Julie Brewer, president of Patient Support Systems, Global Surgical Solutions and Care Communications at Baxter [Image from Brewer’s LinkedIn profile]

Medtronic Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Services President Julie Brewer has left for a new position at Baxter.

Brewer announced on LinkedIn near the end of last week that she has joined Baxter

(NYSE: BAX)

as President of the Patient Support Systems, Global Surgical Solutions and Care Communications team.

“Baxter is a great company with a wonderful purpose of saving and sustaining lives,” Brewer said. “I spent the last couple of days meeting many on the team and came away energized and excited about the road ahead.”

Brewer also had positive words about Medtronic

(NYSE: MDT)

, where she started as an area VP and rose through the ranks.

“After almost 17 years with Medtronic, I am moving on to a new opportunity,” Brewer said. “Medtronic is an amazing company that has provided me with many opportunities to grow, learn and lead. I am most thankful for the people and our work together to alleviate pain, restore health and extend life. The future is bright, and I will be cheering for you to continue to advance this life-changing work.”

In a statement provided by a spokesperson to MassDevice, Medtronic said that Stacey Churchwell has assumed the role of VP and GM of the Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Services business, which is now part of the Cardiac Rhythm Management Operating Unit at Medtronic.

Both Baxter and Medtronic are going through changes.

Brewer is moving from Medtronic to Baxter as both companies engage in layoffs, internal reorganizations and other cost reductions to refocus and better innovate through a shifting medtech landscape where it is more expensive to run a business.

Medtronic CEO Geoff Martha said during the medtech giant’s Q4 earnings call last week: “We’ve got to balance mitigating some of these headwinds with making sure that we’re making the right investments.”

Baxter CEO José Almeida said in April: “I am confident that the transformational actions announced earlier this year, and currently underway, will help us advance our performance, fueling enhanced agility, efficiency, and resilience as we navigate an evolving landscape.”