When Jim was 15, he started working in a hospital, where he saw much of what so desperately needed to change in healthcare. After graduating from high school in San Diego, California, Sweeney served as a combat medic for the United States Army Medical Corps. In 1969, he graduated from San Diego State University, and, shortly after, was hired by Baxter Travenol (later renamed Baxter, International).

According to longtime colleague, Larry Watts, “Jim has focused on introducing new technologies and services that answer major unmet medical or patient care needs, not on ‘me too’ products or minor improvements on the status quo. He has spent his life convincing employees, clinicians, patients, investors, clinicians, regulators and payers to support significant improvements in patient care.”