All hail the newest go-getter on the IMDS board…Innovative Medical Device Solutions (IMDS) announced the addition of Ron Lawson, a veteran of the orthopedic industry, to its Board of Directors.
Lawson’s 35 plus years of experience in the orthopedic industry include a role as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Customer Service for Pfizer’s Orthopaedic Division, Howmedica (1996). In 1998, he became part of the Stryker Corporation with Stryker’s acquisition of Howmedica. At Stryker, he served as Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Development. Lawson also played a critical and insightful role in the successful integration of the two companies. In 2000, he was asked to lead the revitalization of Stryker’s European business as President, EMEA. He soon after assumed the role of leadership for all of Stryker’s International distribution businesses and was promoted to Group President, International in 2001.
In 2005, Stryker turned over global responsibility of their orthopedic division to Lawson, making him Group President, International and Global Orthopaedics. After this time focusing on strengthening the Stryker Orthopedic business worldwide, Lawson retired from Stryker at the end of 2007.
“I have known Ron Lawson for many years and can truly say he is one of the key leaders that has aided in the development of the orthopaedic industry” said IMDS CEO Brady Shirley in the news release. “Additionally, his relationships throughout the world and his experienced instincts within our space will make a great impact on IMDS.”
Lawson added “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to serve on the Board of IMDS. The new CEO Brady Shirley brings tremendous leadership and experience to a company full of talented people who are dedicated to improving the quality of care for the orthopaedic patient. The company is strategically positioned to offer great value in partnerships with their OEM customers and looks forward to continued strengthening of its relationships with surgeon opinion leaders around the world. “
Elaborating, Lawson told OTW,
IMDS will continue to strengthen and expand its relationships with orthopedic opinion leaders. We will conduct a symposium on the strength of our clinical product development capabilities and our future direction at the upcoming AAOS meeting in New Orleans. The company is also strengthening our footprint by expanding Co-Innovation locations across the US while also taking a close look at international opportunities. I will be an active board member working closely with our OEM partners and the orthopedic surgeon community around the world.
IMDS provides customized outsourcing services and aims to provide exceptional responsiveness at every stage of the product life cycle:
- IMDS Co-Innovation – ideation, product development and patent legal services;
- IMDS Discovery Research – comparative medicine and product testing services;
- IMDS Product Sourcing – complete manufacturing and supply chain management solutions.

