AdvaMed Announces Formation of Medical Imaging Division

World’s largest medical imaging companies join world’s largest medtech association

WASHINGTON, D.C.,  – Today, AdvaMed, the Medtech Association, announced the establishment of a new Medical Imaging Technology division focused on advocating on behalf of large and small companies for the essential role of medical imaging technology, radiopharmaceuticals, contrast media, and focused ultrasound devices in our nation’s health care system. Leading medical imaging companies – such as Bayer, Fujifilm Sonosite, GE HealthCare, Hologic, Philips, and Siemens Healthineers – have formally established AdvaMed as the new home for advocacy on behalf of medical imaging companies, which previously sat within the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), a division of the  National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). 

AdvaMed President and CEO Scott Whitaker said : “This new division is a big step forward not merely for the medical imaging sector, but for AdvaMed and the entire medtech industry. Never before have medical technologies been so connected and interdependent as they are today—and it’s really only the beginning. From traditional medical devices to digital health tech to AI and medical imaging, the opportunity to unify the industry and advance policy solutions for the health care system has never been better. No trade organization is better prepared than AdvaMed to represent the entire medtech industry and take on these advocacy challenges so that our members can continue focusing on what they do best—meeting the needs of the patients they serve. 

“Finally, the timing of Peter Arduini’s election as our new Chair couldn’t be better. His leadership of GE HealthCare, a global leader in medical imaging, pharmaceutical diagnostics and digital solutions, will provide strategic insight and direction to AdvaMed as we work to ensure an aligned and inclusive focus across companies in every sector of medtech.”

Peter J. Arduini, President and CEO of GE HealthCare and newly elected Chair of the AdvaMed Board of Directors, said of the new division : “We are in a new era in which providers and patients rely on medical imaging and digital solutions for critical insights across the entire care pathway from screening, diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy delivery, as well as research and discovery.  As Chair, I look forward to working alongside Scott and my colleagues from across the industry to establish AdvaMed’s new imaging division and ensure it is aligned and integrated to our overall goals of the med tech industry.”

Patrick Hope served as executive director of MITA since 2015 and will now serve as executive director of the new Medical Imaging Technology division at AdvaMed. Hope said : “The future is brighter than ever for the medical imaging companies we served at MITA. Our new home at AdvaMed makes perfect sense: For the first time, we will be surrounded by a team, infrastructure, and resources focused entirely on the patients our companies serve. We will be surrounded by and working directly with experts in medtech policy at the state, national, and global levels. I am 100 percent confident that our companies will see more value in our work together under the AdvaMed umbrella than ever before.

Imaging plays a critical role in our health care system, from diagnosis to treatment:  

  • In the U.S., a medical image is taken every 3 seconds
  • Imaging makes up approximately 80 percent of AI technology cleared by FDA

As is the case with AdvaMed’s Accel, Dx, and Digital Health Tech divisions, AdvaMed’s new Medical Imaging Technology division will be led by a Board of Directors comprised of executives from its imaging company members. The new division will be led within AdvaMed by Patrick Hope, former Executive Director of the Medical Imaging Technology Alliance (MITA). Mr. Hope and Peter Weems, who led MITA’s government affairs and policy strategy, as well as other staff, will round out the division’s staffing needs at AdvaMed going forward.

This division’s creation comes on the heels of  AdvaMed’s announcement last month that it had established a Digital Health division. The recent creation of these two divisions “further demonstrates that AdvaMed is well positioned to lead the entire medtech industry on the advocacy front,” Whitaker said.

In January, AdvaMed will unveil a refreshed version of its “ Medical Innovation Agenda for the 118 th  Congress,” a list of policy and legislative priorities critical to patient care that will include a new set of priorities for the medical imaging sector.

Georgia Life Sciences Applauds Congressman McCormick for Introducing Federal Biotech Leadership Legislation

July 24, 2026
July 24, 2026, Atlanta, GA - Georgia Life Sciences applauds Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA) for introducing the Biotechnology Diplomacy Leadership Act , legislation designed to strengthen America's leadership in biotechnology by establishing a senior biotechnology leadership position within the U.S. Department of State. As biotechnology continues to drive breakthroughs in healthcare, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and national security, the United States must remain a global leader in innovation while strengthening strategic partnerships with allies around the world. The proposed legislation recognizes biotechnology as a critical component of U.S. economic competitiveness and foreign policy and would help ensure that the federal government is well positioned to advance these priorities internationally. The legislation also reflects recommendations from the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology , which called for a more coordinated national approach to advancing biotechnology and protecting U.S. leadership in this strategically important sector. "Georgia is home to one of the nation's fastest-growing life sciences ecosystems, and policies that strengthen America's global biotechnology leadership directly benefit innovators, researchers, manufacturers, and patients," said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. "We appreciate Congressman McCormick's leadership in recognizing biotechnology as both an economic engine and a strategic national priority." Georgia Life Sciences looks forward to working with policymakers at both the federal and state levels to advance policies that foster innovation, strengthen the U.S. bioeconomy, and ensure America remains the global leader in biotechnology.

Georgia Life Sciences Names Renee' Martin, Ph.D., Program Manager to Lead Flagship Educator Workforce Development Program

July 21, 2026
Georgia Life Sciences names Renee Martin, Ph.D., to lead its Teacher Training Initiative, advancing educator workforce development and Georgia's future life sciences talent pipeline.

Georgia Life Sciences Partnership Expands Plant Biotechnology Education for Agriscience Teachers Across Georgia

July 17, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  July 16, 2026 ATLANTA, Ga . – Eighteen Georgia high school agriscience teachers recently participated in a hands-on plant tissue culture training at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, equipping educators with biotechnology skills and classroom resources that will expand access to experiential STEM learning for students across the state. Hosted through a partnership led by Georgia Life Sciences (GLS), the workshop was facilitated by Julie Throne, Agriscience Teacher, FFA Advisor, and CTAE Department Chair at Cedar Shoals High School. Participants received practical instruction in plant tissue culture techniques using newly developed portable tissue culture kits generously donated by California-based Athena Ag. Plant tissue culture is a foundational biotechnology technique used in agriculture and plant science research to propagate plants under aseptic conditions. By incorporating these concepts into agriscience classrooms, educators can provide students with hands-on experiences that introduce biotechnology while building technical skills relevant to careers in agriculture and biotechnology. As part of the workshop, each participating teacher received two complete plant tissue culture kits to take back to their school, enabling students throughout Georgia to engage in laboratory-based biotechnology activities and explore emerging career pathways in the life sciences. "Providing educators with access to industry-relevant training and classroom resources is one of the most effective ways to inspire the next generation of Georgia's life sciences workforce," said Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO of Georgia Life Sciences. "Through partnerships like this, we're helping teachers bring real-world biotechnology into their classrooms while expanding opportunities for students to discover careers in one of Georgia's fastest-growing industries." The training is part of Georgia Life Sciences' broader Teacher Training Initiative, a statewide workforce development program that equips middle and high school educators with the knowledge, tools, and industry connections needed to deliver hands-on biotechnology instruction. Through strategic partnerships with industry, education, and nonprofit organizations, the initiative continues to strengthen Georgia's talent pipeline by connecting classroom learning with real-world workforce opportunities. Georgia Life Sciences extends its appreciation to Julie Throne for leading the training and to Athena for its generous donation of classroom kits, helping expand access to biotechnology education for educators and students across the state.
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