From the Innovator's Workbench features top innovators in the biomedical technology field, interviewed by David Cassak of Winhover Information. In this series you'll hear Innovators discuss their process of
* identifying major critical needs
* creating new technologies
* implementing innovations in patient care
This month we interview Karen Talmadge, Ph.D., who co-founded and funded Kyphon Inc., and has served as a member of its Board of Directors since the company's inception in 1994. Dr. Talmadge also served as Kyphon's Chief Science Officer since June 2003, and as its Executive Vice President since November 1998. In Kyphon's start-up phase from 1994-1998, she was the company's President, Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer.
Dr. Talmadge also currently serves on the Boards of Directors of two start-up medical device companies, Cartilix and VeraLight; the angel investing group, Life Sciences Angels; and the American Diabetes Association.
Prior to Kyphon, Dr. Talmadge worked at California Biotechnology, now Scios Inc., for ten years, where she held numerous research and business positions. She is a co-inventor on 15 issued U.S. patents, and conducted post-doctoral research at Harvard University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Dr. Talmadge attended Columbia Law School for one year, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. She holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Harvard University, and an A.B. cum laude in Biology from Bryn Mawr College.