John Abele: Architect of Medical Device Innovation

On This Episode

Saul Kaplan and Boston Scientific founder John Abele discuss the history of surgical procedures and the development of Abele’s career as an innovator. The conversation was recorded live at the Trinity Repertory Theater during the BIF2015 Collaborative Innovation Summit.

John Abele is the retired founding chairman and a director of the Boston Scientific Corporation, which he started in 1979 with Peter Nicholas. Abele and Nicholas pioneered the development of medical devices that would allow for less-invasive surgery, with a goal to benefit public health by providing more accessible, lower-cost, and lower-trauma medical options.

Abele is a Fellow in both the Society of Interventional Radiology and the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering. He holds numerous patents and has published and lectured extensively on the technology of various medical devices and on the technical, social, economic, and political trends and issues affecting healthcare.

Today, his major interests are science literacy for children, education, and the process by which new technology is invented, developed, and introduced to society.

In 2001, Abele developed The Kingbridge Conference Centre and Institute, a Toronto residential center designed for leaders who want to work with their teams to expand their thinking and inspire change. He is also the Founding Chairman for the Argosy Foundation. From 2002 to 2010, he served as Chairman of the FIRST Foundation, which runs a range of robotics competitions to make being science-literate cool and fun for kids.

Show Notes

• John Abele at BIF2015
• Boston Scientific
• Kingbridge Centre
• Argosy Foundation