ECRI Institute founder Joel J. Nobel, M.D., has passed away, according to the organization that he founded.
“ECRI Institute, an independent nonprofit that researches the best approaches to improving patient care, sadly reports the death of its founder and president emeritus, Joel J. Nobel, M.D. Dr. Nobel founded ECRI Institute in 1968 with a mission to improve the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of healthcare. He provided hands-on leadership for 34 years. A physician, inventor, and researcher, Dr. Nobel’s remarkable vision and work led to many patient safety and technology improvements,” according to the ECRI website.
“While there is no way for all of us to truly know just how much Joel contributed to the world, we all know that he made a huge difference. Quite simply, the world is a better place because of Joel,” said Anthony J. Montagnolo, chief operating officer, ECRI Institute.
Nobel was the principal investigator for a number of federal-, state-, and foundation‑funded research and demonstration projects. He published more than 170 scientific papers and book chapters related to emergency medical services, healthcare technology, medical device safety, risk management, biomedical engineering, and hospital design. He has also lectured extensively on these and other subjects in 29 countries.
In 2011, ECRI was cited as one of the 33 most significant medical innovations in Philadelphia since 1751. ECRI Institute now employs some 400 scientists and other professional staff in its Plymouth Meeting, Pa., headquarters, and in offices in the United Kingdom, Dubai, and Malaysia. Almost 50 years after being founded, ECRI Institute continues to reflect its founder’s passionate views on integrity and independence in research.
Nobel was born on December 8, 1934, in Philadelphia, Pa., and has two sons and a daughter.
