Dr. Thomas Fogarty, one of the most widely recognized and honored cardiovascular surgeons, innovators and mentors, was recently awarded the 2015 Red Cross Silicon Valley Humanitarian Innovation Award for his impact and influence on the medical device industry. By founding the Fogarty Institute in 2007, he has led the way in inspiring healthcare pioneers to follow in his footsteps to develop devices and procedures that save lives and lower healthcare costs.
It was most fitting that Jessie Becker, CEO and founder of InPress Technologies, a Fogarty Institute company, received the award on behalf of Dr. Fogarty at the Red Cross of Silicon Valley’s annual signature event that benefits local emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts for the Bay Area’s two million residents.
Jessie Becker, CEO and founder of InPress, accepted the Red Cross Humanitarian Award on behalf of Dr. Fogarty. Dr. Fogarty was instrumental in mentoring the startup through the challenges of bringing the technology to market. Photo courtesy of Cal Poly Business Magazine.
InPress is developing a simple device that is intended to quickly and effectively stop postpartum hemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal death globally, taking the life of one woman every four minutes.
The startup is one of the select companies that received close mentorship by Dr. Fogarty and the Institute’s world-class partners, and represents what Dr. Fogarty envisioned when founding the Fogarty Institute: a quality, innovative company making a long-term impact on a critical health issue.
InPress recently completed clinical trials in Jakarta, Indonesia, which were 100 percent successful. In their study of 10 patients, hemorrhage was controlled within two minutes of placement of the InPress Device — which is significant given that current devices on the market not only take much longer — anywhere between 10 to 24 hours — but are also invasive and not always successful. In at least two of the clinical trial cases, the use of the InPress Device saved the life of the patient.
“I was honored to receive the Red Cross award on behalf of Dr. Fogarty,” said Becker. “As our company makes strides toward fulfilling our vision of a similar significant, life-changing impact in the medical world, we are continually inspired by what he has accomplished.”