Focused on our future

Key takeaways: 

• What: Cook Medical and Indiana University launch iMRI Center of Excellence to advance radiation-free, MRI-guided medical interventions.
• How: The work spans two complementary initiatives: IU School of Medicine/MIRI medical imaging research infrastructure and the FAMES–Cook engineering initiative for MR-visible devices and to translate iMRI into clinical practice. 
• Impact: Creates replicable model for hospitals to implement safer MRI-guided interventions while eliminating radiation exposure for patients and medical staff 

Bloomington, Ind. — Cook Medical has selected Indiana University as one of the first Interventional MRI (iMRI) Centers of Excellence. The collaboration is designed to accelerate the advancement, validation, and clinical integration of innovative MRI‑guided technologies and make certain medical procedures safer, more precise, and less invasive for patients. 

From left to right, Sean Chambers, Director of Research and Development at Cook Medical; David Rosenberg, President and CEO of IU LAB; and Rohan Dharmakumar, Executive Director of the Medical Imaging Research Institute pose for a photo in the iMRI suite. The photo was taken at IU Indianapolis on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

The Center of Excellence builds on a five‑year agreement announced in 2025 between Cook Medical and the Indiana University Launch Accelerator for Biosciences (IU LAB) to translate IU research into real‑world health care applications. The collaboration underscores Cook’s broader focus on innovation. 

What is the Interventional MRI (iMRI) Center of Excellence? 

The iMRI Center of Excellence is a coordinated model that combines device engineering, imaging science, and clinical research infrastructure to speed the development and adoption of MRI‑guided technologies in hospitals and health systems. This practice allows doctors to treat patients without radiation risk while seeing soft tissues in greater detail, enabling more precise and potentially safer interventions. 

A blueprint for radiation-free intervention 

Indiana University will serve as the model site demonstrating the pathway for translating iMRI into future clinical practice. The university will create a working, real-world environment that hospitals and health systems can tour, learn from, and replicate as MRI-guided care grows in Indiana and beyond. The site will also support physician training and knowledge‑sharing as adoption expands, while helping prepare a new generation of iMRI technologists and clinical staff needed to support MRI-guided procedures nationwide.  

“This Center of Excellence allows Indiana University to capitalize on our research strengths and convert them into real change for patients,” said David Rosenberg, president and CEO of IU LAB. “By bringing engineers, imaging experts, and the clinical excellence of the IU School of Medicine together in one place, we can move promising MRI-guided care ideas out of the lab and into hospitals more quickly – all in service of our goal to help patients benefit from safer, radiation-free procedures.”  

“Indiana University School of Medicine is committed to making innovations that improve patient care,” said Jay L. Hess, MD, PhD, MHSA, dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine and executive vice president for university clinical affairs at Indiana University. “This partnership with Cook Medical combines world-class imaging, engineering expertise and clinical leadership. Through creating the iMRI Center of Excellence, we can accelerate the development of safer, more effective treatments for patients in Indiana and around the world.” 

“We’re excited to name Indiana University as one of the first Centers of Excellence,” said Pete Polverini, vice president, interventional MRI division, Cook Medical. “Our mission for iMRI is bold: to enable safer, more precise, and more effective procedures using interventional MRI, and this collaboration reflects Cook’s accelerated approach to innovation and moving more quickly to bring our new ideas to patients. 

Two complementary initiatives: engineering innovation + clinical integration

Ghazal Yoosefian, a Research Assistant at the Medical Imaging Research Institute of the IU School of Medicine, is collaborating with Yanni Pandelidis from Cook Medical in the lab. This photo was taken at IU Indianapolis on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (Photo by Liz Kaye/Indiana University)

Indiana University and Cook Medical have launched two complementary initiatives spanning the full continuum of iMRI innovation, from advanced engineering of MRI‑visible devices to radiology and imaging research within the IU School of Medicine. 

• The IU School of Medicine’s Medical Imaging Research Institute (MIRI) will serve as the clinical and imaging research hub for the Center of Excellence, providing the imaging research and clinical research infrastructure, model iMRI suite, and dedicated personnel needed to validate, integrate, and translate MRI-guided technologies within real‑world procedural processes. 

• The FAMES–Cook initiative drives breakthrough engineering innovation by combining materials science, computational modeling, and advanced fiber manufacturing to develop MR‑visible and unique sensing devices designed specifically for interventional MRI environments. 

