March 20, 2023 – Her plan was to become a physical therapist. Fascinated by the medical industry at an early age, Janis Dezso interned in the physical therapy department at a local hospital while in high school. “However, having a family took priority for me, and I set that goal aside,” she recalls. Still, a growing family calls for extra income, so in 1987 she began what was intended to be a temporary position with a medical device company, Suncoast Medical. Suncoast was later acquired by Aaron Medical, which in turn was bought by Bovie Medical. In 2018, Bovie was acquired by Symmetry Surgical, and most recently Symmetry Surgical was acquired by Aspen Surgical.
The passing years and changing hands have not fazed her. In fact, the longer she remained in medical manufacturing and distribution, the more convinced she was that she was exactly where she wanted to be. “I definitely found my spot in the industry and have never looked back,” she says. Starting in Bovie’s shipping department, she has held roles in customer service, sales and marketing management and currently is part of Symmetry Surgery’s executive leadership team. “Each of these roles provided a learning experience and further opportunity,” she points out. “I’ve always enjoyed being a lifelong learner; each time the company changed and grew, I changed and grew with it. And every step of the way, I was blessed to have a group of mentors, both within and outside of our organization, who supported, taught and encouraged me forward. My colleague, Rob Saron, has been a true leader, always believing in me and supporting me in every new experience.”
Additionally, Dezso has been a member of Professional Women in Healthcare – a volunteer-led member organization dedicated to providing a national voice and fostering leadership for women in healthcare manufacturing and distribution – since 2004. After serving on its membership committee for a year, she served as Marketing Chair (2005-2009), Chair Elect (2009-2010) Chairwoman (2011-2012) and Past Chair (2013-present). In 2022, she received the Anne Eiting Klamar Leadership Award of Distinction in recognition of her industry growth and accomplishments. Finally, an active member of the Healthcare Manufacturers Management Council (HMMC) since 2002, she joined its board in 2015, since serving as Secretary, President Elect and, most recently, President.
Nor has Dezso’s family life slowed down in all these years. She and her husband, Andy, have been married for 40 years, and she has two wonderful children, Andrea and Joseph, as well as a grandson, Emmett.
One of the greatest challenges one faces, whether in their personal or professional life, is the ability to learn and develop the right skills at the right time, notes Dezso. “It requires a lot of hard work, as well as a little luck,” she explains. “I’ve never been afraid of hard work, and luck has always been on my side.”
Read more in the latest issue of Repertoire Magazine.