MD&M MiniTec | SPE Medical Plastics Division

Call for Speakers – MiniTec MidWest October 28, 2026

Posted on May 26, 2026May 26, 2026 by Theresa Shafer

EARLY DEADLINE July 1, 2026

SPE’s Medical Plastics Division (MPD) is currently seeking submission of titles and abstracts for technical presentations for its MD&M MidWest MiniTec in Minneapolis on October 28, 2026.

Topics are interest include the following:

1. Advanced Medical Polymers

Smart, self-healing, bioinspired, and antimicrobial medical plastics
Material biocompatibility
Materials & technologies critical for next generation medicines & therapeutic delivery systems

2. Next-Generation Medical Devices & Therapeutic Delivery

Next generation medical devices and therapeutic delivery systems
Personalization in materials, manufacturing, devices, and measurements
Development of hybrid devices to reduce single-use plastic waste and OEM end-of-life responsibilities

3. Manufacturing Innovations & Process Control

Additive manufacturing in medical devices (3D and “4D” printing)
Innovations in polymer processing and device manufacturing
AI and machine learning-driven tools for medical plastics manufacturing

4. Regulatory Compliance & Testing

Testing and validation of medical plastics (evolving standards and regulations: ISO 10993 updates, MDR, PFAS)
Interactions between medical plastics and sterilization methods (e.g., ethylene oxide limitations)

5. Sustainability & Lifecycle Considerations

Sustainability in healthcare materials and manufacturing
Design considerations for balancing safety, convenience, and lifecycle impact

Presentation Submission Next Steps

We are seeking early submissions by July 1, 2026. Please complete the information on the conference link below:

Submit here

MPD Speaker Requirements for Selected Speakers – Important Deadlines

Submit proposed title & abstract by July 1, 2026. Your proposal will be reviewed and you will receive an email from the MPD Technical Programming Committee.
Accepted topics: submit a high resolution color headshot – 2 weeks after acceptance as speaker.
Submit your PowerPoint presentation for committee review no later than:
- MD&M Minneapolis MiniTec – Minneapolis, MN | September 1, 2026
Participants will attend the on-site event
Consent to conference partner speaker agreement and distribution of a PDF version of your presentation to conference attendees

For additional information, please contact us.

MiniTec Anaheim 2026

Posted on February 18, 2026April 1, 2026 by Theresa Shafer

One highlight of the conference was recognizing Len Czuba with the prestigious Glenn Beall Founders Award, honoring a career defined by technical excellence, industry leadership, and unwavering service to the medical device community.

SPE MPD Honors Len Czuba

with Glenn Beall Founders Award

Thanks to this great team!

Congratulations to the SPE MPD MiniTec organizing team for a great event. It was great to connect with so many industry peers dedicated to improving healthcare.

Two Days of Fabulous Speakers and Insights

Networking – our favorite part

See more pictures and notes on the Poster Session

A Big Thank You to Poster Presenters – MiniTec at MD&M West Feb 2026

Posted on February 12, 2026February 19, 2026 by Theresa Shafer

By Joanne Moody

One of the highlights of our recent event was the poster sessions. These presentations showcased the curiosity, creativity, and commitment that drive innovation in medical plastics and biomaterials. We are grateful to all of our presenters for sharing their work and engaging in thoughtful discussions with attendees

Our academic researchers brought forward impressive and impactful projects.

Block CoPolymer-Directed Self-Assembly of Optically Active Nanoparticles by Jayme Chow from UC Irvine
Preparation of pNIPAAm-HA Hydrogels for the Use in Treatment of Corneal Ulcers by Snigdha Rayala and Judith Praba Prabhahar Albert from San Jose State University
Influence of Carbon Fiber Reinforcement on the Shape Memory Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of PETG by Viswanath Aditham and Yanika Schneider from San Jose State University

We were equally pleased to feature strong industry-focused research and real-world perspectives.

Materials Testing to Support Root Cause Analysis for Manufacturing and Quality Issues at AtriCure by Cameron Sawyer, AtriCure, Inc.
Antimicrobial Polymer Coatings for Orthopedic Applications by Emma Wrigglesworth, Inhibit Coatings
Medical Wearable Device Plastic and Adhesive Challenges by Joanne Moody, Zeta Scientific LLC
Predicting Creep Performance of Spring-Loaded Parts in Injection Devices by Ram Ratnagiri, Mark Hazel, Liz Stubbs, et al.

Thank you to all our presenters for raising the bar and inspiring the next generation of materials and medical device professionals.

Snigdha Rayala & Judith Praba Prabhahar Albert

MiniTec February 2026 Program

Posted on January 13, 2026February 2, 2026 by Theresa Shafer

Medical polymers innovations, challenges and opportunities

A two-day conference where presentations from the industry will discuss the latest developments in the area of medical plastics.

Online Registration: https://www.mdmwest.com/en/home.html?

FEBRUARY 2&3 – SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

PREVIEW THE SPEAKER LINEUP

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Download 2 page program (pdf)

Download full program (pdf)

Download program QR code

Wrapping up Medical Polymers 2025 at MD&M Midwest in Minneapolis

Posted on October 27, 2025November 17, 2025 by Theresa Shafer

Thank you for a great Medical Polymers MiniTec

On October 21 2025, MPD hosted our conference on Medical Polymers at MD&M Midwest in Minneapolis. We had a great time meeting old and new friends across the MedTech community. Speakers and attendees joined us from across industry and academia to discuss hot topics in Medical Polymers and Medtech.

