In Memoriam of Joel J. Nobel, MD, ECRI Institute Founder and President Emeritus

​Sadly, ECRI Institute's founding father and president emeritus, Joel J. Nobel, MD, passed away this past August. His remarkable vision and work led to many patient safety and technology improvements. He developed ECRI Institute's overall policies and programs, such as its healthcare technology assessment, product evaluation, risk management, and technical assistance services. A physician, innovator, and pioneer, Dr. Nobel led the organization for more than 30 years.

Dr. Nobel was a resident surgeon in 1968 when a four-year-old patient died because a hospital defibrillator malfunctioned. The tragedy drove Dr. Nobel to...