Fogarty Innovation

10/17/2026

2026 Fogarty Prize Finalist Spotlight: Dr. John Adler, nominated for Frameless Image-Guided Radiosurgery

Cancer patients worldwide have benefited from two groundbreaking radiosurgery technologies pioneered by Dr. John Adler. His first invention, the CyberKnife®, introduced the world’s first frameless robotic stereotactic radiosurgery system. His latest innovation, the ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Radiosurgery® platform (ZAP Surgical Systems, Inc.), represents the first vault-free, cobalt-free system dedicated to cranial radiosurgery. Together, these technologies have been used to treat more than one million patients worldwide.

Join us at the Fogarty Prize Gala on October 30 at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego to celebrate the three finalists and learn the winner of the 2026 Fogarty Prize. https://bit.ly/Fogarty_Prize_2026

10/08/2026

Innovative physicians, cutting-edge care! We were thrilled to witness the ribbon-cutting of El Camino Health's new Histotripsy System, a groundbreaking technology that uses focused sound waves to destroy tumors without surgery, radiation, or needles.

Leading the charge is Dr. Fabio Komlos, who performed the first procedure in late September. Dr. Komlos also participated in our Invention Acceleration Program (IAP), working with Dr. Patrick McGlynn and medtech exec Rohit Girotra to evaluate and advance an innovative approach to peritoneal dialysis.

We’re proud to support physician-innovators like Dr. Komlos and to collaborate with a healthcare system that shares our commitment to innovation and improving patient care.

10/06/2026

"Companies need to do their part to make the submission process as clear as possible, including communicating exactly what a device does and how the team chose its testing protocol," said Fogarty strategic clinical and regulatory advisor Peggy McLaughlin. “You can really smooth the way by helping reviewers understand the choices you have made and why."

For more than five years, Peggy has been helping medtech startups navigate a changing regulatory landscape and come out on top. You can learn more here: https://www.fogartyinnovation.org/five-years-in-peggy-mclaughlin-is-still-inspired-by-whats-next/

09/30/2026

“You want people who will get in the boat and row with you.”

Every hire matters, especially when resources are scarce. Matt Kaufman, senior partner at The Mullings Group, shared a great tip at our recent Lunch & Learn: Don’t just hire for the role you need today. Hire people who can grow with the company and take on what comes next.

09/27/2026

El Camino Health never misses an opportunity to recognize the rich cultural diversity of its physicians and team members—and the multicultural community it serves with compassion and innovation every day.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, traditional dancers and a special meal of tamales were among the ways the health system honored the cultures, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities.

09/23/2026

What does it take to move breakthrough medtech from the bench to world, and why is equity the hardest part of the equation?

Join us TOMORROW on Zoom at 5:30pm PST to hear longtime Fogarty leader Fred St. Goar, MD, Mary & Richard Wallace Medical Director of the Norma Melchor Heart and Vascular Institute at El Camino Health, discuss pioneering the MitraClip, now the global standard for percutaneous mitral and tricuspid valve repair, co-founding Fogarty Innovation, and his ongoing work to scale healthcare globally through Rwanda's University of Global Health Equity and East Africa Biodesign.

Presented by the South Asian Heart Center.

Register to join the zoom here: https://lnkd.in/etFKgxW

Stanford Biodesign
Cardiovascular Research Foundation

09/18/2026

“I think a lot of tech issues, and particularly in the healthcare space, should be bipartisan or nonpartisan. We should all believe in saving lives.”

Read Congressman Sam Liccardo's thoughts on what medtech innovators can do to raise awareness and gain bipartisan support in this recap of his Fogarty Lunch & Learn conversation with moderator Fred St Goar, MD: https://www.fogartyinnovation.org/from-silicon-valley-to-capitol-hill/

Cardiovascular Research Foundation

09/17/2026

We had the privilege of spending two days this week in the company of our alliance partner, MedtechWOMEN. First, we hosted the final leg of their AI Hackathon series, where teams built real AI tools to transform medtech produce development.

The next day, we joined Medtech Vision 2026. This annual event, which sells out every year, is an opportunity to stop "doing" for just a day, and focus instead on listening, learning, and making connections - both to people, and to inspirational ideas that can enhance current projects and lead to new ones.

From the day full of impressive panels and speakers, we gathered pearls that included:

👠 Why the best leadership training may be raising kids - which teaches, among other things, the ability to adapt quickly, recognize what you're NOT hearing, and appreciate the utility of the phrase "use your words."

👠That the places that are the most uncomfortable are often the most rewarding.

👠That a big part of leadership is thinking about "who else needs to know," and connecting the dots to make sure all the right people are communicating.

👠That it helps to have an anchor point like "how will this change affect patients," when dealing with uncertainty.

👠And that it's NEVER too early to start reaching back and helping others.

09/09/2026

Cancer. Postpartum hemorrhage. Calcified artery disease. Three technologies changed the way each of these is treated. Congratulations to the people who built them on being selected as finalists for the second annual Thomas J. Fogarty Innovation Prize:

⭐ Frameless Image-Guided Radiosurgery: John Adler, MD
⭐ The JADA® System: Jessie Becker Alexander, Nathan Bair, Amelia Degenkolb
⭐ Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy: Daniel Hawkins, John Adams, Todd Brinton, MD

Join us on October 30 in San Diego to celebrate the finalists and learn the winner. https://bit.ly/Fogarty_Prize_2026

09/09/2026