– Rapidly adopted medical technology has transformed care for more than half a million patients with atrial fibrillation worldwide –
“We are honored to be recognized for the inaugural Fogarty Prize,” said Allan Zingeler, co-founder and CEO of Farapulse. “Our team invented an entirely new approach to AF ablation using pulsed field ablation with a dynamic catheter. The FARAPULSE PFA Platform delivered on all of our mission criteria and has become the gold standard for AF ablation in less than two years. Patients and their physicians are delighted with the outcomes.”
“The Fogarty Prize celebrates the spirit of bold innovation that Tom Fogarty embodies, and his relentless pursuit of ‘a better way,’” said event emcee Allan Will, chair of EBR Systems and SetPoint Medical, director of Fogarty Innovation, and founder of The Foundry LLC. “He always reminded us that great ideas must be practical, effective, and improve patients’ lives to have real value.”
“The Fogarty Prize recognizes remarkable innovators whose breakthroughs ripple across lives, families, and entire communities,” said Fogarty Innovation CEO Andrew Cleeland. “It also shines a light on the broader medtech community, and the teamwork, resilience, and grit it takes to turn ideas into therapies that improve, restore, and even save the lives of millions around the world.”
Finalists Also Recognized
The event also honored the two other extraordinary finalists for this year’s prize: John Adler, MD, for developing Frameless Stereotactic Radiosurgery (Cyberknife and ZAP Surgical Systems), and Michael Harrison, MD, for pioneering the field of fetal surgery. Videos documenting their journeys were introduced by esteemed physician-innovators and medtech leaders Carla Pugh, MD, PhD; K. Angela Macfarlane; and Fred St Goar, MD. The winner was chosen by an independent selection committee, which noted that the vote was exceptionally close.
Named in honor of Thomas J. Fogarty, MD—a pioneering cardiovascular surgeon and icon in medical device innovation—the Fogarty Prize is made possible through a foundational grant from the Linda and Mike Mussallem Foundation, with additional support from Wilson Sonsini. The Prize celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to improving patient care through transformative technologies.
Nominations for the 2026 Fogarty Prize will open on March 2, 2026.
About Fogarty Innovation
Fogarty Innovation is a nonprofit educational medtech incubator dedicated to advancing human health worldwide. Founded by Thomas J. Fogarty, MD, it is headquartered on the El Camino Health campus in Mountain View, California. More: www.fogartyinnovation.org