In 2005, the Mounds View City Council voted to sell the city owned golf course to Medtronic, Inc., for a new campus.
Dr. Dzau is also a director of Genzyme Corporation, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Medtronic, Inc. Dr. Dzau was elected to PepsiCo's Board in 2005.
It was invented at his behest by Earl Bakken, whose then-small company, Medtronic, designed and repaired electronics for the University of Minnesota hospital.
Sensing an opportunity, Bakken and his brother-in-law, Palmer Hermundslie, formed Medtronic (the combination of "medical" and "electronic") in a small garage, primarily working with the University of Minnesota hospital.
They created apps for companies including Hyundai, Taco Bell, Medtronic, Monster.com, Disney, and The New York Times Company; for public figures including Actress Marlee Matlin, Comedians Cheech & Chong, DJ Pauly D, and MMA Champion Quinton Rampage Jackson; and to support movie releases such as the movie Ted and the Focus Features documentary, Babies.
The history of these technologies dates back to many highly regarded names in the medical industry including Medtronic, BioMedicus, Bard, Terumo, Research Medical Inc., Shiley, Polaris Plastics, and Caplugs.