Abiomed (Danvers, Massachusetts) reported several recent hires. Kim Byrum Chappell joins the company as a clinical field consultant. Most recently, she was employed by Jewish Hospital, one of the clinical sites for the clinical trial of Abiomed's AbioCor implantable replacement heart, in various positions. Jayanthi Prasad joins Abiomed as a senior mechanical engineer for the AB5000 heart-assist product line. Previously, Prasad worked at EMC as a principle engineer for mechanical design and thermal management, and as a senior mechanical engineer for Tyco. Lisa Reilly joins Abiomed as the marketing manager for the AbioCor. For the last 10 years, she worked with Medtronic in the Heart Failure/Pacemaker and Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator marketplaces. Andrea tenBroek joins Abiomed as a communications specialist. Previously, she was associate vice president at the Rasky/Baerlein Group. Shawn Yang joins Abiomed as a senior software engineer. For the last 14 years, Yang worked for C.R. Bard's Electrophysiology Division as a staff software engineer and software consultant. Abiomed manufactures medical products designed to assist or replace the pumping function of the failing heart.

Neil Treister, MD, has been selected by CardioDynamics (San Diego, California) to fill the newly created position of medical director. Treister's current clinical practice focuses on preventive and consultative cardiology in both the office and hospital settings. Treister also serves as medical director of Sharp Healthcare's Cushman Wellness Center. CardioDynamics develops Impedance Cardiography technology for cardiovascular disease.

Steven Keough has been named vice president and chief intellectual property counsel for SurModics (Eden Prairie, Minnesota). Before joining SurModics, Keough practiced law at Fredrikson & Byron, where he was a senior member and past chairman of the intellectual property department. SurModics provides surface modification technology and licenses its patented coating processes to medical device manufacturers.