OrthoWorx Center of Excellence in Orthopedic Regulatory and Clinical Affairs to Launch First Program

OrthoWorx and Grace College Partner to Create Graduate Certificate in Orthopedic Regulatory and Clinical Affairs

Warsaw, Ind., November 4, 2010 — OrthoWorx has entered into an agreement with Grace College to launch the nation’s first graduate program in orthopedic regulatory and clinical affairs. Developed in consultation with orthopedic company leadership, this program will fill a crucial and immediate gap in workforce training and provide participants with the expertise required to meet an existing demand.

The program will be offered through the OrthoWorx Center of Excellence in Orthopedic Regulatory and Clinical Affairs at Grace College, which is being established by OrthoWorx and Grace. As a partner in this process, OrthoWorx will participate in the development of the Center and will play an active role on the Center’s advisory board. OrthoWorx is providing initial funding to assist in the development of the program. As it matures, the Center will capture funding from its programs for reinvestment in curriculum development focused on meeting future orthopedic industry needs.

“A key element in OrthoWorx’s mission is to help foster an environment where the orthopedic industry can continue to thrive, and the availability of employees with specialized skills and knowledge is critical to sustaining the cluster in the Warsaw region,” said Brad Bishop, OrthoWorx Executive Director.

“We are delighted to partner with Grace College to address an educational need that was prioritized highest by the orthopedic industry cluster, according to a feasibility study conducted by Grace,” said Cheryl R. Blanchard, PhD, OrthoWorx board chair and Chief Scientific Officer for Zimmer Holdings, Inc. “As the global regulatory environment in which all the companies operate becomes more complex, the Center will provide a valuable asset to educate
employees and help sustain the orthopedic cluster in Kosciusko County.”

“Because of our location and the connectivity among our students, faculty, alumni and the orthopedic companies headquartered here, we believe Grace College is uniquely qualified to assist the companies in addressing their most pressing educational and training needs,” said Grace College President Ron Manahan. “We look forward to working with OrthoWorx to launch this important educational resource.”

Grace College is currently finalizing the curriculum for the program in concert with industry representatives and is recruiting staff and instructors. The first cohort of students is being formed and individuals interested in information regarding the program should immediately contact Dr. Steve Grill, dean of The School of Adult and Community Education at Grace (574- 372-5100, ext. 6511). Plans are underway to begin offering classes in Spring 2011.

“OrthoWorx is currently conducting a comprehensive study that will further define the educational and workforce development needs of the region’s orthopedic industry cluster,” said Toby Buck, Paragon Medical Chairman and CEO and Chair of the OrthoWorx Talent and Workforce Development Committee. “We believe there is much that can be accomplished by marshalling the resources of our area’s educational institutions and focusing efforts on the
programs that will be needed to strengthen the industry while providing greater career opportunities for the thousands of area residents employed in orthopedics. This important partnership is the first step toward that goal.”

About OrthoWorx
OrthoWorx (www.orthoworxindiana.com) is a Warsaw-based, industry, community and education initiative established to advance and support growth and innovation within the region’s uniquely concentrated, globally significant orthopedics device sector. Funded in part by the Lilly Endowment, OrthoWorx was founded in 2009 out of a comprehensive study conducted by BioCrossroads. The initiative engages and enhances the broader community interests that both serve and depend upon the sector’s continued growth by targeting an integrated set of educational, workforce, cultural, communication, branding, logistical and entrepreneurial efforts.

About Grace College
Grace College is an evangelical Christian liberal arts college. Its academic, residential, athletic, and social aspects are designed to encourage intellectual and spiritual growth in a supportive campus community. The 165-acre campus is located in the historic resort town of Winona Lake, near Warsaw, Ind. It has historically been among the top schools of its size and listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Colleges. The Princeton Review has regularly awarded it the title of a “Best Midwestern College.”