In Memoriam: Yoav Medan, PhD

Published:
Yoav Medan, PhD

Key Points

  • We are saddened to report that focused ultrasound pioneer Yoav Medan, PhD, passed away on April 30.
  • His spirit and dedication were unmatched, and his passing is a great loss for us all.
  • Dr. Medan will posthumously receive the Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award at Symposium 2022.

We are saddened to report that the focused ultrasound community lost a long-time champion when Yoav Medan, PhD, passed away on April 30. Dr. Medan was among the elite pioneers of focused ultrasound therapy, having dedicated more than 23 years to advancing the field.

In 1999, he joined device manufacturer Insightec and served as Vice President & Chief Systems Architect for more than a decade. During his tenure at Insightec, Dr. Medan designed and implemented a robotic system, defined the software of the treatment systems to expand its capabilities for innovative early research, managed the engineering effort of the brain preclinical system, and implemented a fast method for assuring the safe and correct output of installed focused ultrasound treatment devices.

He was a member of the Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board and was influential in developing the technology behind FUSMobile, a focused ultrasound company addressing low back pain.

In 2011, Medan introduced focused ultrasound to countless individuals during an inspirational TEDMED presentation, which has been viewed more than 870,000 times.

“Yoav’s spirit and dedication were unmatched, and his passing is a great loss for us all,” said Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD. “He was a friend, a mentor, and a pioneer.”

The Foundation recently named Dr. Medan the inaugural recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be present posthumously at the Symposium in October.