Thank you to keynote speaker Mark Wehde, invited speakers Nate Doyle, Wei Zheng, Erik Foltz, Theresa Reineke, Heather Baeten, and Mike Kratochvil

Special thanks to the conference organizers Rob Klein, Joanne Moody, and Christopher Lyons. Well done!

keynote speaker Mark Wehde with Joanne Moody

Poster Session

And also a big thank you to poster presenters Thomas Meehan, MBA, Melissa Walsh, Ahmed Wadi, Prashant Pandey, Rajat Daga, Ashutosh Nehete, Holly Tian, Alison Block, Margaret Kumler, Sandra Shahriar, Sydney Haubenstricker, Aliha Nisha, and Cynthia Ge. High quality research and presentations from Eastman, University of Minnesota, and University of Mississippi!

Thank you to our conference sponsor PUNCH INDUSTRY CO., LTD: Cheryl Richardson and Hiroshi Noguchi.

Thank you to Informa for hosting the overall event and supporting our conference: Marissa Ray, Lauren Moore, Suzanne Deffree.

We had a great time and hope to be back again in 2026!

MiniTec Oct 2025 Program

Posted on August 21, 2025September 19, 2025 by Theresa Shafer

A one-day conference where presentations from the industry will discuss the latest developments in the area of medical plastics.

Online Registration: https://xpressreg.net/register/mdmm1025/landing.asp

October 21, 2025 – Schedule of Events:

8AM REGISTRATION & POSTER SETUP

9AM – 5:30PM MINITEC PROGRAM

9-11:15 AM MORNING SESSIONS – ROOM 102B/C

Nathan Doyle, Compounding Solutions – Fluoropolymer Alternatives for Catheter Liners
Wei Zheng, University of Wisconsin-Stout – Design and Fabrication of an ASTM-Standardized System for Testing the Biodegradability of Sustainable Materials
Erik Foltz, Madison Group – Moving Cooling Optimization Forward: Design, Modeling & Case Studies to Improve Part Quality & Cycle Time

12-1:15 PM LUNCH & SPE POSTER SESSION

1:15-2 PM KEYNOTE SESSION – ROOM 102B/C

Mark Wehde, Mayo Clinic – How Technology is Helping Us Reimagine Healthcare

2:15-5 PM AFTERNOON SESSIONS – ROOM 102B/C

Theresa M. Reineke, University of Minnesota, Machine Learning Reveals Chemical Features in Polymer Micelles Determines mRNA Binding, In Vitro, and In Vitro Performance and Tropism
Heather Baeten, Boston Scientific – Leveraging Material Characterization Partnerships to Accelerate Failure Investigations and Manufacturing Solutions in Medical Devices
Mike Kratochvil, Exponent – Protein-Plastic Interactions

4:15-5:30 PM SPE MPD RECEPTION, INDUSTRY NETWORKING & POSTER SESSION – ROOM 102F

Don’t miss the networking. Students invited to join leaders from the industry.

PREVIEW THE SPEAKER LINEUP

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR

Download 1 page program (pdf)

Download program QR code

Wrapping Up MiniTec Minneapolis 2024

Posted on October 24, 2024August 25, 2025 by Theresa Shafer

Wrapping up another successful year at the SPE MPD MiniTec Conference in Minneapolis during MD&M MidWest!

It was fantastic to reconnect with colleagues and see so many new and familiar faces. Here are some of the highlights from our one-day event:

Conference Highlights

Our special keynote featuring Dr. Art Erdman, Founding Director of the Bakken Medical Devices Center, set the tone with a thought-provoking presentation.

Speakers included:

Rob Klein, AtriCure Inc.
Chun Wang, University of Minnesota, Biomedical Engineering
Wei Shen, University of Minnesota, Biomedical Engineering
Chris Konitzer, Avient Corp.
Patrick Haney, MTD Micro Molding
Shrubs Manna, Foster Corp.
Louis Somlai, Eli Lilly
Chris Ellison, University of Minnesota, IPPRIME
Wei Zheng, University of Wisconsin–Stout, Plastics Engineering
Len Czuba, Czuba Enterprises
Paul Briant, Exponent
Kimberly Chaffin, Medtronic
Chris Lyons, Exponent

This event featured presentations on innovations in materials, biopolymers, diagnostics, device-enabling polymers, drug delivery, design, manufacturing, 3D printing, testing, sterilization, and sustainability. Speakers included both academic and industry leaders in the medical devices industry. We also held a successful student poster session. The top-ranked student poster award went to Marcus Flowers, UMN Biomedical Engineering.

Poster Session and Networking:

The full-day conference was followed by a popular networking reception. MD&M Midwest brings together key players and industry experts who focus on the challenges and innovations shaping the industry.

Special Thanks

A special thank you to the team that made all this possible: Rob Klein, Chris Lyons, Len Czuba, Ron Dugas, Joanne Moody, and many others behind the scenes.

We’re proud to be part of MD&M Midwest, where collaboration drives the next wave of innovation in medical plastics. See you next year!