Luther Medical Picks Tate Scott to Serve as Its New President

Luther Medical Products Inc., the Tustin-based maker of “stickless catheters” designed to protect health care workers from AIDS, Wednesday named Tate Scott its new president and chief operating officer.

Stepping down as president is company founder Ron Luther, who will remain as chairman and chief executive officer. Scott, who started with Luther in 1987 as director of marketing, was promoted to executive vice president and elected to the board of directors last year.

Luther said in a prepared statement that Scott’s “pivotal role in securing two exclusive marketing contracts with Johnson & Johnson/Critikon and his success in the turnaround of our Neuro-Diagnostics division from near insolvency to profitability speaks clearly of his abilities.”

Three years ago Luther Medical bought Neuro-Diagnostics Inc., a financially failing company in Garden Grove that made medical diagnostic instruments used by neurologists. Luther said he called upon Scott, who was then Luther Medical’s marketing manager, to take charge of Neuro-Diagnostics.

“He reorganized the company and put together a team of technicians who successfully developed a much improved instrument,” Luther said.

After handing Scott responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the company, Luther plans to spend more time developing new products and improving investor relations. He said Luther’s stock price, at about 60 cents a share, does not reflect the potential of the company, which he predicts is about to have its first profitable year.