Submissions Open for the Second Annual Thomas J. Fogarty Prize Recognizing Breakthrough Medtech Innovations
Nominations are set to open on April 2, 2026, for the second annual Thomas J. Fogarty Innovation Prize, widely regarded as one of the most prestigious recognitions in the medical technology sector. Designed to honor an innovator—or a small team of innovators—who has successfully developed and brought to market a transformative medical technology, the award celebrates not only scientific ingenuity but also the perseverance, collaboration, and real-world impact required to improve patient care.
The Fogarty Prize includes an unrestricted cash award of $100,000, a custom-cast bronze medal, and an invitation to a formal black-tie gala and award ceremony. This event convenes leaders from across the global medtech ecosystem, including executives, entrepreneurs, clinicians, researchers, investors, and policymakers, creating a unique platform to celebrate innovation and its profound impact on healthcare.
Named in honor of Thomas J. Fogarty, the award pays tribute to one of the most influential figures in modern medical device innovation. Over the course of his extraordinary career, Dr. Fogarty developed groundbreaking technologies that transformed surgical practice and significantly improved outcomes for patients worldwide. His legacy is defined not only by his inventions but also by his enduring philosophy of continuously seeking “a better way” to solve clinical challenges. Dr. Fogarty passed away in December 2025, making this year’s prize particularly meaningful as the industry reflects on his lasting contributions.
Celebrating Innovation That Reaches Patients
At its core, the Fogarty Prize is designed to recognize technologies that have moved beyond concept and development to achieve real-world clinical impact. Unlike many awards that focus solely on early-stage innovation or theoretical breakthroughs, this prize emphasizes the full journey—from idea to implementation—highlighting the complex and often challenging path required to bring a medical technology to market.
This journey typically involves years of research and development, rigorous clinical testing, regulatory approval processes, and the establishment of manufacturing and distribution systems. It also requires collaboration across multiple disciplines, including engineering, medicine, regulatory affairs, and business strategy. By acknowledging these efforts, the Fogarty Prize underscores the importance of persistence and teamwork in advancing healthcare innovation.
A Strong Inaugural Year
The inaugural Fogarty Prize, awarded in 2025, set a high standard for future recipients. The honor was presented to a team from Boston Scientific—Allan Zingeler, Raju Viswanathan, PhD, and Michael Mahoney—for their work on the FARAPULSE™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) Platform. This advanced technology represents a significant advancement in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia.
The FARAPULSE platform utilizes pulsed field ablation, a novel approach that selectively targets cardiac tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding structures. This innovation has the potential to improve both the safety and efficacy of AF treatment, addressing a major unmet need in cardiovascular care.
The award ceremony itself was a landmark event, attracting more than 350 attendees from across the medtech landscape. The sold-out gala brought together leaders from industry, venture capital, academia, healthcare systems, and government, reflecting the broad interest and enthusiasm surrounding the prize.
Foundation and Vision Behind the Prize
The Fogarty Prize was established through a founding grant from the Linda and Mike Mussallem Foundation, an organization committed to advancing healthcare innovation and supporting the next generation of medical technology leaders. Mike Mussallem, co-founder of the foundation and former CEO and Chairman of Edwards Lifesciences, has been a strong advocate for recognizing and fostering innovation in the field.
Mussallem emphasized that the prize is intended to celebrate the qualities that defined Dr. Fogarty’s career—boldness, creativity, and perseverance. He noted that Fogarty’s unwavering belief in the potential of innovation to improve patient outcomes continues to inspire the medtech community. Through this award, the foundation seeks to honor that legacy while encouraging others to challenge conventional thinking and tackle some of the most pressing problems in healthcare.
Role of Fogarty Innovation
The administration of the prize is overseen by Fogarty Innovation, a nonprofit educational incubator founded by Dr. Fogarty in 2007. Located on the campus of El Camino Health, the organization was created to support and mentor emerging innovators in the medical technology space.
Fogarty Innovation provides a collaborative environment where entrepreneurs, engineers, and clinicians can develop new ideas, gain access to resources, and navigate the complex process of bringing medical technologies to market. Since 2017, the organization has been led by Andrew Cleeland, who has played a key role in expanding its programs and impact.
