It supplies tapes, dressings, wound closure products, casting materials, electrodes, stethoscopes, drapes and masks.

FORBES: Post-Its Still Yield In Digital Age

Once known as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, 3M makes products as varied as Post-it Notes, stethoscopes, touch-screen displays and security devices.

FORBES: Here's Why You Should Buy 3M's Plummeting Stock

Researchers recently found that one in three stethoscopes used by emergency-medical-service providers was contaminated with MRSA. Ask your doc to swab his scope with alcohol.

CNN: How to combat the latest supergerms

He leads a committee of supply-chain executives, currently focused on 18 "high-impact" opportunities to improve efficiency in making major products, including respiratory face masks, stethoscopes and reflective material for highway signs.

WSJ: 3M Begins Untangling Its 'Hairballs'

Like his role model, Jeffrey Bezos of Amazon.com, Bhan aims to expand beyond books and CD-ROMs. This year he plans to offer medical journal subscriptions, supplies such as stethoscopes and eventually a host of services for busy doctors and nurses -- everything but vacations.

FORBES: What the doctor ordered

Like his role model, Jeffrey Bezos of Amazon.com, Bhan aims to expand beyond books and CD-ROMs. This year he plans to offer medical journal subscriptions, supplies such as stethoscopes and eventually a host of services for busy doctors and nurses -- everything but time off.

FORBES: What the doctor ordered