L-R, Katie Mastrogiacomo and Debra O’Shea Begley; Clare Tempany, MD; Carl-Fredrik Westin, PhD; Ron Kikinis, MD; Kirby Vosburgh, PhD; Simon Warfield, PhD; CIMIT Director John Parrish, MD; Eigil Samset, PhD; and BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD.

CIMIT’s Kennedy Award Goes to Team from Brigham and Women’s Hospital

BOSTON, MA, December 5, 2006 - CIMIT recently named a team from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, as the recipient of its annual Edward M. Kennedy Award for Healthcare Innovation.

The honor went to doctors and scientists who make up the CIMIT Image Guided Therapy team.

Their technology enables surgeons to “see” inside a patient during surgery; destroy tumors in the brain and uterus without the need for incisions; and through use of sophisticated imaging programs, help doctors make more informed decisions about appropriate therapies.

“We are extremely proud of the work done by this team, whose members are recognized as world leaders in radiology,” said John A. Parrish, MD, founder and director of the Boston-based CIMIT.

“Their work is a clear example of the type of multi-institutional collaboration inherent in the CIMIT mission, reaching across Partners HealthCare and the broader Harvard Medical School community. The result is better care here and in other nations.”

CIMIT is the Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology.
One of its key goals is to accelerate technology to enhance patient care.
Parrish also praised the team for working with industry and top technology institutions such as MIT.

The team is led by Drs. Ferenc Jolesz and Ron Kikinis. Other members include Kullervo Hynynen, PhD; Daniel Kacher, MS; Karl Krissian, PhD; Nathan McDannold, PhD; Eigil Samset, PhD; Clare Tempany, MD; Kirby Vosburgh, Ph.D; Simon Warfield, PhD; .and Carl-Fredrik Westin, PhD. Also recognized were administrative aides Katie Mastrogiacomo and Debra O’Shea Begley.

“Their efforts have dramatically changed the care of patients with breast, prostate, and brain tumors,” Parrish said, “and have improved the standard of therapy for patients here in Boston and around the world.”

The award, the fifth annual, was given at the recent CIMIT Innovation Congress in Boston.

Gary Gottlieb, MD, president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital who was at the award ceremony, said, “Those at Brigham and Women’s hospital are proud of this group, and the hard work and collaboration that have gone into their significant achievements.

“It’s a case of high tech fostering more effective and safer care.”

The award was named in honor of the Massachusetts senator, who has been a pioneer in working for improvements in healthcare. Kennedy said, in a statement, "I commend CIMIT's team for their achievement. Because of their skill and dedication, the future of image-guided therapy has great potential.