Together, these initiatives connect engineers, imaging experts and physicians into one interdisciplinary system which accelerates translational research while positioning both organizations at the forefront of precision medicine.  

 About Cook Medical 

At Cook Medical, we are passionate about making unique, quality medical devices and connecting with people to improve lives. Founded on inventing, manufacturing, and delivering medical devices, we provide healthcare professionals with the tools they need to help their patients return to living.  

Our commitment to innovation involves bringing new products to market and keeping existing products relevant to a changing healthcare landscape. We believe in using our business to help people and communities thrive by creating inclusive, supportive, and healthy environments.  

We are proud of our history of innovative firsts and the impact we have on patients and communities. With headquarters in Bloomington, Indiana, and manufacturing facilities and offices in various global locations, we challenge ourselves to maintain a global perspective while focusing on local impact.  

Follow Cook Medical at CookMedical.com and on LinkedIn. 

About Indiana University 

Indiana University is one of the nation’s leading public research universities, with nearly 90,000 students across seven campuses, two regional academic centers and nine School of Medicine campuses. Since 1820, Indiana University has helped students create brighter futures, while also driving innovation, from breakthroughs in DNA technology to cancer research to trailblazing cultural programs and resources. IU is home to world-class academics with the country’s largest medical school, the world’s first school of philanthropy, the top-ranked Kelley School of Business and O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, the nation’s first school of informatics. The university’s campuses are united by IU 2030, an aspirational vision for a bold and ambitious future focused on student success and opportunity, transformative research and creativity, and service to the state of Indiana and beyond. Learn more at iu.edu. 

FAQs  

Q: What did Cook Medical and Indiana University announce?
A: They established Cook Medical’s first Interventional MRI (iMRI) Center of Excellence at Indiana University to accelerate the development and clinical adoption of MRI‑guided technologies.  

Q: What is the purpose of the iMRI Center of Excellence?
A: To build a vertically integrated pipeline spanning engineering, imaging science, and clinical medicine—supporting validation, clinical integration, and translation of MRI‑guided technologies into real workflows. 

Q: What are the two initiatives included?
A: The FAMES–Cook engineering initiative and the Interventional MRI Center of Excellence clinical research infrastructure initiative at the IU School of MedicineMedical Imaging Research Institute. 

LIMERICK, Ireland – Cook Medical has won the Best Employer Award: People & Culture Excellence, at the Limerick Chamber Regional Business Awards, which were held at the Limerick Strand Hotel, on Friday November 14, 2025. 

The People & Culture Excellence Award recognises businesses that excel in employee well-being and development, taking into consideration work-life balance, employee health programmes, career development, employee engagement, and continuous improvement in employee benefits. 

Commenting on the award, Carla DiBenedetto, HR director EMEA at Cook Medical, said, “Our people are our greatest asset and we put them at the centre of everything we do. We are proud of our workplace culture built on integrity, respect, and inclusion, where every employee feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. To have this recognised by The Limerick Chamber, for the Best Employer Award: People & Culture Excellence, is incredibly rewarding for all of us.” 

Cook Medical fosters a people-focused workplace culture. We are determined to create an inclusive and supportive environment that allows everyone to reach their full potential within Cook.  

 We provide resources and benefits to help our employees achieve their personal and professional goals while actively working to remove any barriers that stand in their way. 

More about our programs 

What makes Cook Medical a best employer in Limerick? 

• Retention & Culture: Employees join and stay because of our supportive culture and career growth initiatives like My Cook Pathway, which connects people to education, wellbeing, and advancement resources. 
• Flexibility: Hybrid work, adjustable start times, and policies that promote work-life balance. 
• Recognition: Named one of LinkedIn’s Top Companies in Ireland 2025 for career growth and supportive culture. 
• Unique Atmosphere: Visitors notice warmth, camaraderie, and belonging—built on respect and shared purpose. 

 How does Cook create a positive experience for your team? 

• Core Values: Integrity, transparency, respect, and community guide decisions and interactions. Celebrated through Values Awards. 
• Inclusive Culture: 94% say diverse people work well together; 89% feel respected (surveys). Inclusion is strategy-driven, not a side initiative. 
• Employee Voice: 300+ feedback actions since 2022; annual My Cook Voice survey shapes improvements. 
• Engagement: Monthly activities, festive events, and service milestone celebrations.
• Leadership: Leaders model inclusion, listen actively, and prioritize wellbeing. Open dialogue via Let’s Talk Cook sessions and open-door policy. 

