Friday, January 7, 2011

Dr. Robert Jarvik: a medical entrepreneur who skipped residency

This week's featured physician is Dr. Jarvik. We've all heard of the Jarvik Heart. Did you know that Dr. Jarvik did not do a residency? 

Robert Koffler Jarvik, M.D. (born May 11, 1946) is an American scientist, researcher and entrepreneur known for his role in developing the Jarvik-7 artificial heart.

He graduated with an M.D. from the University of Utah in 1976 and he never did an internship or residency. Instead, he pursued a non-clinical career as a medical scientist, inventor, researcher, and entrepreneur.

From 1978 to 1987, Dr. Jarvik ran the Salt Lake City company Symbion, Inc., a company formed to produce the Jarvik-7. In 1987, he moved to New York and founded Jarvik Research, Inc. where he began work on the Jarvik 2000 Left-Ventricular Assist System.

Today, Dr. Jarvik is President and CEO of Jarvik Heart, Inc. He holds numerous patents for medical device technology, and degrees from Syracuse University, New York University, and the University of Utah College of Medicine.

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