Fogarty Innovation

02/03/2026

El Camino Health played a lead role in the DxD HealthTech Pathways program this weekend, starting with a keynote from CIO Deborah Muro.

"There is a tremendous opportunity today to use technology to transform healthcare delivery and improve the patient experience," Muro said. She described pressing challenges across today's healthcare landscape—from a reactive approach to care to talent shortages, rising costs and health equity. Addressing these issues requires technologists who are willing to question the status quo, deeply understand clinicians’ problems, think creatively about technology solutions, and ensure value by carrying them all the way through adoption.

Next was a panel on Careers in Clinical Care featuring El Camino Health providers across disciplines: nurse practitioner Jamie Tsai; physical therapist Kasthuri Veeraraghavan; radiologist technician Leigh-Anne Yeager; registered nurse Mande Manku; physician assistant William Dizon and Dr. Zachary Edmonds.

"Taking care of hospitalized patients is a team sport," observed Edmonds. Illustrating the point, panelists described their roles, shared insights into their career paths, and spoke candidly about highlights of clinical care as well as technological frustrations that could spark new innovation opportunities.

Thank you to Dr. Edmonds for organizing these presentations, and to El Camino Health for its leadership in technology innovation and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of healthcare providers and innovators.

Pathways in Health Technology introduces community college students to careers in the medtech ecosystem through project-based work, innovation education, and mindset training.

01/30/2026

Students from the UMN Carlson School of Management's Medical Industry Leadership Institute visited Fogarty earlier this month as part of their Valuation Lab field experience. The students met with CEO Andrew Cleeland and chief innovation officer Mike Regan to learn about Fogarty's integrated platforms of incubation, education, and alliances, and heard from director of government affairs Matt Hillebrenner on the intersection of government agencies and innovation, among other activities.

We always enjoy spending time with this inspiring group!

01/25/2026

With more than two decades at FDA, Matt Hillebrenner, Fogarty's Director of Government Affairs, balances regulatory expertise with an intuitive understanding of people—what motivates them, what’s missing from the conversation, and how to move complex groups forward. Colleagues know him as someone who consistently says yes to hard assignments and finds a way to optimize outcomes.

Matt joined Fogarty a few months ago and now works closely with medtech entrepreneurs to clarify regulatory pathways and engage with government agencies. He’s a trusted partner and mentor—and a team player always ready to pitch in, even for daunting tasks like sealing popcorn bags.

If you haven’t had a chance to get to know Matt yet, here’s an opportunity to learn a bit more: https://www.fogartyinnovation.org/the-power-of-saying-yes-fogarty-welcomes-new-director-of-government-affairs-matt-hillebrenner/

01/23/2026

"I am really good at using the tools that we have... but Tom was really good at figuring out the tools that we needed."

Vincent Gaudiani, MD—who has led teams for more than 44 years as a cardiovascular surgeon practicing at El Camino Health and was a longtime colleague and friend of Dr. Fogarty—visited our offices this week to deliver a memorable presentation on leadership. Afterward, he shared some reflections about Tom, including the one captured in this video.

Here, he commends Tom’s mentor, Dr. Cranley, for encouraging Tom to pursue medical school and to improve patient care through innovation—starting with the balloon embolectomy catheter for venous clot removal, which has saved millions of lives and limbs.

01/22/2026

Fogarty Innovation is excited to be participating in El Camino Health’s 15th Annual Heart Forum on Feb. 7 from 8:30a - 12:30p at St. Francis High School in Mountain View! Andrew Cleeland will speak on a panel about innovation in devices, clinical research, diagnostics, AI and more, moderated by Fogarty CMO Zachary Edmonds, MD, MBA. Join us in person or online to learn about the latest in innovation, prevention, and treatment, plus everyday strategies to protect your heart. Register now!
❤️ https://www.elcaminohealth.org/landing/heartforum2026

01/20/2026

What are some of the highlights of the Lefteroff Internship? Learn more in the video below, and apply for your own spot by January 23!
Link: https://www.fogartyinnovation.org/lefteroff-program-3/

01/16/2026

Looking for a summer of hands on healthcare and medtech innovation? Only ONE WEEK left to apply for the 2026 Lefteroff Internship program. Learn more: https://www.fogartyinnovation.org/lefteroff-program-3/

01/15/2026

What a night! The Innovator’s Reception at welcomed more than 800 entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders—all connected by a shared commitment to improving patient care. Looking back to when this event first launched in 2018, it is remarkable to see how much the ecosystem has grown while remaining genuinely close-knit. There is something special about this mission we share—it brings us together not just as collaborators, but as a community.

We were so pleased to co-host this extraordinary gathering again with our partners Stanford Biodesign; LSI; MedTech Innovator; Research Corporation Technologies, Inc.; and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.

01/15/2026

01/15/2026

A huge thank you to Dr. Fred St. Goar for hosting two of our Pathways in Health Technology students in his outpatient cardiology clinic at El Camino Health. By shadowing Dr. St. Goar, Ahmad and Desiree gained meaningful insights into the realities of clinical practice. We're excited to see how they bring this perspective into their group projects.

01/09/2026

Another treasure from the Tom Fogarty video archives. Jump to11:40 to hear Tom explain the greatest deterrent to medical innovation, why he invited engineers into the operating room, and what motivated the launch of Fogarty Innovation. The video concludes with rare footage of Tom receiving the National Medal of Technology & Innovation from President Barack Obama.

Thank you, Tom Krummel, for this candid interview for the 2019 American College of Surgeons "Icons in Surgery" series!

Thomas J. Fogarty, MD, FACS, cardiovascular surgeon and inventor, revolutionized surgery with the invention of the Fogarty® Embolectomy Balloon Catheter to t...

01/08/2026

"It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from, or what you're studying. If you've ever been interested in medicine, the experience at Fogarty Innovation is amazing. It'll open doors that you didn't even know existed." - Antoni Kaluza, 2025 Lefteroff Intern

Are you a rising college junior or above interested in healthcare innovation? Apply for the 2026 Lefteroff Internship before January 23!

👉https://www.fogartyinnovation.org/lefteroff-program-3/