Premia Spine, a medical technology company poised to change the way debilitating chronic leg and back pain is surgically treated, today announced the appointment of three new advisors to its board of directors. Bringing decades of clinical, business and medical device innovation experience to Premia Spine, the new appointees will provide critical input supporting the commercial launch of the company’s TOPSTM System.
The new board advisors are:
- Stephen Hochschuler, MD: Founder and chairman emeritus of the Texas Back Institute. A renowned orthopedic surgeon, he is a serial entrepreneur and innovator in the field of spinal surgery. Dr. Hochschuler is past president (2006-2007) and founding member of the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery (ISASS), chairman of the board of Innovative Spinal Technologies of Plano, and founder of several medical-related companies. Dr. Hochschuler is a member of numerous national and international professional organizations and is published in a wide range of professional journals.
- Peter Wehrly: A C-suite medical device industry executive with extensive expertise in delivering top line growth and operational efficiencies. A highly successful industry insider, Mr. Wehrly is chief executive officer (CEO) at Vivex Biologics. Previously he served as CEO at Medingo, which was acquired by Roche, and as President and CEO of PQ Bypass, which was acquired by Endologix. He has also held executive leadership positions at Medtronic, DePuy Orthopaedics and Covidien. Mr. Wehrly excels at bringing new technologies to market, securing profitable strategic alliances, contracts and agreements. He also has an extensive record in private, public and community board involvement.
- Nicholas Pachuda, DPM: He is a medical device, biotech, and orthopedics innovator, investor and advisor. As former worldwide vice president of external innovation within the Medical Device Group at Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Pachuda held sweeping responsibilities including leading global strategic innovation, business development, portfolio and channel development, and commercial business unit and new venture incubation. He led the Johnson & Johnson JPOD startup incubator in Philadelphia. He was a cofounder of the extremities division at Arthrex. He was part of the leadership team at Small Bone Innovations that was acquired by Stryker, and global VP of marketing at Scient’x Spine that was acquired by Alphatec.
TOPS is a motion preserving solution for the 350,000 patients worldwide who suffer from degenerative spondylolisthesis and lumbar spinal stenosis who either undergo fusion surgery each year or persevere with these debilitating diseases for fear of rigid spinal fixation. Premia Spine developed TOPS to provide lasting mobility, stability and durability after decompression to patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative spondylolisthesis.
About Premia Spine
Premia Spine, a medical technology company, aims to improve the lives of chronic leg and back pain patients with its TOPS™ System. TOPS is designed to provide lasting mobility, stability and durability to patients with lumbar spinal stenosis, degenerative spondylolisthesis and related spinal conditions. For more information, visit premiaspine.com.