WARSAW — The name Depuy Synthes is making a comeback of sorts.

The orthopedic company name essentially disappeared about a year ago after Johnson & Johnson began using its brand name in place of DePuy Synthes.

Johnson & Johnson recently announced its intent to separate its orthopedics business, thereby establishing a standalone orthopedics business operating as DePuy Synthes.

The soon-to-be standalone entity will be considered the largest, most comprehensive orthopedics-focused company with leading market share positions across major categories, according to a news release posted online by the company.

“This transaction enables Johnson & Johnson to further strengthen its focus and investment toward higher-growth areas where we can meaningfully extend and improve patient lives,” said Joaquin Duato, chairman and chief executive officer, Johnson & Johnson. 

Following the completion of the separation, Johnson & Johnson will retain a leadership position in six key growth areas across its Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments – oncology, immunology, neuroscience, cardiovascular, surgery and vision, according to the news release. 

The change is expected to be complete within the next 18 to 24 months, marking its second major spinoff in two years as it sharpens its focus on higher-growth healthcare segments.

Revra DePuy founded the first orthopedic device company, known simply as DePuy, in 1895.

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WARSAW — 2024 was a year of tremendous momentum for OrthoWorx, and the organization is gearing up for another year of progress in 2025.

The organization recently added two new members to the team to continue the momentum of their efforts. Brooke Friedberg joined as the new Talent Director and Lukas Rife joined as the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI) Project Manager.

One of OrthoWorx’s key initiatives is building the orthopedic talent pipeline and in 2024, the team gained momentum in many K-12 projects. In the spring, OrthoWorx, in partnership with IN-MaC, celebrated the launch of two advanced manufacturing academies at Warsaw and Wawasee High Schools.

These academies provide students with opportunities to learn from industry experts and gain hands-on experience with regional employers. To further support these academies and career education, OrthoWorx collaborated with the Don Wood Foundation to develop a technical education ecosystem report. This report identified strengths and opportunities within career and technical education centers across Kosciusko and Whitley Counties.

OrthoWorx also secured a grant from the Don Wood Foundation to fund a partnership with iXplore, a virtual reality(VR) career exploration group. This initiative will introduce VR modules that immerse students in orthopedic industry careers. The program is meant to expose students to the work environment and is focused on gamifying hard-to-fill jobs. Beginning in spring 2025, students will have the opportunity to engage with the first two modules, which focus on polishing and machining.

In fall 2024, OrthoWorx hosted nearly 1,000 eighth-grade students for the annual DiscoverME program. During the event, students learned about Warsaw’s status as the Orthopedic Capital of the World® and explored the manufacturing careers essential to the industry’s success.

Additionally, in May of 2024 the first cohort of students from the Bridge to Employment (BTE) mentorship program, an initiative of Johnson &Johnson with local support from OrthoWorx, graduated from Warsaw High School. The BTE program pairs students with mentors who guide them through academic enrichment activities, career exploration, and post-secondary education preparation.

A crucial element in OrthoWorx’s talent pipeline efforts is the Talent Director role and the organization recently welcomed Brooke Friedberg to fill the role. She will continue advancing the organization’s K-12 workforce initiatives, building on the 15 years of impactful work since OrthoWorx’s founding in 2009.

“I’m beyond excited to join the OrthoWorx family as the Talent Director! With my background in both career development and education, I am eager to contribute to our mission of bridging the gap between our educational and orthopedic industry partners,” says Brooke,

“My family and I have lived in Warsaw for the past 16 years, and there’s no place that I’d rather be. This community is truly the best, and it holds deep meaning for us. I’m honored to represent such a vibrant and dynamic place as we grow together. I am looking forward to contributing to initiatives at OrthoWorx that foster an innovative culture while helping build a strong orthopedic talent pipeline. My goal is to support the development of exciting and impactful initiatives that prioritize growth and learning. Together, we’ll achieve great things and make a lasting impact in the world of orthopedics and our community,” she said.

