Otto Schmitt Distinguished Lecture Series
The IEM Otto Schmitt Distinguished Lecture Series is designed to foster discussion of the grand challenges for engineering in medicine. IEM invites national opinion leaders in research, industry, and government to give one or two talks each academic year.
These public lectures are named in honor of Dr. Otto Schmitt, a longtime University professor of biophysics, bioengineering, and electrical engineering, who made significant contributions to a wide range of fields including submarine detection, electrocardiography, and quality of life measures.
2027 Lecture
Date & Location TBA
Jim Peichel
Chief Technology Officer, Medtronic
Jim Peichel is Chief Technology Officer of Medtronic, where he serves as the enterprise-wide voice of technology and leads the company’s technology strategy and innovation agenda. Jim began his Medtronic career as a software engineering intern and has spent more than 25 years advancing through a range of engineering and leadership roles. His experience spans research and development, digital health, product development, commercialization, and technology innovation.
As CTO, Jim works across businesses and disciplines to advance technologies with the potential to transform healthcare and improve patient outcomes. He serves as Chair of the Medtronic Technology Advisory Board, leads the company's Research & Technology Council, and co-leads the Medtronic Research & Development Council, helping guide technology priorities and foster collaboration across the enterprise.
Throughout his career, Jim has focused on bringing together engineering, technology, and diverse teams to solve complex healthcare challenges. He is a strong advocate for developing technical talent and building high-performing teams, with a leadership approach grounded in collaboration, curiosity, and translating innovation into meaningful impact for patients and healthcare providers.
Jim earned his MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management. He holds numerous technical achievements and patents and has led innovation efforts spanning digital health, software, data-enabled solutions, and medical device development.