John W. Brown, former president, CEO, and chairman of Stryker Corporation, is widely regarded as one of the most effective long-tenured CEOs in modern medtech. Taking the helm of the family-run company in 1977, when sales were around $17–23 million, he led Stryker through a landmark IPO, a series of strategic acquisitions, and relentless product expansion, growing revenues into the multi-billion-dollar range and turning it into a global medical technology powerhouse. Under Brown’s three decades of leadership, Stryker evolved from a niche hospital-bed manufacturer into a diversified leader in orthopedics, surgical equipment, and neurotechnology, setting a benchmark for disciplined, long-horizon value creation.  

Joe Kiani, founder, chairman, and CEO of Masimo, is a pioneering medical-technology entrepreneur whose innovations in noninvasive monitoring have transformed modern patient care. Since launching Masimo in 1989, he has built the company into a global leader in pulse oximetry and hospital automation, driven by breakthrough signal-processing technology that set new clinical standards worldwide. Kiani has also become a prominent advocate for patient safety and healthcare transparency, founding the Patient Safety Movement Foundation to reduce preventable hospital deaths. With a blend of engineering vision, mission-driven leadership, and bold industry advocacy, he remains one of the most influential figures in medical technology.