In addition to workforce development, OrthoWorx was honored to receive $30 million in funding through the Indiana state budget for the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI). This funding aims to position Kosciusko County as a global leader by enhancing amenities and experiences that complement its reputation in orthopedics and other key industries. Ryan Christner, the OIRI Executive Director, has appointed Lukas Rife as the OIRI Project Manager to support and elevate the efforts.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to join the OrthoWorx team and work alongside many different leaders from our community and with various organizations to help achieve our vision of Advancing the Orthopedic Capital of the World® for Generations to Come,” says Lukas, “There are a wide variety of opportunities to leverage the experience I gained from working in public accounting at Katz, Sapper, and Miller (KSM) over the past few years. It is an honor to make a difference in the communities of Kosciusko County which will extend far beyond our lifetimes and that truly motivates me to dig in and assist in ensuring this initiative thrives. I am grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to see the advances to come over the course of the next few years.”

As OrthoWorx continues to build momentum in 2025, the organization remains committed to strengthening the orthopedic talent pipeline, fostering community vibrancy, and enhancing the region’s global reputation through accelerating industry and innovation. With new team members, strengthened strategic partnerships, and significant funding support, OrthoWorx is well-positioned to be a catalyst for driving meaningful impact in the orthopedic industry and beyond. The team looks forward to another year of collaboration, innovation, and growth as they work to help solidify Kosciusko County as a hub for talent, opportunity, and industry excellence on the quest to become known as the MedTech Capital of the World.

The post OrthoWorx expands team, and advances initiatives for 2025 appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — The following is a recap of top stories that stood out in 2024 in Kosciusko County.

Downtown growth

Downtown Warsaw saw a banner year with a large number of new stores opening, providing a more diverse selection of options for downtown shoppers. As a result, the number of storefront vacancies now hovers near zero — an impressive fete for any small downtown.

At the same time, Fellowship Missions opened the Gathering Place and LITE and Generous Coffee agreed to share space along Center Street.

Orthopedic retention money

Local leaders began developing a plan on how to use $30 million in money directed by the state legislature to help boost job retention in the orthopedic industry. The program is formally known as the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI) and is overseen by OrthoWorx. Among the first projects to see movement is a plan for an orthopedic innovation center with a partnership involving Grace College. Talks are also underway for a future city-county parking garage in Warsaw. Nine other projects have been outlined.

Overdose deaths

The number of deaths resulting in overdoses in Kosciusko County fell significantly in the past year. Officials attribute that to the availability of Narcan and an array of community programs and educational efforts.

Grace College

A $27 million grant from Lilly Endowment was awarded to Grace College. The grant represents the largest donation in school history and will provide partial support for a larger collaborative project involving a series of initiatives in Warsaw and Winona Lake. Also this year, the college announced plans for a new $2 million welcome center that will transform much of Westminster Hall.

Winona Lake

Winona Lake Town Council revamped how the Miller Sunset Pavilion is managed in hopes of whittling down a large debt from its construction. Meanwhile, Gov. Eric Holcomb honored retiring town manager Craig Allebach with the Sagamore of the Wabash after Allebach announced plans to retire.

County leadership

Retirements and the 2024 election helped reshape Kosciusko County leadership. Sue Ann Mitchell moves over from county council to the board of commissioners, replacing longtime commissioner Brad Jackson. Council added two new faces — both Republicans — with the election of Rachael Rhoades and Delynn Geiger. Meanwhile, Allysa Schmucker was appointed county auditor by a GOP caucus after Rhonda Helser stepped down.

Sheriff's program

Sheriff Jim Smith established a Community Recovery Program focused on helping inmates prepare for life after incarceration. The program relies heavily on grants and community resources. Shanna Wallen was named resource navigator and the program is expected to evolve in 2025.

