Nelson Labs’ 40th Anniversary Celebration Recap

October 1, 2025

Nelson Labs on October 1 celebrated a milestone 40th anniversary. Since its humble beginnings in 1985 in University of Utah’s Research Park, Nelson Labs has grown into a trusted, global leader of medical device and pharmaceutical testing.

Thor Rollins, vice president and global market segment leader for medical devices, captured the spirit of the day with these sentiments:

“The highlight of Nelson Labs’ 40th anniversary celebration was seeing the company’s founder, Dr. Jerry Nelson. Nearly 25 years ago, he took a chance on a recent college graduate, and I’ve been grateful ever since. People often ask why I’ve stayed with the same company for so many years. The answer is in the picture below: together, the eight of us represent more than 200 years of laboratory experience. It’s hard to walk away from a place with this much expertise, history, and impact on our industry.”