ATLANTA - The Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association (HCEA) announced its officers and directors at its 2003 Annual Meeting, June 7-10, in Palm Springs, Calif. Joyce Banister, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, N.J., was inducted as president.

Other 2003-2004 HCEA officers are: President Elect - James Hladnik, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.; Vice President - Juleanne Dawson, Bard Access Systems, Salt Lake City; Treasurer - Geri-Dee Shaffer, Aesculap, Inc., Lawrenceville, Ga.; Secretary - Sandra Ratcliffe, Pfizer, Inc., New York; and Immediate Past President - Christy Eichers, Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis.

The association's 2003-2004 directors are Barbara Costa, Organon Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Roseland, N.J.; Cynthia Holloway, United States Surgical/Tyco Healthcare, Norwalk, Conn.; Karen Kingston, B. Braun Medical, Bethlehem, Pa.; Linda Possinger, Aventis Pasteur, Swiftwater, Pa.; and James Venduras, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, St. Davids, Pa.

The association's 2003-2005 directors are Brenda Hurst, Lilly ICOS, Indianapolis; Ruth Johansen, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Round Lake, Ill.; Sue Jones, Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, Mass.; Riki Metzger, Merck Human Health Division, North Wales, Pa.; Barbara Orr, Poretta & Orr, Inc., Doylestown, Pa.; and Kevin Wohlfort, American Urological Association, Baltimore.

2003-2004 appointed directors are George Feehan, GWF Associates, Hamilton, N.J.; Christine Shramek, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Bridgewater, N.J.; and Sherri Sujai, American Society for Microbiology, Washington.

HCEA is the only association solely dedicated to improving the effectiveness of all conventions, meetings and exhibitions for the healthcare industry. HCEA represents more than 700 member organizations involved in healthcare exhibitions and conventions.

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