YMCA

Kosciusko Community YMCA had a busy year as it opened a new facility near downtown Warsaw that offers 24/7 access. It also worked to establish two programs addressing the need for more childcare in the community.

Orthopedics

Zimmer Biomet is now the home for a MedTech venture program via Plug and Play, an internationally recognized developer of innovative start-ups. Officials hope that a few of those businesses will eventually consider taking root in Warsaw. On an unrelated note, Johnson & Johnson quietly ditched the name Depuy Synthes in favor of Johnson & Johnson, thereby eliminating any direct reference to the first orthopedic company in the world.

Warsaw Football

Coach Bart Curtis led Warsaw’s high school football team on a historic playoff run as the Tigers knocked off the top three 5A teams in the state before losing in the championship game against Decatur Central.

Other stories worth mentioning ...

• The closing of Big Lots and Workout Anytime put a dent in the momentum to revitalize Market Place of Warsaw, which saw a tremendous rebound after new owners took over the shopping center in 2022. On the bright side, Bealls moved into the shopping center and a new retailer is expected to fill the vacancy in the Big Lots property in early 2025.
• Construction of an overpass is expected to improve traffic flow north of Milford and could lead to new development along the county road east toward Syracuse.
• A lack of transparency was highlighted in a state audit that showed the town of Syracuse has been reimbursing health insurance premiums outside the town group health plan. InkFreeNews reported the Indiana State Board of Accounts determined current and former town council members along with several former town employees owe the town about $503,529. The town council contends the practice is permissible under state law.

The post Ten issues that stood out in 2024 in Kosciusko County appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Johnson & Johnson is rebranding its medical device companies, including Depuy Synthes, the founding company where orthopedics first originated.

J&J announced a month ago that Ethicon, DePuy Synthes, Biosense Webster, Abiomed and CERENOVUS will now go by "Johnson & Johnson MedTech."

Signage outside the DePuy facility on US 30 changed about a week ago and now reads Johnson and Johnson.

[caption id="attachment_100258" align="alignright" width="330"] The sign outside DePuy Synthes in 2019. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

While it's not an Earth-shaking development, for Warsaw it means the first name in orthopedics will likely fall by the wayside.

In an email to News Now Warsaw on Monday, the company said the change is the next step in Johnson & Johnson’s updated brand and visual identity announced in September 2023.

This move underscores Johnson & Johnson’s leadership in medical technology with a focus on cardiovascular, orthopedic, surgery and vision solutions, the company said.

The announcement has no impact on the medical technology products and solutions currently offered to customers, the company said.

The name change follows a trend in which the term orthopedics is often being replaced by "Medtech."

That was readily apparent at a recent Plug and Play event in Winona Lake that brought together dozens of entrepreneurs.

Bob Vitoux, a former executive with DePuy who now oversees Orthoworx, said the change in terminology reflects the evolving technology. For decades, orthopedics was all about metal and plastic instrumentation but now has a much more expansive use of technology.

"In a lot of ways, what we're really seeing with the move to medtech is just the continued advancement of that use of technology and data in the business going forward," Vitoux said.

While the name Revra DePuy will forever be cemented in the history of orthopedics, Vitoux said he believes the name Depuy will continue to be ingrained in the minds of those in the medical field despite the name change.

"It's the end of, potentially the era of Revra DePuy, being the origin going back to 1895 — this is now the new chapter of where we're headed," he said.

He said he believes the respect the J&J name carries with it in the healthcare industry will prove to be beneficial for the local identity.

Several people said they agreed that the name Depuy Synthes was somewhat awkward for those outside of Warsaw and not familiar with the company.

Some former DePuy employees reached out to News Now Warsaw with their thoughts. Hans Kusserow, who had a long career with the company and now lives out west, said he didn’t think it was that big of a deal.

"Being the first company in orthopedics, there's pride in that, and losing the name does take away something from it, but that's life, isn't it?" Kusserow said. 

Another said he believes the company will always be known by local workers as DePuy.

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