How does Cook support employees’ wellbeing and personal needs? 

• Hybrid Model: Up to 4 remote days weekly, 4 fully remote weeks annually, plus various leave types. 
• Right to Disconnect: Encourages healthy boundaries. 
• Mental Health Support: 40 trained Mental Health First Aiders, resilience training, and awareness events. 
• Wellness Resources: On-site gym, subsidized classes, annual Health & Wellness Week, and year-round sessions on menopause, nutrition, and financial planning. 

How does Cook support employee growth and development? 

• Structured Development: Comprehensive induction and My Cook Pathway for career planning. 
• Training & Education: External courses, Tuition Assistance for accredited programs (192 qualifications since 2018), and thousands of free online courses via Cook Learn. 
• Career Clarity: Job architecture framework and Individual Development Plans (IDPs). 
• Continuous Improvement: CI Academy, mentoring, Buddy Program  

What’s working at Cook Medical to improve impact and innovation for employees? 

• Retention: 96.29% retention rate; nearly half have 10+ years of service. 
• Engagement: 84% feel engaged; 85% intend to stay. Feedback drives communication and improvements. 
• Recognition: 873 peer acknowledgments in 2024; awards for improvements and milestones. 
• Safety & Sustainability: Good Catch, Great Save program, BBS training, and initiatives like Cook Style Swap. 
• Connection & Innovation: Summer Series activities and departmental expos for cross-functional learning. 

How does Cook ensure employees are treated fairly and respectfully? 

• Policies & Standards: Global Labour Standards, Equal Opportunities, and Dignity at Work policies. 
• Bias Training: Annual unconscious bias and hiring bias training for managers. 
• Transparency: Internal recruitment and multiple feedback channels. 
• Ethics & Compliance: Anti-bribery, anti-corruption, and privacy practices. Quarterly ethics training and 24-hour helpline for anonymous concerns. 

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About Cook Medical 

At Cook Medical, we are passionate about making unique, quality medical devices and connecting with people to improve lives. Founded on inventing, manufacturing, and delivering medical devices, we provide healthcare professionals with the tools they need to help their patients return to living. 

Our commitment to innovation involves bringing new products to market and keeping existing products relevant to a changing healthcare landscape. We believe in using our business to help people and communities thrive by creating inclusive, supportive, and healthy environments. 

We are proud of our history of innovative firsts and the impact we have on patients and communities. With headquarters in Bloomington, Indiana, and manufacturing facilities and offices in various global locations, we challenge ourselves to maintain a global perspective while focusing on local impact. 

Follow Cook Medical at CookMedical.eu and on LinkedIn. 

About Cook Limerick 

Cook Medical has been in Limerick since 1996, starting out with labelling and distribution and steadily growing and evolving to include manufacturing, centralisedcustomer support, and collaborative product development in the Innovation Centre. The Ireland location is our European headquarters and houses our EMEA Support Centre. This location currently employs nearly 1,000 people and manufactures 10% of Cook’s products for global markets. 

Cook Medical and Siemens Healthineers today announced a strategic commercial partnership aimed at setting a new standard for interventional medicine. The collaboration combines the power of Siemens Healthineers real-time magnetic resonance imaging with Cook Medical’s deep interventional procedure expertise, along with new medical devices developed by Cook specifically for the MRI environment. Together, the companies are creating the Interventional MRI (iMRI) Suite¹, the first integrated, ionizing radiation-free solution intended to transform how clinicians diagnose, plan and perform minimally invasive procedures.

“MRI in the interventional suite has always been a concept with tremendous clinical potential, but it has also faced significant barriers. At Siemens Healthineers, we are committed to breaking those barriers to unlock new clinical opportunities and advance patient care. Together with Cook Medical, we’re leading the way into a new era where iMRI becomes a precise radiation-free standard of care,” said Andreas Schneck, head of Magnetic Resonance at Siemens Healthineers.

By leveraging MRI’s unparalleled soft tissue contrast, iMRI enables precise guidance for minimally invasive interventions, particularly in areas such as interventional oncology for soft tissue tumors, pediatrics, and structural heart procedures, where accuracy and safety are paramount. This approach allows clinicians to navigate complex procedures with confidence while eliminating exposure to ionizing radiation for both patients and healthcare teams.

