About Cheryl Blanchard (M.S. ’89, Ph.D. ’94)
A medical device and biologics expert with over 25 years of leadership experience, Blanchard joined Microchips Biotech Inc. in July 2014 as its chief executive officer. Prior to this role she was senior vice president of Zimmer Inc., a medical device company focused on musculoskeletal products, where she helped lead the company’s global research and development; advanced technologies; clinical, quality and regulatory affairs; medical affairs; medical education; and health economics and reimbursement. She created, built and led the biologics business at Zimmer through strategic execution of an R&D pipeline and partnering and business development activities.
Prior to Zimmer, Blanchard built and led the medical device practice at Southwest Research Institute while also serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center located in San Antonio. She received a bachelor’s degree in ceramic engineering from Alfred University and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.