Joel J. Nobel, M.D. (1934–2014) was Founder and President Emeritus of ECRI Institute, a U.S.‑based, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization engaged in health services research. He developed ECRI Institute's overall policies and programs, such as its healthcare technology assessment, product evaluation, risk management, and technical assistance services for the health community. He created the concepts and operating plans for Health Devices, Health Devices Alerts, Health Devices Sourcebook, Healthcare Product Comparison System, and many other ECRI Institute publications. He also developed ECRI Institute’s international programs and its related World Health Organization activities.
Dr. Nobel published more than 170 scientific papers and book chapters related to emergency medical services, healthcare technology, medical device safety, risk management, biomedical engineering, and hospital design. He also lectured extensively on these and other subjects in 29 countries.
He was Chairman of the Arab Health Awards Program and was the recipient the first Annual Praxis Award in Professional Ethics from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences of Villanova University. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of Consumers Union, where he served two terms on the Board’s Executive Committee, Chairman of its Technical Policy Committee, Chairman of the Board-Staff Strategic Planning Committee, and a member of the Board’s Ethics Committee.
From Thomas Jefferson University Medical College, Dr. Nobel received his M.D. along with the Shain Practice of Medicine and Shain Surgery prizes upon graduation. He also was awarded an M.A. in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania.