This first-of-its-kind collaboration delivers a turn-key solution designed to accelerate iMRI adoption and advance clinical impact in interventional radiology. It encompasses suite planning, an MRI scanner designed for interventions¹, MRI-specific medical devices, specialized training, and ongoing clinical support. Cook Medical brings extensive procedural knowledge, innovative device design, and comprehensive educational programs, while Siemens Healthineers contributes its world-class MR imaging technologies and services, including dedicated interventional planning software.

 The integrated iMRI suite reflects a shared commitment to innovation and collaboration, offering clinicians a complete framework, from conceptual suite design to staff training, to enable the adoption of this transformative technology for enhanced patient care.

“Our partnership with Siemens Healthineers is about more than device integration; it’s about revolutionizing interventional procedures,” said Peter Polverini, vice president of Cook Medical’s iMRI Division. “By merging the top-tier MRI systems of Siemens Healthineers with Cook’s advanced devices and expertise, we’re unlocking high-precision treatments that elevate patient care and empower clinicians.”

¹ The product is currently under development and not available for sale in the U.S.A. Its future availability cannot be guaranteed.

Disclaimer: The product names and/or brands referred to are the property of their respective trademark holders.

For more information about Cook Medical’s iMRI division, visit CookMedical.com/divisions/iMRI and follow the journey on iMRI LinkedIn.

Further information on the iMRI suite can be found here.

Media contacts
Cook Medical
Marsha Lovejoy
+1 812 320 6903; marsha.lovejoy@cookmedical.com

Siemens Healthineers
Stefanie Haug
+49 173 635 8240; stefanie.haug@siemens-healthineers.com
Visit the Siemens Healthineers Press Center.
Subscribe to our “Medtech matters” newsletter on LinkedIn.

Please join us as we highlight some of our leaders, learn about their experiences, and hear how they are talking about the positive changes we’re making to meet our vision of the future at Cook. Follow along for the full Meet Our Leaders series.

Meet Dr. John Kaufman, Chief Medical Officer, Cook Medical 

Bloomington, Ind. — Cook Medical announced this morning it has signed a letter of intent with Astorg, a leading private equity firm with an extensive and successful track record in global healthcare investments, to purchase Cook’s Reproductive Health business (“Cook ART”). This sale, which includes the in vitro fertilization (IVF) and assisted reproductive technology (ART) products, is another step toward fulfilling Cook’s vision for the future of the company.

Cook has been involved in the Reproductive Health space for more than 30 years, developing and launching products for in vitro fertilization and advanced reproductive therapies. Astorg, which has deep experience in investing in MedTech across both manufacturing and product businesses with a focus on growth and innovation, intends to acquire and simultaneously combine the Cook ART portfolio with Hamilton Thorne, a leading provider of precision instruments, consumables, software, and services to the ART research and the cell biology space. Through combining Cook ART and Hamilton Thorne, Astorg expects to create a leading ART provider with a comprehensive portfolio of high-quality, innovative, and reliable equipment and consumables to better serve doctors, embryologists, researchers, and patients. 

“Cook is focused on our vision to deliver a continuous stream of innovative new products and services to address unmet customer needs. Part of achieving that business strategy has included reviewing our product portfolio and identifying what product lines are the best fit for Cook moving forward and which might have more opportunity to grow or thrive elsewhere,” said DJ Sirota, senior vice president of Cook Medical’s MedSurg division. “Astorg has exciting plans to build an IVF/ART manufacturing hub at our facility in Vandergrift, PA, creating a core location for manufacturing operations for Cook ART products. The expertise and skill of our Reproductive Health commercial and manufacturing teams will be critical to this transaction, which reflects the value our employees have to this business, its customers, and patients around the world.” 

Transaction details:  

• • The proposed transaction is subject to applicable local consultation obligations and regulatory review globally before it can be finalized. The transaction is expected to close in the fall of 2024. 

• • The 93 Reproductive Health commercial employees include sales, product management, training, and marketing, will receive employment offers from, or (where applicable under local law) automatically transfer to, the newly combined company as soon as the transactions close.  

• • This purchase includes the Cook Vandergrift, Pennsylvania manufacturing site. After the transaction closes, there will be a three-year transition period during which Cook will continue to provide manufacturing services at Cook Vandergrift. After that period, all of Cook Vandergrift’s 209 employees will transfer to the combined company.   

• • The proceeds from this sale will be reinvested back into Cook Medical’s strategic plan. 

