Medical Products Industry Veteran Brings Significant Leadership
                    and Marketing Skills to Company

UTICA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2008--CONMED Corporation (Nasdaq: CNMD) today announced that Joseph G. Darling has been appointed President of the Company's CONMED Linvatec subsidiary, which specializes in surgical devices for the repair of soft tissue injuries to joints often caused by sports activity and is often referred to as Sports Medicine or Arthroscopy. The unit, based in Largo, Florida, is also a market leader in Powered Surgical Instruments for use by surgeons in orthopedics and a wide variety of other specialties.

Most recently, Mr. Darling served as Senior Vice President & General Manager at Smith & Nephew, Inc. where he was a member of the executive leadership team with overall P&L responsibility for the sports medicine business unit within the Endoscopy division. Prior to this role, Mr. Darling served Smith & Nephew within the Endoscopy Division as Vice President, Worldwide Marketing.

Prior to Smith & Nephew, Mr. Darling served Baxter International, Inc. in a number of increasingly senior positions over a six year period. His final position at Baxter was Vice President, Marketing II & Integrated Delivery Network Sales within the Medication Delivery Systems division. Mr. Darling began his career at Abbott Laboratories, where he spent approximately 14 years in a number of increasingly senior positions. In his final position at Abbott, Mr. Darling served as Director of Sales within the Pharmaceutical Products Division. In this role, he directed the sales, marketing and training efforts of large primary care and specialty sales organizations.

"CONMED Corporation is fortunate to have Joe join our organization. His diverse 25-year career in the medical products industry has been marked by increasing levels of responsibility in sales, marketing, development, and operations. He will lead a world-wide team committed to the highest level of service to our customers," noted Mr. Joseph J. Corasanti, President and CEO of CONMED Corporation.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Darling said, "CONMED Corporation and the CONMED Linvatec organization have a premier reputation in the medical device industry and I am excited to join such a well-regarded team. I look forward to helping guide the Company in achieving its growth objectives."

Mr. Darling received his B.A. degree in Political Science from Syracuse University.

CONMED Profile

CONMED is a medical technology company with an emphasis on surgical devices and equipment for minimally invasive procedures and monitoring. The Company's products serve the clinical areas of arthroscopy, powered surgical instruments, electrosurgery, cardiac monitoring disposables, endosurgery and endoscopic technologies. They are used by surgeons and physicians in a variety of specialties including orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, and gastroenterology. Headquartered in Utica, New York, the Company's 3,200 employees distribute its products worldwide from several manufacturing locations.

    CONTACT: CONMED Corporation
             Robert Shallish, 315-624-3206
             Chief Financial Officer
             or
             FD
             Investors:
             Brian Ritchie/Theresa Kelleher, 212-850-5600

    SOURCE: CONMED Corporation