News

One of World’s Top Innovators Joins Focused Ultrasound Foundation as Chief Technology Officer

Charlottesville, Va., – Rick Hamilton, a leading inventor and authority on technology and innovation, has joined the Foundation as Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer.

Hamilton is the one of the world’s most prolific inventors with more than 1,040 patents, standing just behind Thomas Edison. He has spent nearly 30 years at Fortune 50 organizations and is an expert in cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and intellectual property.

He was formerly an Executive IT Architect and Master Inventor at IBM, where at one point he was the most prolific inventor in company history. Most recently, Hamilton was Vice President and Senior Distinguished Engineer at Optum. He has also worked across UnitedHealth Group’s strategic imperatives, including machine learning, genomics, blockchain, IoT, and cybersecurity, to help people live healthier lives and make healthcare work better.

“Rick has been actively involved with the Foundation on a regular basis for more than six years as an advisor and consultant and more recently as a Council member,” said Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD. “In this new role, he brings experience and expertise that will enhance the effectiveness of our all-star team and result in a quantum improvement in achieving our goal of making focused ultrasound a global standard of care that will improve the lives of millions of people.”

Hamilton has lectured extensively around the world on a variety of topics, including how to create a culture of innovation. He has given three webinars on behalf of the Foundation directed toward the focused ultrasound industry – Patent Strategy for Business LeadersThe Rise of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, and Blockchain: A Healthcare Focused Introduction – and a special lecture at our 6th International Symposium in 2018.

“After successfully launching, nurturing, and growing a multi-year program at my previous employer, I have been contemplating my next ‘grand challenge,'” explained Hamilton. “My consideration of the Foundation was driven by three distinct factors. Firstly, the mission to accelerate the adoption of focused ultrasound is beyond reproach. The opportunity to make a difference in patients’ lives adds urgency to actions and underscores the criticality of success. Secondly, its culture is derived from this mission. The Foundation team bristles with energy and is animated by this pursuit of changing lives for the better. Finally, it’s about the people. The opportunity to be surrounded by brilliant clinicians, researchers, technologists, and business leaders is highly appealing and promises to be an atmosphere where I can not only contribute but grow.

“I look forward to this next chapter of my career. And I’m thankful for the opportunity to make a profound impact in the lives of all the Foundation touches, and to help advance the field of focused ultrasound.”

Read more here.

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