BioUtah, Utah’s trade association serving the state’s life sciences community, announced today Erin Barry, vice president of government affairs for Merit Medical Systems, as new board chair, and Andrew Hemmert, PhD, senior vice president of molecular research and development for bioMérieux, as new vice chair. Both positions will be effective January 1, 2026. Ms. Barry, currently board vice chair, succeeds Mark Paul, executive director of the Center for Medical Innovation at the University of Utah. Mr. Paul will remain on the board as immediate past chair and serve on the executive committee.
At Merit, Ms. Barry oversees all the company’s local, state, and federal government relations. At bioMérieux, Dr. Hemmert leads global teams focused on creating easy-to-use, rapid molecular diagnostics. “We are exceedingly grateful for Mr. Paul’s dedication, wisdom, and leadership over the past year,” said Kelvyn Cullimore, president and CEO of BioUtah. “His strategic guidance has strengthened the BioUtah organization and advanced our life sciences community. The board is excited to welcome Ms. Barry. We’re confident she will help us boldly further our mission and enhance the state’s innovation ecosystem.”
In addition to these leadership changes, three new members have been appointed to the board, effective immediately: Jim Fitzgerald, CEO of ATL Technology; Tracy George, MD, chief scientific officer and president of the Innovation Business Unit at ARUP Laboratories; and Chris Lowe, CEO of Nusano. Two board members have completed their terms: Jay Muse, president and CEO of Piper Access, and Michael Olson, corporate banking portfolio manager at Zions Bank. Myles Greenberg, MD, who served on the executive committee as immediate past chair, will remain a board member but conclude his service on the executive committee.
Ms. Barry oversees all Merit’s government relations in jurisdictions where the company has manufacturing facilities or sales offices, directing lobbying on issues including taxation, international trade, FDA regulation, and economic incentives. Prior to Merit, she was deputy director of government affairs for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and vice president of government affairs for Unspam. Dr. Hemmert leads global R&D for bioMérieux’s molecular diagnostics, including the SpotFire system for point-of-care settings, and is an active contributor to scientific publications, grants, and patents.
Mr. Fitzgerald joined ATL Technology as CEO in March 2025, bringing 15+ years of executive experience at medical device and packaging companies. Dr. George, a professor of pathology at the University of Utah, has extensive experience in laboratory diagnostics and clinical trials, and received the College of American Pathologists Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Mr. Lowe, with 30+ years in healthcare and finance, previously served as CFO and COO of Cortexyme, Inc. BioUtah is presently governed by a board of 16 directors representing the breadth of Utah’s life sciences industry. For more information on the organization’s governance, visit BioUtah.org.
