Orthofix names Brian McCollum president of global spine
Global medical device maker Orthofix (NSDQ:OFIX) promoted Brian McCollum to president of its global spine business unit, effective Nov. 6, 2012. McCollum joined the company 11 years ago and currently serves as CFO & senior VP of finance. Bryan McMillan, the current president of the spine global business unit, has resigned due to family reasons, according to the press release.

“I am very excited to have Brian take over this important role given his strong track record of success within the company,” president & CEO Robert Vaters said in prepared remarks. “Brian’s operational and financial experience along with our increased financial flexibility will allow us to take the spine global business unit to the next level.”

The company also promoted Emily Buxton from CFO of the global orthopedics business unit to interim CFO, effective Nov. 11, 2012, increasing her salary to $296,000 per year plus a 1-time bonus of $50,000, according to the regulatory filing. Buxton joined the company in 2003 and worked in finance, accounting and SEC reporting positions.
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 Former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for health affairs Dr S Ward Casscells dies
Cardiologist Dr. S. Ward Casscells, a former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for health affairs from 2007 to 2009, died of prostate cancer. He was 60 years old.

Casscells was a colonel in the army reserves in Iraq and was most recently the VP of external affairs and public policy at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, as well as a senior scholar at the Texas Heart Institute.
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 Expanding Orthopedics adds director
Spinal device company Expanding Orthopedics named Dr. Hansen Yuan to the board of directors.

Dr. Yuan is professor of orthopedic and neurological surgery at State University of New York, as well as at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. He was a past president of the North American Spine Society and the author of numerous publications on spine pathologies and treatments.
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