Cleeland highlighted the importance of the Fogarty Prize as a celebration of the individuals and teams who make the medtech industry unique. He emphasized that the work of innovators in this field has a direct and profound impact on patients’ lives, often improving, restoring, or even saving lives on a global scale.
Eligibility and Nomination Process
The Fogarty Prize is designed to recognize a singular, clinically impactful technology, with awards granted to individuals rather than organizations. Up to three individuals may be recognized for a single innovation, reflecting the collaborative nature of most successful medical technology projects.
Nominees are expected to embody the core values associated with Dr. Fogarty’s legacy. These include relentless curiosity, bold vision, technical excellence, and a deep commitment to improving human health. The selection process places significant emphasis on the real-world impact of the technology, as well as the challenges overcome in bringing it to market.
Nominations for the 2026 prize will open on April 2 and close on July 31. Candidates can be nominated through the official Fogarty Innovation website, where detailed information about eligibility criteria and submission requirements is available.
The winner will be selected by an independent committee comprising respected leaders from across the medtech and healthcare sectors. This year’s committee includes Dorothy Abel; K. Angela Macfarlane; Mike Mussallem; Asha Nayak, MD, PhD; Philip Oettinger; Carla Pugh, MD, PhD; Allan Will; and Bill Starling. Their collective expertise ensures a rigorous and balanced evaluation process.
Honoring a Transformational Legacy
Dr. Fogarty’s impact on medical innovation is both profound and far-reaching. Over his career, he was awarded approximately 190 medical patents, reflecting an extraordinary level of creativity and technical achievement. Among his most notable inventions is the Fogarty Balloon Embolectomy Catheter, a device that revolutionized the treatment of blood clots and remains widely used today.
He also played a key role in the development of the Hancock Tissue Heart Valve and the AneuRx Endovascular Aortic Stent Graft, both of which have had a lasting impact on cardiovascular care. In addition to his inventions, Fogarty founded or co-founded more than 45 medical technology companies, contributing to the growth and dynamism of the medtech industry.
His contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame and receipt of the Presidential Medal of Technology and Innovation, one of the highest accolades for technological achievement in the United States.
Inspiring the Next Generation
A defining aspect of Dr. Fogarty’s legacy is his commitment to mentoring and supporting future innovators. Recognizing the challenges associated with developing and commercializing new medical technologies, he established Fogarty Innovation to provide guidance, education, and a supportive community for aspiring entrepreneurs.
This commitment is reflected in the Fogarty Prize itself, which not only celebrates established innovators but also serves as an inspiration for those just beginning their journeys. By highlighting successful examples of innovation, the prize encourages others to pursue bold ideas and persist in the face of challenges.
As nominations open for the 2026 Fogarty Prize, the medtech community has an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the individuals and teams who are shaping the future of healthcare. The award serves as a reminder of the transformative power of innovation and the importance of collaboration in bringing new technologies to patients.
In an era marked by rapid advancements in medical science and technology, the need for visionary leadership and groundbreaking ideas has never been greater. The Fogarty Prize stands as a testament to the enduring impact of innovation and the legacy of a pioneer whose work continues to inspire progress around the world.
Ultimately, the Thomas J. Fogarty Innovation Prize is more than an award—it is a celebration of the human drive to improve lives through science and technology. By honoring those who embody this spirit, the prize ensures that Dr. Fogarty’s vision of “a better way” will continue to guide the future of medical innovation for generations to come.
About Fogarty Innovation
Fogarty Innovation is a nonprofit educational medtech incubator dedicated to advancing human health worldwide. The organization’s seasoned team helps companies navigate the path to commercialization, delivers practical educational programming to stakeholders across the ecosystem, and forges alliances that accelerate the invention, development, and deployment of new medical technologies into clinical care. Founded by Thomas J. Fogarty, MD, a world-renowned cardiovascular surgeon, inventor, and entrepreneur, Fogarty Innovation is headquartered on the campus of El Camino Health in Mountain View, California. Learn more: www.fogartyinnovation.org.
About the Linda and Mike Mussallem Foundation
After decades of philanthropic commitments, Linda and Mike officially unveiled the Linda and Mike Mussallem Foundation in 2024. The Foundation aims to harness the power of innovation and integrative health solutions to address complex healthcare challenges and create meaningful, long-lasting change for overlooked populations in need.
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