By Gynna Gagelonia

YOU could say that JOE KIANI, the founder of the global medical technology Masimo Corporation, is somewhat of a rebel. After all he fought seven long years against the establishment to make sure his revolutionary pulse oximeter would be accessible to more patients and help reduce health care costs.

An electrical engineer who used his ingenious skills and entrepreneurial flair to develop and commercialize breakthrough noninvasive patient monitoring technologies has emerged as the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year – 2012 Life Sciences Awardee.  Joe Kiani, founder, CEO and chairman of publicly traded Masimo Corporation, was honored at the Entrepreneur of the Year Award gala, the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum in Palm Springs, California, in November. The forum is the premier assemblage of high-growth, market leading companies in the United States, and 244 regional award recipients vied for top honors in nine additional categories.  

Ernst & Young took notice of Mr. Kiani’s invaluable contributions to the health care industry through his revolutionary noninvasive patient monitoring devices, with sensors that guarantee accurate over-all readings, ultimately resulting in reduced health care costs. Bryan Pearce, Americas director – Entrepreneur of the Year, said during the ceremony: “We are pleased to honor Joe Kiani with this esteemed award and recognize him for his perseverance, passion, and innovative mind – all of which continue to make a positive impact on health care and patient monitoring technologies. Joe’s innovative approach, discipline and triumph over the years truly demonstrate the meaning of entrepreneurial spirit we’ve come to celebrate over the last 26 years.”

Mr. Kiani founded Masimo in 1989, and since the company went public in 2007 (NASDAQ: MASI), product revenues rose by more than 100 percent, while net income soared by 175 percent. Yet his route to success was not an easy one – making his triumph all the sweeter. Underlying both triumphs and trials was his conviction that pulse oximetry could be improved to replace in vivo monitoring, and has a place not only in critical care but also general care. Pulse oximetry is the noninvasive measurement of the oxygen saturation level of arterial blood, or the blood that delivers oxygen to the body’s tissues, and pulse rate.

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