NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2010 – John E. Abele, a resident of Shelburne, Vt., and retired founding chairman of Boston Scientific Corporation (Natick, Mass.), will be honored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). He is being recognized for pioneering work and leadership in the field of less-invasive medicine; for innovation in health care, business and problem solving; and for advancing the science, engineering and technology skills of high school students as chair of the FIRST Foundation. He will receive the ASME Medal, the Society's highest honor.
The medal, established in 1920, is awarded for eminently distinguished engineering achievement. The award will be presented to Mr. Abele at the 2010 ASME Honors Assembly held during the Society’s International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Nov. 12 through 18.
Abele is a pioneer and leader in the field of less-invasive medicine. For more than five decades he has devoted himself to innovation in healthcare, business and solving social problems. 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. His major interests are science literacy for children, education and the process by which new technology is invented, developed and introduced to society.
For the past eight years Abele has been serving as chairman of the board of FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Foundation. Under his leadership, FIRST has expanded it programs and geographic reach to inspire students to pursue education and careers in science and technology. During his tenure, the number of FIRST teams has grown from approximately 5,000 to 19,000 teams in grades K through 12, reaching over 200,000 students each year. FIRST is now operating in all 50 states and in 50 countries worldwide, and a record $12 million in scholarships are available to FIRST participants to help them continue with their education.
Abele is a Fellow in both the Society of Interventional Radiology and the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering. Other honors include Gold Medal awards from the Society of Interventional Radiology (2005) and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (2008), the Pioneer in Endoscopy Award (2007) from the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, the Distinguished Career Award from the International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy (2006) and the Biomedical Engineering Society’s BMES Distinguished Lecture award (2003).
Abele earned his bachelor’s degree in physics and philosophy at Amherst College, Mass., in 1959. He received honorary doctorates from Northeastern University and Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston in 2001 and 2008, respectively.
About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.
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