Julie Shimer will retire from Welch Allyn at the end of 2012, allowing time for a successor to be named and a smooth transition over the course of the next several months.

Shimer, president & CEO of the company for the past five years, has announced her intention to retire at the end of this year. "After a long and fulfilling career that has lasted more than 30 years and offered the opportunity to work for wonderful companies in a number of different capacities, I am looking forward to retirement and the opportunity to spend more time with family," Shimer said.

Shimer's career at Welch Allyn began in 2002 when she joined the Welch Allyn board of directors. In 2007, she became president and CEO.  She is widely credited with developing the visionary "platform strategy" for Welch Allyn products and services, which led to a slate of solutions that enable healthcare professionals to access and manage patient data real time--ultimately allowing for more effective and efficient patient care.