InnovHeart s.r.l., a developer of novel transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) systems for the treatment of mitral valve disease, announces the appointment of veteran medical device executive Keith D. Dawkins, M.D., to a newly created position on its Board of Directors.

Dr. Dawkins has more than 35 years’ experience as both a practicing physician and an executive within the medical device industry. He currently also serves at 4Tech Inc. as Chief Medical Officer, and is a member of the Boards of Avicena LLC and JenaValve Technology Inc. Dr. Dawkins previously served as Executive Vice President and Global Chief Medical Officer at Boston Scientific for all divisions, 2012 – 2017. His responsibilities included enhancing the company’s global clinical programs and strategies. Before that, he served as Senior Vice President and CMO for the Boston Scientific Cardiology Rhythm and Vascular Group. Prior to joining Boston Scientific, Dr. Dawkins was a practicing interventional cardiologist for over 20 years in the U.K. He has earned a series of clinical, research and academic distinctions, including a post-doctoral research fellowship at Stanford University as a Fulbright Scholar. Dr. Dawkins also served as President of the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society and held numerous appointments on hospital, regional and national committees, including the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). He has been an author on more than 750 academic publications and presentations on a variety of cardiac topics.

“We are thrilled to welcome Keith as a new Board member,” said Giovanni Righini, InnovHeart’s CEO. “With his impressive track record and knowledge in the medical device space, Keith brings us a wealth of strategic insights and industry know how. His experience as both Chief Medical Officer and as interventional cardiologist represents a key contribution to our upcoming clinical investigations. We are strongly committed to demonstrating InnovHeart’s Saturn Transapical and Transseptal systems clinical relevance, and to offering a valid solution to mitral valve disease patients across the world.”

“Based on a strong belief in the promise of InnovHeart’s unique transcatheter technology, I am delighted to join the Board at this exciting time,” said Dr. Dawkins. “The medical need among patients affected by mitral regurgitation is enormous, the space is complex and numerous approaches are competing to develop effective minimally invasive solutions, however, I believe the Saturn technology is distinctively positioned to demonstrate clinical effectiveness.”