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Dr. Newbower is Recipient of Career Achievement Award

Ronald Newbower, PhD, chief technology officer and a co-founder of CIMIT, has been named winner of the 2008 AAMI/Becton Dickinson Career Achievement Award given by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, the leading national professional organization in its field.

Dr. Newbower was honored June 1 during the AAMI’s Annual Conference & Expo in San Jose, CA.

He was cited for his energy and vision in helping found CIMIT 10 years ago, and for his valuable contributions to medical centers and academic institutions throughout his career.

Jeffrey Cooper, PhD, director, Biomedical Engineering, Partners HealthCare and a long-time CIMIT colleague of Dr. Newbower, said, “He used his knowledge and credibility as senior vice president for research and technology at Massachusetts General Hospital to convince hospital leadership to devote millions of dollars worth of space and millions more in startup funds for this novel idea (CIMIT).”

Early in his career, Dr. Newbower led the MGH Anesthesia Bioengineering Unit, which conducted pioneering rigorous studies of human error in medical care. This resulted in technologies and standards of care that dramatically reduced the consequences of error in anesthesia and in critical-care medicine. He was a leader in the development of many innovative medical instruments and devices, several of which led to important changes in clinical practices and care.

Subsequently, he built and directed MGH’s academic Department of Biomedical Engineering, which resulted in leading research and development efforts in biomedical technologies and systems with widespread impact on intensive-care products and practices.

His career evolved into leadership roles, including his 15-year tenure in the MGH vice presidency, and an eight-year stint as vice president of research management of Partners HealthCare. In that role, he oversaw the operations of its unique biomedical research program which included $450 million per year of sponsored research at MGH and $350 million per year at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

“I am honored by this award,” said Dr. Newbower. “When I look back, I am very proud that so many people I’ve worked with have gone on to have flourishing careers. Their contributions have greatly helped patients.”

Dr. Newbower has been a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, MIT and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Science and Technology during his career. In addition, he has led or participated in strategic planning task forces for MGH, BWH, McLean Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

John Parrish, MD, executive director of CIMIT and a co-founder with Dr. Newbower, said, “Ron has been a vital leader in the community here, with his important work in the development of CIMIT and his many valuable contributions at the medical center and academic levels. As a colleague and a friend, I am pleased he is receiving national recognition for his work. This prestigious award is richly deserved.”