WARSAW, Ind., Mar 1, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SWX: ZMH) announced today that it is creating a Minority Initiatives function within the company that will be charged with formalizing and expanding the company's efforts in promoting diversity and multiculturalism in the field of orthopaedic surgery. The company said it expects to spend $2 million over the next three years in support of its Minority Initiatives program.
"We believe the issue of promoting diversity in the education and development of orthopaedic surgeons is one that deserves support by industry and the profession," said Ray Elliott, Zimmer Holdings Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe we can play a meaningful role in advancing diversity in orthopaedics through our financial support and by providing a point of coordination for complementary programs."
Key goals for Zimmer's Minority Initiatives are to promote diversity and multiculturalism in medical schools and in surgeon professional development, to assist in defining areas of disparity in orthopaedic care in America, to create programs to assist surgeons in providing orthopaedic care to underserved minority populations and to contribute to Zimmer's internal efforts to make the company a more diverse workplace.
Over the past several years, Zimmer has initiated orthopaedic diversity programs, such as educational grants and other support for the J. Robert Gladden Society, the National Medical Association and the Ruth Jackson Society, professional organizations that promote the education and development of minority and female physicians. The company recently formed a Minority Initiatives Panel of orthopaedic surgeons to identify possibilities for promoting greater diversity in orthopaedics and for assisting orthopaedic surgeons to address disparities in orthopaedic care among various populations.
Verona Brewton, a Zimmer employee since February 2002, has been named Director, Minority Initiatives, and will work with the company's advisory panel, coordinate with others in the orthopaedic field and lead development and implementation of Zimmer programs.
About the Company
Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer is the worldwide #1 pure-play orthopaedic leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of reconstructive and spinal implants, trauma and related orthopaedic surgical products. In October, 2003, the company finalized its acquisition of Centerpulse AG, a Switzerland-based orthopaedics company and a leader in the European reconstructive market. Zimmer now has operations in more than 24 countries around the world and sells products in more than 80 countries. As a result of the acquisition of Centerpulse on October 2, 2003, reported 2003 sales were $1.9 billion. Full-year 2003 pro forma worldwide sales of Zimmer and Centerpulse were approximately $2.6 billion. The new Zimmer is supported by the efforts of nearly 7,000 employees.
Visit Zimmer on the worldwide web at www.zimmer.com
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the orthopaedics industry, management's beliefs and assumptions made by management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "targets," "forecasts," and "seeks" or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate Centerpulse AG, the outcome of the pending informal SEC investigation of Centerpulse accounting, price and product competition, rapid technological development, demographic changes, dependence on new product development, the mix of our products and services, supply and prices of raw materials and products, customer demand for our products and services, control of costs and expenses, our ability to form and implement alliances, international growth, U.S. and foreign government regulation, product liability and intellectual property litigation losses, reimbursement levels from third-party payors, general industry and market conditions and growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the disclosure materials filed by Zimmer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Zimmer disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.
SOURCE Zimmer Holdings, Inc.
Media: Brad Bishop, +1-574-372-4291, [email protected] ,
or Investors: Sam Leno, +1-574-372-4790, [email protected] , both of Zimmer
Holdings, Inc.
http://www.zimmer.com
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