Early summer is one of my favorite times of the year. As a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, we have two important celebrations within days of each other: Canada Day on July 1st and U.S. Independence Day on July 4th. The two countries share a lot in common, and 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of the U.S./Canada border.

I am excited to be a co-chair of The MedTech Conference, along with James Brodie from Johnson & Johnson MedTech Canada. For the first time, AdvaMed (The Medtech Association) will be hosting the annual conference outside of the United States, in Toronto, on October 15th – 17th. Please read James’ blog on why Toronto was selected as the destination and why this year’s conference will be the best yet.

The MedTech Conference is a must-attend event on my calendar every year for many reasons: great networking, exciting panels and educational events, exposure to new companies and technologies, and the ability to interact with policymakers. The conference provides amazing access to leaders from companies of all sizes, in a collegial and fun environment.  

Our company will bring a contingent of employees, as we do every year, as they see tremendous value in hearing about hot topics such as digital, AI, enabling technology, DE&I, cybersecurity, regulatory and reimbursement pathways, and compliance. The FDA and CMS will once again be attending as well. There will also be a patient pavilion where we’ll hear directly from patients about their experiences with medtech innovation and exciting interactive displays under a “medtech in motion” theme.

Toronto is a fantastic city and great venue for this year’s conference. I lived there for many years and still have family who live in the city. It is dynamic and multi-cultural, with great dining and cultural attractions, all near the convention center. One of the must-visit neighborhoods is Yorkville, which is just a short ride away. It is also very clean and safe and there are direct flights from many U.S. cities. The conference website will include recommendations on sites to see if you plan to add a day or two to your trip to explore Toronto.

The MedTech Conference has become more global over time, and we will once again have a large contingent of international attendees, including Canadian medtech companies. The event also features the world’s most influential medtech leaders and expects to host more than 3,500 attendees from 40 countries.

Please register today and I look forward to seeing you in Toronto.

Best,

Kevin Lobo
Chair & CEO, Stryker
Co-Chair, The MedTech Conference