This year began with news of President George W. Bush's proposal to increase funds for the FDA, which eventually led to approval of an appropriations bill that included an additional $275 million in funding. And in March, AdvaMed ushered in a new board chairman, Edwards Lifesciences Chairman and CEO Michael A. Mussallem. In the second half of 2008, the industry celebrated the Bush administration's successful endeavors to get a commitment from Japan to improve its medical-technology reimbursement and regulatory practices, as well as news from Chinese officials that the country would streamline its regulatory requirements for medical devices exported there. Both developments are expected to have major implications in coming years.

This year's conferences took association members to the AdvaMed 2008 Annual Meeting, the First International Device Industry Compliance Congress, numerous seminars and workshops made available through the Medical Technology Learning Institute and the AdvaMed 2008 Medical Technology Conference. It has been an exciting and eventful year.