Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> March 8, 1999
DR. ROGER D. BLEVINS was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1956 and received
his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree (1980) and Doctor of Pharmacy
(Pharm.D.) degree with honors (Rho Chi) from Wayne State University in
Detroit. He then served a two-year post-doctoral research fellowship
with the Section of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Medicine,
Sinai Hospital of Detroit (1982-84). He became a member of the medical
staff at that institution where he served as Senior Research Associate
(1984-86), director of Cardiovascular Research (1986-88) and Adjunct
Assistant Professor at Wayne State University (1984-88). During his
academic tenure, Dr. Blevins was a member of several professional
societies and authored over 40 original research publications in the
cardiology literature. While at Sinai Hospital, his primary research
interests in cardiac arrhythmia's and electrophysiology eventually led
to his studies of adenosine and academic affiliation with Medco
Research. Dr. Blevins joined the Company in July 1988 as Director,
Cardiovascular Research and was instrumental in the successful
development of adenosine as an antiarrhythmic agent (Adenocard') and
pharmacological stressor (Adenoscan'). He was subsequently appointed
Vice President, Research and Development in October 1990, and President
and Chief Operating Officer in May 1995. Under Dr. Belvins the Company
has continued to grow; and, in recognition of his leadership, he was
appointed President and Chief Executive Officer in February 1998. The
combination of Dr. Blevins' widely recognized expertise in the field of
cardiovascular pharmacology and his proven ability to direct the
operations of an emerging research-based company makes him the ideal
candidate to lead and oversee the continued success and growth of Medco
Research.
SECTOR ' PHARMACEUTICALS Profile
us into context, what you see as your business and what you see as your
company today?
Dr. Blevins: Medco Research is a
