Life Science CEO Joins SDSU College of Business Board

Contact: Randy Carmical, Director of Communications
(619) 594-0206 Randy.Carmical@sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Monday, February 5, 2007 – Tom Afzal, a 20+ year veteran of the life science industry, has joined the Board of Directors at the San Diego State University College of Business Administration (CBA). Afzal received his bachelors of science in business from SDSU in 1983. 

Afzal is currently the President and CEO of Spinal Kinetics, which he co-founded in 2003. Spinal Kinetics, located in Sunnyvale, CA, is a privately held company developing the next generation of artificial discs for the treatment of diseases of the spine.

Dean of the College of Business Administration Gail Naughton said, “Tom’s entrepreneurial spirit and international business expertise are very much in line with the strengths of our college.  He will bring great insight to these areas as we work to continuously improve our programs. Further, as an alum, his past experiences as a student will help guide us as we grow San Diego’s future business leaders.”

Afzal has founded companies both in the U.S. and in Europe and has raised over $100 million from venture capitalists and corporate investors for these start-up companies. Prior to founding Spinal Kinetics, he was the founder and CEO of CardioVention, a company that developed a minimal invasive bypass system used in cardiac surgery. Afzal was a senior executive for start-up CardioThoracic Systems, the leading developer of minimal invasive cardiac surgery products for beating heart surgery, which after going public was acquired by Guidant Corp. 

While living in Europe, he served as president of Krauth Medical, one of Europe's largest medical device distributors and also was the founder and CEO of Life Systems, a service provider to cardiac surgery and cardiology catheter-lab suites, later acquired by Krauth Medical.
Earlier in his career, he held various senior management positions for a number of multi-national companies such as Sulzer Medica, Intermedics, Baxter Healthcare and American Hospital Supply Corp. He has been named on over 10 issued or pending patents and continues to contribute to new ideas in the development of medical technologies.

“I look forward to being part of the College of Business board and working with Gail, the distinguished board members and faculty at my alma mater,” Afzal said. “I welcome the opportunity to participate and contribute to SDSU’s continuing development and implementation of creative strategies that benefit the student’s opportunities for higher education with a global perspective.”

About the College of Business Administration - Leadership for the Global Marketplace
With over 6,000 students, the SDSU College of Business is one of the largest business schools in the U.S. Its programs in international business and graduate entrepreneurship are ranked among the top programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu/business.

About SDSU
San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelors degrees in 81 areas, masters degrees in 73 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU’s more than 34,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.