About Cook Medical
Since 1963, Cook Medical has worked closely with physicians to develop technologies that eliminate the need for open surgery. Today we invent, manufacture and deliver a unique portfolio of medical devices to the healthcare systems of the world. Serving patients is a privilege, and we demand the highest standards of quality, ethics and service. We have remained family owned so that we have the freedom to focus on what we care about: patients, our employees and our communities. 

Find out more at CookMedical.com and for the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. 

About Astorg 
Astorg is a leading pan-European private equity firm with over €22 billion of assets under management and an extensive track record in global healthcare investments. Astorg works with entrepreneurs and management teams to acquire market leading global companies headquartered in Europe or the US, providing them with the strategic guidance, governance and capital they need to achieve their growth goals. Enjoying a distinct entrepreneurial culture, a long-term shareholder perspective and a lean decision-making body, Astorg has valuable industry expertise in healthcare, software, technology, business services and technology-based industrial companies. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Astorg has offices in London, Paris, New York, Frankfurt, and Milan.  

For more information about Astorg: https://www.astorg.com/. Follow Astorg on LinkedIn. 

The last several years have brought significant change to Cook. To ensure that we are positioned to be successful in this new world, our global leadership teams have implemented a new vision and strategic plan that were informed by extensive feedback from our customers and employees. After a time of internal transformation, we’re focused on our future, and we believe there are great things to come.

We are privately owned, which means we can look at the world our own way and do what we feel passionate about.  

What are we passionate about? That’s simple: Making unique, quality medical devices and connecting with people to improve lives on both sides of the device; that is patients and employees. Cook was founded on inventing, manufacturing, and delivering medical devices that give healthcare professionals what they need to get their patients back to living.  

Our customers have a high expectation that their suppliers are going to innovate on a regular basis. We are focused on not only bringing new products to market but also keeping our existing products relevant to a changing healthcare landscape. We also recognize it’s not just about great products but understanding customer needs and meeting those consistently.   

Central to our focus on innovation is our belief in the importance of using our business to help people and communities thrive. We understand that our ongoing success will come from creating inclusive, supportive, and healthy environments where we can prosper together. 

We are proud of our history of innovative firsts and the impact we have on the lives of patients and in communities, and we are focused on increasing this impact around the globe.  

Our vision is to get back to what we were founded on, delivering a continuous stream of innovative new products and services to address unmet customer needs. Reaching this vision requires careful planning, a lot of hard work, and strategic choices including a full review of our product portfolio to ensure strategic fit for the future. Our future will focus on Cook’s unique approach to Invention, Connection, People and Community.  

Invention: Innovation that benefits patients is what drives us, and it always has. We connect with and listen to healthcare professionals to identify unmet needs and use our expertise to imagine new solutions. This innovative spirit and a relentless focus drives everyone in Cook towards the shared goal of getting patients back to living.

Donna’s Story: When Donna was eight months pregnant, her leg suddenly became swollen and sore. Hear her experience getting emergency treatment with an innovative Cook product that got her back to living her life as a busy mom.

Connection: We believe two-way understanding is vital for advancing patient care. We value the relationships that built our company, from those that help us design the future of healthcare to those that deliver the best patient care every day. We know that the future lies in creating a customer-centric environment through listening and understanding. Whether in person, virtually or through on-demand content, we’re here whenever and however you need us to continue to strengthen the connections we have.

Vizient award: Cook has been making changes. Vizient noticed. This award demonstrates how Cook’s deep connections helped us understand and respond to our customers’ needs for transparency and innovation in our supply chain.

People: Our people are our greatest asset and are at the heart of everything we do. Bill Cook used to say, “If you take care of the company, the company will take care of you.” We are determined to create an inclusive and supportive environment that allows everyone to reach their full potential within Cook. We provide resources and benefits to help our employees achieve their personal and professional goals while actively working to remove any barriers that stand in their way.

Austin’s story: Austin earned both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA through the MyCookPathway education program–at no cost to him.

Community: If our communities are not healthy, we are not healthy. Companies play a vital role in building strong, healthy, and sustainable communities for the future. We can be a successful business while using our time, resources, and expertise to help solve the problems that are holding communities back–what we call doing good business while doing good in the world. We know this looks different in communities across the globe, but we are committed to making an impact everywhere we operate in our unique Cook way.

Anna’s story: Anna, a Stone Belt client, has autism and some vision impairments, but she doesn’t let those challenges stop her. Anna makes medical devices for Cook Medical through a unique partnership between Cook Medical and Stone Belt to provide those with differing abilities the chance at meaningful work.

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