Now nearly 15 years old, HealthPack returns as an authoritative event for medical device professionals, running March 11-13 in Albuquerque, NM.
HealthPack will feature two keynote speakers, more presentations from medical device product manufacturers, a panel discussion on package testing developments as well as its industry data survey and panel of nurses who will review real-life medical device packages and answer attendees’ questions about what packaging works and doesn’t work for them.
“The medical device packaging industry looks to HealthPack as their key industry event of the year, so one of our goals was to make this year’s conference more participatory for attendees,” says Jim George, HealthPack Conference Director. “Those who arrive on the afternoon prior to the conference on March 11 will have a chance to participate in an informal group discussion with other attendees and build their own industry forecast for the coming 12 months and beyond, which we think will be a really fun and insightful event. And package testing continues to be a hot topic, so we have assembled a very strong and diverse panel to discuss the trends and take audience questions.”
George adds, “Another plus is this year’s speaker faculty is particularly strong with presenters having package engineering backgrounds. And as always, attendees will have plenty of time to visit our extensive exhibit area.”
Jackie Elkin’s keynote will open the conference on March 12. Elkins, Global Process Owner-Standard Product Identification, Global Regulatory Operations at Medtronic, will provide an overview of current challenges and what’s coming in Unique Product Identification and medical device packaging. Elkins is one of the industry’s foremost authorities on UDI. She serves in an advisory role and provides education to global regulators implementing UDI legislation.
Her credentials also include Co-Chair for the AdvaMed Auto-ID Committee focusing on industry input to FDA UDI legislation and also the International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF), serving as a UDI Work Group member and developing guidance on a global approach to UDI.
On March 13, the keynote speaker will be Julian Carroll, former Managing Director at EUROPEAN and partner at HC Services International. He will discuss “The US-EU Free Trade Agreement: Is Packaging Ready? The Viewpoint from Europe.” His presentation will review current E.U. packaging regulations and the implications for the industry, the consequences of the revision of Europe’s medical devices regulation for packaging, the compatibility and contrasts between U.S. and E.U. packaging norms, and opportunities and obligations for packaging producers, including actionable ideas for doing business in Europe. For information on HealthPack, including the complete conference schedule and registration, visit www.healthpack.net.
