KGI Announces Edwards Lifesciences Executive as the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences 2022 Commencement Speaker

Larry L. Wood, corporate vice president of transcatheter aortic valve replacement at Edwards Lifesciences, will serve as the keynote speaker at the Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) 2022 Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences (Riggs School) commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 14, 2022.

“It’s a privilege to join the KGI students and their families at this important and exciting event,” said Wood. “KGI and Edwards share a deep belief in developing talented leaders focusing on improving people’s lives, as evidenced by our many close ongoing partnerships. The commencement ceremony is one important milestone along this journey.”

Edwards Lifesciences is a global leader in patient-focused medical innovations for structural heart disease and critical care and surgical monitoring. Driven by a passion for helping patients, the company collaborates with the world’s leading clinicians and researchers to address unmet healthcare needs, working to improve patient outcomes and enhance lives.

“Larry has led the development and introduction of new therapeutic approaches for structural heart disease that continue to advance the industry and improve patients’ lives worldwide,” said KGI President Dr. Sheldon Schuster.

“We are thrilled to have him address the class of 2022 because he brings a story of personal accomplishment and professional success that will inspire our graduates in their careers in life sciences and healthcare.”

Since 2007 when he was appointed to his current role, Wood has been responsible for key company R&D, operations, marketing, commercial, clinical, and regulatory initiatives in transcatheter aortic valve replacement around the globe. Wood led the program for many years prior, since it was an internal development project, after holding several other positions with increasing responsibility after joining the Edwards organization in 1985.

Under his leadership, Edwards has experienced extraordinary growth in the global Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement business. The Edwards SAPIEN heart valve has won numerous awards, including the Prix Galien “Best Medical Technology Product” and “Discovery of the Decade” awards, and was named Popular Science’s “Best of What’s New” Grand Award winner in the Health category.

Wood has more than 30 years of experience in the medical technology industry at both Edwards and Baxter Healthcare Corporation in positions including manufacturing management, regulatory affairs, and strategic and clinical marketing. Wood is a frequently invited faculty member at key interventional cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery scientific congresses.

He received his master’s degree in business administration from Pepperdine University.

KGI’s 2022 Riggs School commencement ceremony will take place on KGI’s campus (535 Watson Drive, Claremont, CA 91711) at 10 a.m. PST on May 14. More information on the event can be found at kgi.edu/commencement.