Gary Blackford

Gary D.
Blackford is Vice Chairman at Lifespace Communities, Inc. since 2024 and Lead Independent Director at ReShape Weightloss, Inc. since 2017.
Former roles include Chief Executive Officer at Curative Health Services, Inc. from 2001 to 2002; Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer at Agiliti Health, Inc. from 2002 to 2015; Chief Executive Officer at ShopforSchool, Inc. from 1999 to 2001; Chairman at Avanos Medical, Inc. from 2020 to 2026; Director at Compex Technologies, Inc. from 2005 to 2006; Independent Director at Wright Medical Group, Inc. from 2011 to 2015; Lead Director at Obalon Therapeutics, Inc.; Director at Pipeline Health Holdings LLC from 2016 to 2020; Director at Children's Health Care from 2017 to 2020; Independent Director at EnteroMedics, Inc.; Director at The Wright Legacy Group LLC; Independent Non-Executive Director at Wright Medical Group NV from 2008 to 2020; Director at Children's Hospitals & Clinics of Minnesota from 2021 to 2023; Lead Independent Director at ReShape Lifesciences, Inc. from 2019 to 2025; Chief Operating & Financial Officer at Medintel Systems Corp.
from 1993 to 1994; and Chief Operating Officer at Valuerx, Inc. from 1995 to 1998.
Education includes a graduate degree from Creighton University in 1982 and an undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1979.