Interested in connecting with the H+C team at Medtech Vision on Tuesday, September 9? We’d love to meet you there. Email us at hello@healthandcommerce.com to set up a time. You can also register now to join the event in person in Menlo Park, CA, or virtually. 

 

With a decades-long career in healthcare leadership, including roles at Medtronic, Zimmer Biomet, and multiple startups, Yvonne Bokelman knows what it takes to bring bold ideas to life. Now, as Executive Director of MedtechWOMEN, she’s focused on helping create the next generation of leadership. Yvonne spoke with our own Nicole Beckstrand to share what drew her to this mission, what’s ahead for MedtechVISION, and how she sees the future of medtech taking shape.

 

1. You recently stepped into the Executive Director role at MedtechWOMEN. What inspired you to take on this leadership position?

My background is all in healthcare. I started out on the provider side in hospital administration very early in my career and loved it, then was recruited into healthcare IT, and eventually moved into medtech. I joined Medtronic for about six years, then spent over a decade at Zimmer Biomet in a range of leadership roles, including President and GM over multiple global businesses and functions.

After leaving there, I went the startup route, first doing advisory work, then becoming CEO of a musculoskeletal company. Like anyone who’s done startup work knows, it’s hard work. After a few years, I took a step back, did more board work, and that’s when I became aware of the  opportunity with MedtechWOMEN.

It was a passion pursuit. Most of my medtech career has been in orthopedics and spine — spaces that were (and still are!) very male-dominated. Helping women see the opportunities to move their careers in the direction they want has always been important to me. So when I saw MedtechWOMEN’s focus, giving women visibility, offering education and networking, putting them center stage, it really spoke to me. It felt like it was the perfect blend of everything I care about.

 

2. This year’s MedtechVISION conference is themed “Revolution not Evolution: Medtech’s Next Chapter.” What does that mean to you, and how does it reflect where the industry is headed?

Medtech has always moved fast. But the pace now feels so different. Whether it’s technology, how people think about their careers, how organizations are structured — each day brings a new pace of development.

This year’s MedtechVISION theme, “Revolution, Not Evolution,” is really about that. We’re looking at transformative change. At MedtechVISION, our keynotes and panels will focus on topics, such as AI, strategic partnerships, M&A, and discuss how organizations are shifting, especially for women, thinking about their next move. We want to give them the intel and insights they need.

We’ve also built in more networking time, as it has always been a valuable part of the event. Moments when someone says, “I can help you with that,” often lead to the most meaningful connections.

 

3. From your perspective, what does it take to turn an innovative idea into something that truly impacts public health?

There are so many great ideas out there. But to bring them to life, you need time, funding, the right team, and strong knowledge in regulatory and market access. I’ve seen it on both sides,  working in startups, and also at large companies where you’re innovating, acquiring, and launching products.

You can have the best idea in the world, but if you can’t get reimbursement, or the market doesn’t recognize the value, it won’t succeed. That’s why it’s so important to solve real problems and have people around you who know how to execute. It takes persistence and planning to stick with your work long enough to make an impact.

 

4. What role does MedtechVISION play in shaping the future of women in this industry?

MedtechWOMEN is built around education, content, networking, and giving women visibility. MedtechVISION is the premier event where that all comes together. We host other events throughout the year, as well, focused on board readiness, mentoring, and hot topics in medtech, but MedtechVISION is where it all comes together.

The speaker lineup is women-led and intentionally diverse. We’ve made space not just for information sharing, but real networking. We’ll even have a board this year where attendees can write what they need help with, and someone else might walk up and say, “I’ve got that resource for you.”

These aren’t one-off conversations. I’ve heard from many women that the connections they make at MedtechVISION turn into long-term relationships — ones they wouldn’t easily find in their day-to-day work. 

 

5. What’s one takeaway you hope people walk away with after attending this year’s conference?

I want people to walk away feeling like they learned something meaningful, made real connections, and feel more confident moving their careers forward. Whether they’re shifting roles, exploring a board seat, or just needing that extra spark of motivation, I hope MedtechVISION gives them that.

And I hope they share the experience. Our community is growing, and we need it now more than ever. We always ask, “Will there come a time when we don’t need something like this?” And every year, the answer is: not yet. So we keep going. Because building a stronger, more inclusive medtech takes all of us.

 

Interested in connecting with the H+C team at Medtech Vision on Tuesday, September 9? We’d love to meet you there. Email us at hello@healthandcommerce.com to set up a time. You can also register now to join the event in person in Menlo Park, CA, or virtually. 

Along with Health+Commerce, this year’s MedtechVISION conference is sponsored and supported by Medtronic, Abbott, Boston Scientific, Kilpatrick, Goodwin, Philips, Imperative Care, Varian, Nagarro, MicroTransponder, Edwards Lifesciences, Siemens Healthineers, Shockwave Medical, FINN Partners, Venable LLP, AdvaMed, Veranex, Brooks Group, Fogarty Innovation, Baxter, Silicon Valley Bank, Sprig, Wilson Sonsini, LSI, MedTech Color, MedTech Innovator, DxD HealthTech, and DeviceTalks.