Laser Society Announces Dr. Horace Furumoto Award Recipients
For Immediate Release
Wausau, WI – The Horace Furumoto Innovations Professional Development Awards will be presented to recipients Mirko Mirkov, Ph.D. and Rafael A. Sierra, Ph.D. during the Plenary Session at Laser 2013, the 33rd Annual Conference of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS), Friday, April 5, Boston, MA.
Dr. Furumoto is credited with developing the world’s first practical dye laser. He founded the Candela Laser Corporation, developed the excited dye laser (FEDL), developed photothermolysis, founded Cynosure, Inc., introduced the Photo-Genica series of lasers, spearheaded the use of long pulse alexandrite lasers for hair removal, and received 26 U.S. patents and 21 international patents.
Dr. Mathew Avram, Chair, Award Selection Committee, commented, “It was an absolute pleasure serving on the selection committee. Dr. Sierra and Dr. Mirkov both received very impressive nominations and were nothing less than deserving of the award. I think Dr. Furumoto would be very proud of their accomplishments.”
Dr. Mirkov has been nominated to receive the 2013 Young Investigator Award which recognizes and encourages the development of future technology innovators and leaders. The award is to be used to further the recipient’s professional development.
“I am honored to be the recipient of the Young Investigator Award. I value the recognition expressed by ASLMS and plan to continue to increase my understanding of applications of lasers and other light sources in medical science. I had the privilege to work for Cynosure with Dr. Furumoto [while he served] as President for five years before his retirement. One of the many things that I realized interacting with him was the importance of keeping every project, task or problem in the larger context of how to progress from a scientific project to a medically valuable commercial product,” said Dr. Mirkov.
He graduated with a master’s degree in engineering physics from the University of Sofia, Bulgaria in 1990 and was awarded a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Toledo, OH in 1998. He is now a principal scientist at Cynosure, Inc., Westford, MA.
Dr. Sierra has been selected to receive the 2013 Distinguished Contribution Award which recognizes an individual who has a played a significant role in industry with multiple accomplishments.
“I am honored to have been nominated to receive this year’s Distinguished Contribution Award. I think many of us, not only at Cynosure but across our industry, are proud of the contribution we bring to the field [of] Photomedicine and this award acknowledges that contribution. It recognizes commitment to scientific quality; a constant theme of Dr. Furumoto’s and we hope a hallmark of our industry,” said Dr. Sierra.
Dr. Sierra holds a bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island, and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Dallas, all of which are in physics. He also completed a two year Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Missouri at Rolla. Dr. Sierra currently serves as Chief Technical Officer at Cynosure, Inc.
For more information on ASLMS Research Grants and Awards, visit www.aslms.org/grants/grants, call 877-258-6028 or email information@aslms.org.
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The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS) is the world's largest scientific organization dedicated to promoting research, education and high standards of clinical care in the field of medical laser applications. It provides a forum for the exchange of scientific information and participates in communicating the latest developments in laser medicine and surgery to clinicians, research investigators, government and regulatory agencies, and the public.
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