Boston Scientific Corporation, a global medical technology leader, has appointed Craig Thompson, MD, as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Interventional Cardiology, effective immediately. Dr Thompson, a global leader in complex cardiac interventions, will play a key role in driving the development of innovative medical solutions within the Boston Scientific Interventional Cardiology business.

"Boston Scientific has a longstanding history pioneering interventional cardiology, with a commitment to meaningful innovation and a robust interventional cardiology portfolio," said Dr Thompson, "I'm delighted to work with the interventional cardiology team to further develop the technology  pipeline and educational platforms to deliver solutions for patients with cardiovascular illness worldwide."

"As a pioneer in advanced coronary and vascular procedures and related device development, Craig's expertise is a valuable asset," said Kevin Ballinger, president, Interventional Cardiology, Boston Scientific.

"Craig is a very experienced interventional cardiologist who is an important addition to our clinical team, increasing our ability to innovate medical solutions that provide unique value to physicians and patients," added Keith Dawkins, MD, executive vice president and global chief medical officer, Boston Scientific.

Dr Thompson previously served as director, Invasive Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Yale New Haven Hospital, and associate professor of medicine, Yale University School of Medicine. He brings to Boston Scientific a wealth of clinical and academic experience, having performed thousands of structural cardiac, coronary, and vascular catheter-based procedures. Dr Thompson has also served as an advisor for many cardiovascular device companies and he participated in the early development of technologies for the treatment of coronary total occlusions, including the BridgePoint coronary chronic total occlusion system acquired by Boston Scientific in 2012.

Prior to Yale, Dr Thompson served as director of Cardiovascular Catheterization and Intervention at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Centre/ Dartmouth Medical School.  He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, medical degree from the University of Mississippi, and masters of medical science in clinical investigation from the Harvard-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Division of Health Sciences and Technology. Dr Thompson completed post-doctoral training in clinical cardiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital/ Harvard Medical School and interventional cardiology and endovascular intervention at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world.