Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> December 14, 1998
RONALD W. DOLLENS is President and Chief Executive Officer of Guidant
Corporation. Prior to the formation of Guidant, Mr. Dollens served as
President of Eli Lilly and Company's Medical Devices and Diagnostics
Division (MDD). In 1985, Mr. Dollens was named Senior Vice President,
Sales, Marketing, and Product Development for Advanced Cardiovascular
Systems, Inc. (ACS), an MDD company headquartered in Santa Clara,
California. In 1988, he became President and Chief Executive Officer of
ACS. He assumed his current post as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Guidant when the company was formed in 1994. Mr. Dollens
received a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy from Purdue University
and a Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing from Indiana
University. Mr. Dollens is a member of the Boards of Advanced Medical
Technology Association (AdvaMed, formerly HIMA), Alliance for Aging
Research, Healthcare Leadership Council, Indiana Health Industry Forum,
Kennetic Concepts Inc., and Beckman Coulter Corporation. Active in civic
affairs, he also serves on the Boards of Butler University, Eiteljorg
Museum, St. Vincent Hospital Foundation and the Indiana State Symphony
Society. Additionally, Mr. Dollens has been appointed by U.S. Health and
Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson to serve on the newly created
Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform. Profile
TWST: Give us a brief overview of Guidant Corporation, your history,products, services and customers.
Mr. Dollens: We were a split off of Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical
firm where we