MANUFACTURERSSpecialty pharmaceutical and device firm Angiotech Pharmaceuticals has appointed Chris Dennis senior VP of sales and marketing. Prior to joining Angiotech, Dennis was global president of Johnson & Johnson’s OrthoNeutrogena Company. AGENCIESAbelsonTaylor has hired Eric Densmore as senior account supervisor and Dan Lathitham, account supervisor. Densmore will oversee the agency’s account for a urology product for the treatment of overactive bladder. He reports to Nancy Drescher, account director. Densmore, who began his career at AbelsonTaylor in 1998, returns after a stint of five years at Euro RSCG Life Central, where he helped found the Chicago office. Appointed group VP at Euro in 2005, he had responsibility for products in the neurology, insomnia, dermatology, allergy and respiratory areas. Before that, he worked for GSW Worldwide in Columbus, OH, managing products for the treatment of cancer pain, infectious disease and hormone deficiency therapy. Lathitham will manage the agency’s account for Gilead’s Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) for the treatment of HIV. He reports to Sarah Mittag, account director. Lathitham, who has extensive experience with both Rx and OTC products, joins AbelsonTaylor from Ketchum Public Relations in Washington, DC, where he was VP, account supervisor for Premarin, a hormone replacement therapy from Wyeth. There, he managed corporate communications as well as issues management, media training and the full gamut of public relations services. Previously, he was senior project manager at Discovery Chicago, a medical education firm, where he worked on oncology products. He also spent four years at Golin/Harris International, a public relations firm in Chicago, where, as account supervisor, he worked on analgesics and HIV medications. He began his career at Edelman Public Relations Worldwide.MEDIAAdvanstar Communications announced the promotion of Leonardo Avila to associate publisher of Ophthalmology Times. Since joining Advanstar in November 2003, Avila has made numerous advertising and special project contributions in addition to playing a key role in Ophthalmology Times’ international expansion and customer/KOL development. Avila has a track record of success in meeting and exceeding goals year over year. Prior to joining Advanstar, Avila worked at Slack Incorporated where he was international sales manager for the Ocular Surgery News International editions. Prior to that he served as market research manager for Slack and market development manager for Interdelta Global Corporation.