. Booth
Michael Bradshaw
Patrick Burgess
Lisa K. Byram
B. Kristen Carr
Theresa R. Cooke
Dennis A. Cox
Henry J. Davis
James Dwyer
Gerard W. Gardner
25 years
Thomas Barrett
Stephen R. Beckett
Dennis Brady
Alan Burrus
Joyce A. Dickerson
Courtney Edwards
Daniel R. Gennett
Kevin Kerlin
Timothy Kozlowski
John D. Palmer
Vicki L. Pevoteaux
Ruth A. Snider
Margaret Ann Hellmann
Todd C. Hemple
Winifred Jefford
Hal Jennings, Jr.
Christopher F. Jones
Frank Korzen
Darek Krepuszewski
Steven Krevitski
George Kubica
Reese Lambert
Michael Wayne Lillie
John Lowe
Gregory Maier
Robert Marsh
Timothy Menke
John Wayne Mest
Randel K. Agnew
Joel Ambrose
Alec Androwick
Mary Lou Beatrice
Scott Bednarke
James J. Campbell
Gordon Conrad
Thomas J. Cook
Dorothy B. Deemer
Robert Donohue
Rod Elkins
John Louis Fernandes
Curtis M. Frund
Richard J. Gallo
John A. Glynn
Ross J. Hamel
Nancy H. Holmes
Douglas Kephart
Michael Lacey
Michael Mikola
Paul J. Mulloy
Steven F. Murray
James Norman
Karen Papa
Richard Parker, Jr.
David Pastian
Marilyn J. Perry
Stacey M. Pretzeus
Stephen D. Price
Jayne E. Randall
Shelly Ray
William J. Reichard, Jr.
Robert Rice
Frank Richardson
Robert B. Rosing
Chuck Lancaster
Thomas C. Lichtner
Craig W. Lynn
Michael C. Mazzio
Sandra L. McBride
John J. Milles
Elizabeth O’Reilley
James L. Oxford
Wilson Reason, Jr.
Harvey Roney
Robert L. Smethers
Constance F. Stone
Susan E. Tipton
Rock Viau
Steven M. Voivodas
Nancy Wagner
Gary E. Welch
Randall D. Whelan
Joan Wilson
Julie P. Wilson
Sean Michael Rousseau
Heather M. Rylander
Eric Schroeter
Joseph Seiler
Matthew Shapcott
Kevin E. Shaver
Kevin Stone
David A. Styer
Daniel L. Tamblyn
Timothy J. Tusick
Kurt Van Remortel
Daniel J. Vanryn
David A. Walker
Bonnie Wallace
Steven White
37
In Memoriam
Diane Reed
Synthes Elmira lost an exceptional employee and a valued friend on February 19, 2010,
when Diane Reed passed away at the age of 47, after a valiant battle with cancer.
Diane was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and daughter, who enjoyed
traveling, spending time with her family and spoiling her grandchildren.
Diane worked for Synthes as an Inspector for more than three years and took great
pride in her role. She was a dedicated, team-oriented person with a strong work ethic,
who performed at levels above the norm on a consistent basis. Diane was held in high
regard by all her coworkers for her performance at work, but seeing how she handled
her illness made us respect her even more.
When she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, Diane decided that she was going to beat it.
She approached each day with a very positive attitude, and she repeatedly surprised her doctors
with her stamina and relentless will to keep active. There were several weeks when she would
have chemotherapy or radiation treatments one day and come to work the next day, ready to
contribute with a smile on her face. She colored her hair green, wore funky hats, and never once
asked for special treatment.
One of Diane’s finest assets was her sense of humor. She had an uncanny knack for knowing when
you needed some comic relief, and you could count on her to come out with a one-liner that
would make you laugh. Her humor was a gift that she never lost. Four days before she passed
away, she was still cracking jokes and making us chuckle. It was her way of making us feel better
when she knew the end was near.
The strength and perseverance she demonstrated while fighting her disease were amazing. Diane
taught us to cherish each day, carry on in the face of adversity, and that feeling sorry for yourself
is a waste of precious time.
Diane, and many cherished memories of her, will always be in our hearts. Our lives have been
enriched because we were blessed to have known and loved her.
Becky Lucas
Robert Garner
Robert (Bob) J. Garner died very unexpectedly on April 30, 2010.
Bob was born in Pittsburgh on May 7, 1968, graduated from Carlynton High
School in 1986, and from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1992. A highly
skilled and experienced supply chain professional, Bob joined Synthes North
American Materials Management team in December 2007 and immediately
established himself as a key contributor and team member within Global Operations
and later the Synthes One Team.
Known for his fantastic humor and wit, Bob was a natural born teacher, leader and
beloved colleague who enjoyed engaging those around him in lively discussions, often
involving travel and sports, typically the Pittsburgh teams. However, he will be remembered
by many for his kindness, mentorship and, of course, his baking creations, especially the cakes
and cookies.
Bob is survived by his wife, Eileen and son, Sean.
38
Bob Strehl
Tommy Perez
Our dear friend, Tommy Perez, 39 years old, passed away suddenly on December 10, 2010.
