Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> June 23, 2003
MICHAEL A. MUSSALLEM is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, a global leader in products and
technologies to treat advanced cardiovascular disease and the
world's number-one heart valve company. Mr. Mussallem has headed
Edwards Lifesciences since the Baxter CardioVascular Group was
spun off from Baxter International Inc. and began operating as an
independent, publicly traded company in April 2000. Previously,
he was responsible for the worldwide operations of both Baxter's
CardioVascular business, which he had headed since 1995, and its
Biopharmaceuticals business, which he had been appointed to lead
in 1998. Mr. Mussallem joined Baxter in 1979 and progressed
through a variety of increasingly responsible positions in
manufacturing, engineering and product development. He was named
President of Baxter's Critical Care Division in 1993, and Group
Vice President of Baxter's Surgical Group in 1994. From 1996-
1998, he Chaired Baxter's Asia-Pacific Board, which coordinated
all of Baxter's regional initiatives. Previously, he worked for
Union Carbide. Mr. Mussallem serves on the Boards of Advanced
Medical Optics, Inc., and the Advanced Medical Technology
Association (AdvaMed), and is Chairman-elect of the Board of
Directors of the California Healthcare Institute. He is a member
of the business roundtable of the Keck Graduate Institute and the
UCI Chief Executive Roundtable. He received a Bachelor's degree
in Chemical Engineering in 1974 from the Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, which conferred upon him an
Honorary Doctorate in 1999. Profile
as well as its focus?
Mr. Mussallem: Our company was born about 45 years ago in Orange
County, California. The Founder was a
