Surgeon, inventor, and former Edwards Lifesciences CMO will expand Avania’s internal therapeutic expertise as the company scales
BILTHOVEN, NETHERLANDS, August 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Avania, a global MedTech-focused CRO purpose-built to navigate the distinct clinical, regulatory, and evidence-generation needs of medical devices, diagnostics, and combination products, today announced the appointment of Francis G. Duhay, MD, as Chief Medical Officer. The newly created role reflects Avania’s strategy to combine deep therapeutic expertise with its advisory and clinical development capabilities, strengthening the company’s ability to support sponsors across every stage of the MedTech product lifecycle.
Dr. Duhay is a board-certified general and cardiothoracic surgeon who practiced for more than a decade before transitioning into industry leadership. He began his career as an Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Duke University Medical Center and later served as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Kaiser Permanente. Since entering the MedTech industry, he has held senior leadership roles at Edwards Lifesciences, where he ultimately served as Chief Medical Officer, and at Olympus Corporation, while also leading emerging diagnostics, biotechnology, and cardiovascular technology companies. Throughout his career, Dr. Duhay has led more than 90 clinical studies, authored 45 peer-reviewed publications, holds 32 U.S. and international patents, and has worked extensively with regulatory authorities worldwide.
As Chief Medical Officer, based in the United States, Dr. Duhay will lead the expansion of Avania’s internal therapeutic expertise, working alongside the company’s existing therapeutic franchise leaders and serving as a senior clinical resource to sponsors from study design through commercialization.
“The creation of the Chief Medical Officer role reflects our commitment to expanding the therapeutic expertise we bring to our clients,” said Jason Monteleone, President and CEO of Avania. “As MedTech development becomes increasingly complex, sponsors need a partner that combines therapeutic expertise with strategic, clinical, and operational insight. Francis will help strengthen our therapeutic leadership and enhance the support we provide clients across the product lifecycle.”
The appointment has drawn strong praise from colleagues who have worked alongside Dr. Duhay directly.
“I am delighted by the appointment of Dr. Francis Duhay as Chief Medical Officer of Avania. As an Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Duke Health, Francis established himself as a highly accomplished academic clinical scientist. His subsequent role as Chief Medical Officer at Edwards Lifesciences, where he led development of the SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve, gave him unparalleled knowledge of transcatheter cardiac interventions. This breadth of experience, from academic medicine to medical device innovation, is a tremendous asset to Avania and the clients it serves,” said William W. O’Neill, MD, Emeritus Director, Center for Structural Heart Disease, Henry Ford Health.
In his role, Dr. Duhay will help align Avania’s clinical, regulatory, quality, and medical affairs capabilities to support a more integrated approach to product development and evidence generation.
“I see this role as connective tissue across the organization, aligning product development, regulatory and quality, clinical strategy, and medical affairs around a single clinical perspective from first-in-human through commercialization,” said Dr. Duhay. “When those functions work together rather than in isolation, technologies reach patients faster.”
About Avania
Avania is a global MedTech-focused CRO, purpose-built to navigate the distinct clinical, regulatory, and market access requirements of medical devices, diagnostics, and combination products. Integrating regulatory strategy, clinical development, and market access and reimbursement, Avania takes innovations from concept to commercialization with confidence. With 1,250+ clinical trials executed and 450+ regulatory and market access filings, Avania supports the world’s leading MedTech companies as well as emerging innovators.
MedTech’s Trusted Champion. Learn more at avaniaclinical.com.
Courtney Wright
Avania
Courtney.wright@avaniaclinical.com
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