Tommy, an employee of Eurest Dining Services, managed our on-site Synthes café, at our
home office in West Chester. Many of you who visited West Chester had the opportunity
to experience some of the best cuisine in town, created by Tommy and his team.
Tommy touched all of us. A kind man, with a smile for everyone he met, he was always
showcasing the Café and his wonderful staff. So proud of their work when given accolades
for a job well done, he always gave credit to his team. Whether providing daily food services
or a lavish banquet for a holiday party, Tommy genuinely cared about providing the best service
to Synthes. We are quite honored to have known and worked closely with Tommy Perez,
a professional and a true gentleman.
Tommy leaves behind his wife, Jessica, and young daughter, Mia. Tommy’s presence at Synthes will not
be forgotten. He will be remembered for his warm personality and that infectious smile that brightened our day, every day.
Pat Whitmore
Cal Stewart
Cal “Buddy” Stewart, age 51, passed away November 23, 2010, after a long, courageous
battle with appendix cancer. Born April 15, 1959, in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, Cal grew up
in North Wilmington, Delaware. He attended Concord High School, the University of
Delaware (Geology) and Widener University (Engineering). Most recently, Cal managed
the Synthes US Mechanical Testing Laboratory.
Cal joined Synthes in 2005 as Supervisor, Mechanical Testing, and was promoted to
Manager in 2007. During Cal’s tenure the laboratory went through two major expansions,
increasing both static and fatigue testing capacity and adding spinal disc wear and
metallurgical capabilities. More importantly, Cal will be remembered for his ability to develop
positive relationships with his staff and internal/external customers, and for elevating the
professionalism of the laboratory. In the words of his peers, “His calm composure, respect for
coworkers, and overall professionalism on the job has been an example to many of us.” Also, “Cal was
an exceptional person and role model,” and “… always impressed from his knowledge and his kindness.”
In his spare time Cal enjoyed fishing, crabbing and spending time on Madison Bay, on the Chesapeake.
He was passionate about music and spending time with his wife Helen, family and friends, and enjoyed
being outdoors with his dogs (Brooke, Nicki and Kasha). Cal was dedicated to promoting animal welfare
and had been a member of the Board of Directors and past Board Chair of the Delaware Humane
Association. Finally, Cal mentored and supported others battling cancer.
The Synthes US Mechanical Testing Laboratory
Randy Stephens
Synthes Monument said an abrupt and sad goodbye to one of its own March 13, 2011. Randy
Stephens was not quite 40 years old, too soon to end the laughter that was his specialty.
Randy began his Synthes career in 2005, as a Finishing Operator, a position where he
attained Senior status. He then become a Packaging Operator, another position he
held as a Senior, and finally, he was working as Senior Machine Operator, Trainer,
where he shared his knowledge and training with coworkers.
Off the clock, Randy loved to cook. It wasn’t unusual for him to organize a last minute
get- together, where he did most of the cooking, and his friends and co-workers
enjoyed the marvelous meals he made. And his invitations weren’t just for the adults. He
welcomed their children, and would play with them as if he were one of them. They still
repeat some of the goofy catch phrases he teased them with.
The manufacturing floor is just a little quieter these days without Randy’s laughter, and the laughter he
inspired in others. He may be gone, but his broad smile and warm heart are most certainly not forgotten.
Angel Smits
39
frag
ments
Editor-in-Chief: Steve Dixon Assistant Editors: Sandy Olock, Jean Thomas Staff: Holly Baker, Rebecca Black, Ryan Buck, Meghan Conan,
Mariah DiGuglielmo, Brian Dougherty, Paul Gordon, Lauren Hysek, Cynthia Kenny, Linette Keynton, Kate Richardson, Angel Smits, Daneen Touhalisky
Contributors: Mike Barthold, Dana Connor, Ron DeVogel, Sandy Folta, Janice Garnett, Robert Harten, Samantha Jouin, Clyde Lahnum, Gloria Lauria,
Becky Lucas, Paul Murach, Dipan Patel, Bob Strehl, Lem Tyre, Pat Whitmore Layout: Jacqué Willoughby
C4
© 2011 Synthes, Inc. or its affiliates
Printed in U.S.A.
5/11 J10347-A

Layout 1 - Synthes

Transcription

Similar documents

DEPUY SYNTHES SOLUTIONS

eSIMS Web Overview. Synthes Information Management Suite.

DSEM/TRM/0514/0052(5)

Titanium Trochanteric Fixation Nail System. For

SurgIcal technIque

Mark T. Metzdorff, M.D. - Western Trauma Association

Count on St. Bernardine`s Experience and Expertise

Binding Wounds, Pushing Boundaries brochure

program brochure

TFN – Titanium Trochanteric Fixation Nail System. For