Joel J. Nobel

Joel Judovich Nobel (December 8, 1934 – August 13, 2014) was an American anesthesiologist and patient safety advocate best known for founding the crash cart and ECRI Institute.

Early life and education

Nobel was born in Pennsylvania, one of three children born to Philadelphia doctors Dr. Golda R. Nobel and Dr. Bernard D. Judovich. His mother was a psychiatrist who lived to age 107, while his father was a general practitioner.

Nobel graduated from Friends Select School in 1952. He earned an undergraduate degree in English from Haverford College in 1956, followed by a master's in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania in 1958 and a medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in 1963. His residency was interrupted by the Vietnam War, when he served in the Navy.

Personal life He was married first to Bonnie Sue Goldberg, and later to Qingqing Lu. He died at his Gladwyne, Pennsylvania home from complications of cancer and diabetes, at age 79. He was survived by his sons Joshua and Adam, and daughter Erika.