Linden LLC

Linden Portfolio Company, Z-Medica, Appoints Vinod Thourani, M.D. to Board of Directors

February 12, 2019 | For Immediate Release

Wallingford, CT (February 12, 2019) – Z-Medica, LLC, a Linden Capital Partners portfolio company and leading developer and manufacturer of hemostatic devices, announced today the appointment of nationally recognized cardiothoracic surgeon and researcher, Vinod Thourani, M.D., to the Board of Directors. Dr. Thourani currently serves as Professor of Surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine and the Chairman of Cardiac Surgery for MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute, overseeing all cardiac surgical services at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, M.D.

“Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Thourani has played a vital role in the development and refinement of cardiothoracic innovations, and we are honored to welcome him to our Board,” said Ernest Waaser, Chairman of Z-Medica and Linden Operating Partner. “His stellar reputation within the medical community, combined with his considerable experience guiding a number of significant clinical trials, will undoubtedly enable him to provide the Company – with unparalleled insight and guidance.”

Dr. Thourani is widely-admired throughout the cardiac surgery field for his work in structural heart disease and valve surgery, specifically Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) and minimally invasive aortic and mitral valvular surgery. Prior to joining MedStar in August 2017, he served as a professor of surgery and medicine at Emory Healthcare, Co-Director of the Emory Structural Heart and Valve Center and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta, G.A.

“My passion for identifying new treatment solutions that make a positive impact on patient outcomes has fueled my career in cardiothoracic surgery,” said Dr. Thourani. “I look forward to applying that same passion to my role on the Board, and assisting Z-Medica as it continues to break new ground and develop innovative tools to control bleeding.”

During his tenure at Emory, Dr. Thourani focused on developing and refining innovative strategies and devices to treat structural heart disease, particularly in those patients who previously had no treatment alternatives. In addition, he played a pivotal role in directing a number of large clinical studies resulting in a significant expansion of the understanding of the valve disease and specifically use of TAVR, and served as the Director of the Advanced Trans catheter Valve Surgery Fellowship and a Fellow of the Woodruff Leadership Academy.

Dr. Thourani currently holds significant leadership positions in several major cardiology and cardiothoracic surgical associations, including a seat on the Board of Directors of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He also serves as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Thourani obtained his B.S. from Furman University and received his M.D. at Emory University.

Dr. Thourani joins the Board of Directors of Z-Medica alongside healthcare executives; Chris Van Gorder, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer of Scripps Health; Ernest Waaser, Chairman of Z-Medica and Linden Operating Partner; and Stephen Fanning, former Chief Executive Officer of Z-Medica.

About Z-Medica, LLC
Z-Medica, LLC, a Linden Capital Partners portfolio company, is a medical device manufacturer based in Wallingford, CT that is focused on the development, sale and marketing of innovative hemorrhage control products. For over a decade, Z-Medica has helped hospitals, militaries, law enforcement, first responders and consumers around the globe save lives and improve medical outcomes with their QuikClot® brand of products which are manufactured in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.QuikClot.com and http://www.Z-Medica.com. Follow us on Twitter @QuikClot and Facebook @QuikClotFans.

About Linden Capital Partners
Linden Capital Partners is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused exclusively on investing in the healthcare industry. Linden’s strategy is based upon three elements: i) healthcare specialization, ii) integrated private equity and operating expertise, and iii) strategic relationships with large corporations. Linden invests in middle market platforms across the medical products, specialty distribution, pharmaceutical, and services segments of healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lindenllc.com.