Bio-1 Spotlight on Gary Surmay, Manager, Bayer HealthCare
By Matthew Alcalde

Gary Surmay is Manager of Public Policy and State Legislative Affairs for Bayer HealthCare, located in Montville, NJ.  Bayer is a global company consisting of three divisions – healthcare, crop science and material science.  Gary supports the four subdivisions of healthcare, which are pharmaceuticals, diabetes, animal health and consumer (OTC) products.  As is common with those in management roles, Gary’s workday is anything but typical, as he analyzes public policy affairs and their impact on the company.  Gary is constantly developing relationships with trade industry organizations such as WIRED Bio-1, The HealthCare Institute of NJ (HINJ) and various Chambers of Commerce in the state.  Along with these responsibilities, he is involved in Bayer’s NJ-based charitable contributions.

After being recommended by Bill Healey of the Healthcare Institute of NJ, Gary received a phone call from Executive Director Mary Ellen Clark to join the governance board of WIRED Bio-1.  Since that time in the Spring 2008, he continues to take on an important role in the organization’s initiatives.  His responsibilities are to review operational plans, make recommendations and leverage relationships on behalf of WIRED Bio-1.  Gary plays an integral role in the consultative dialogue between WIRED Bio-1 staff, the governance board and industry related fields. 

When asked what goals the WIRED Bio-1 initiative should meet to strengthen the healthcare industry, Gary points out the importance of supporting human resources development and communication between industry and government.  He also notes the strong alignment Bayer HealthCare has with WIRED Bio-1’s mission of workforce development in the science and health industry.  One reason why Bayer HealthCare relocated from Connecticut to New Jersey because of the state’s existing workforce and geographic proximity to industry resources.  Therefore, as Gary notes, Bayer HealthCare and WIRED Bio-1 have a common interest in supporting NJ’s bioscience and healthcare community.