• Travis Baugh has been appointed president and CEO of MicroMed Technology (Houston), a developer of miniaturized implantable ventricular assist technology for patients with end-stage, congestive heart failure. Dallas Anderson, who co-founded the company in 1995, will retire from his current position and serve as chairman on the company's board of directors. As a co-founder of MicroMed in 1995, Baugh most recently served as executive vice president of finance/operations and CFO.

• Jack Huttner has been elected to a two-year term as chairman of the board of the New York Biotechnology Association (NYBA; New York). Huttner is vice president of corporate communications and public affairs at Genencor International, and brings more than 15 years of management experience to the board. NYBA's mission is to aid and promote the growth of New York biotech companies, and to help New York State realize its potential as a global center for the biotech industry.

• Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, California), a maker of integrated cancer therapy systems, X-ray tubes and flat-panel digital subsystems for imaging, reported three new management appointments. Timothy Guertin, executive vice president, has been named chief operating officer. Guertin joined the company 29 years ago and has been serving since 1999 as president of Oncology Systems, Varian's largest business segment. Dow Wilson has been appointed corporate vice president and president, Oncology Systems. Wilson previously was CEO of GE Healthcare-Information Technologies. Elisha Finney, corporate vice president and CFO, has been promoted to senior vice president.

• David Harkham will resign as CEO of Vencor International (Beverly Hills, California), effective Feb. 1. Harkham is resigning to take care of family and personal matters. Todd Davis has been named Vencor's new president and CEO. Davis has 15 years of experience in the investment banking industry and working with companies in the fields of biotechnology, advanced medical technology and solution applications and medical product distribution. Vencor markets at-home diagnostic products to consumers in the U.S. via the Internet and infectious disease rapid tests.