Simmonds, who currently serves as Chief Executive Officer for San Diego-based SpineOvations, is a thirty year veteran of the health care and medical device industry, with an emphasis on spine and orthopedics.

Simmonds’ executive experience includes work with a number of innovative spine and orthopedic companies, including serving as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Sales and Distribution for Interpore Cross International. No stranger to the clinical community, he has also served as Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President for Long Beach Memorial and Miller Children’s Hospitals. Prior to taking his current post as CEO of SpineOvations, Simmonds served as Chief Operating Officer at Alphatec Spine.

Smart Disc is focused on the development of a spinal replacement disc for the spine which mimics the functionality of the patient’s own intervertebral disc and can be put into place by the surgeon via a posterior application (thereby avoiding the need to go through the front of the patient, as is the current standard practice in disc replacement). The prosthesis is intended to maintain the normal movement between the vertebral bodies and prevent them from collapsing and thereby irritating or damaging the nerve root by maintaining the disc space height between the bones.

“Ross’ knowledge of the spine industry is remarkably rich,” said Terry Fiscus, Smart Disc’s Chief Financial Officer. “We asked him to join our Executive Board because he sees the industry and the products themselves from multiple perspectives – as an experienced businessman with a unique eye for IP, a pioneer in entrepreneurial company-building and as a colleague and friend to many of the nation’s most esteemed surgeons. We’re sure to benefit from his guidance and advice as we move forward.”

Simmonds’ career in the healthcare sector started with Johnson & Johnson and grew to his role serving as National Sales Manager for Kirschner Medical Corporation, and later Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing for a manufacturer of reconstructive hip implants.

When Simmonds arrived at Irvine-based Interpore in 1989, it was a small dental company. Over the next fifteen years, he helped build and manage the company’s orthopaedic business from its start through its successful acquisition by Biomet in 2004.

Smart Disc, Inc. is a Michigan-based medical technology company focused on the development of new and innovative spine products, primarily replacement discs for the spine which can be put into place by the surgeon via a posterior application. For more information, please visit www.smartdsc.com