Frank Baylis
BASc ‘86, Electrical Engineering
Executive Chairman of Baylis Medical Technologies
Frank Baylis is a Canadian entrepreneur, engineer, and former Member of Parliament recognized for his leadership in advancing Canadian medical technology and his commitment to community impact. From 1989 to 2022, he and Kris Shah led Baylis Medical Company, transforming it into a world leader in interventional cardiology and pain management. Following its acquisition by Boston Scientific in 2021, Frank became Executive Chairman of Baylis Medical Technologies, continuing to drive innovation in interventional radiology and neurosurgery.
Beyond his business achievements, Frank is dedicated to philanthropy through the Gloria Baylis Foundation, which supports education, healthcare, and equity initiatives across Canada in honour of his mother’s legacy.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Baylis and Shah both graduated with a BASc in electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo in 1986. The classmates met on their first Waterloo Engineering co-op term and decided several months later that they wanted to be self-employed and start a business together.
LEGACY AND INFLUENCE
Awards and honours
Baylis and Shahs’ numerous accomplishments include the EY Entrepreneur Award for Healthcare in Quebec and Waterloo Engineering’s Team Alumni Achievement Medal awarded in 2014 “in recognition of their significant contributions to the medical technology industry in Canada that have improved the lives of patients globally.”
Baylis Medical Company Inc.
Baylis's mother, Gloria, a nurse by profession, founded Baylis Medical Company in the early 1980s running the business out of the family home. In 1986, Baylis Medical was incorporated as an importer and distributor of medical devices. Baylis joined the company in 1989 to assist with distribution and served as its president from 1989 to 2015. Shah started with Baylis Medical in 1989 as a co-founder. Baylis and Shah grew the company into an internationally recognized developer of medical devices used in cardiac electrophysiology, structural heart disease and spinal procedures.
After Baylis ran and was elected member of parliament for Pierrefonds—Dollard in 2015, Shah became president of the company and served until 2022 when Baylis Medical was purchased by Boston Scientific.
Baylis and Shah previously sold two other divisions to major US companies. They also co-founded the consulting business OME Group in 1991, which was sold to Ernst and Young in 2011.
Generously supporting their alma mater
Baylis and Shah back an undergraduate engineering student entrance scholarship in honour of Gloria Baylis and an annual award for a Capstone Design project with a biomedical focus. In 2016, their company donated $300,000 for a student garage in Engineering 7 to provide biomedical engineering students with dedicated space to work on their senior-year projects.