A double major in chemistry and philosophy, Yock pursued his interest in medicine as an undergraduate, focusing his senior thesis on medical ethics. "I tried to develop a relativistic approach to some of the key issues of the day, including treatment of terminal patients," he said. Yock graduated from the College summa cum laude. He was also president of the Amherst chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.
After leaving Amherst, Yock went on to study philosophy and physiology at Oxford. Following his year at Oxford, Yock studied at Harvard Medical School, where he earned his medical degree in 1979. Yock began his medical training at the University of California, San Francisco and ultimately established himself as a physician, researcher and professor at Stanford University.
Innovative thinking
The numerous inventions under Yock's name attest to the innovation he brings to his work. For Yock, the process of developing cutting-edge medical technology and directly improving patient care is profoundly rewarding. "The most satisfying career experiences I have had are in designing new medical devices and then actually being able to use them in patients," he said.
Yock developed the Rapid Exchange™ balloon angioplasty/stenting system, which is used to treat narrowing in the coronary arteries. The system is now the most common way that angioplasty/stenting is performed worldwide.
Yock's research is primarily focused in the field of intravascular ultrasound. As part of his cardiovascular research, Yock devised an ultra-sound-guided needle, known as the Smart Needle, which allows for highly sensitive use. "A tiny transponder within the needle 'listens' for blood flow and helps guide the doctor in inserting the needle-the process is similar to how radar helps a plane to land," he said.
Another testament to Yock's inventiveness is the intravascular ultrasound. It is a minute device capable of photographing the inside of the body for doctors. "[It is] essentially a miniaturized ultrasound camera that fits on the tip of a catheter," he said. "It takes pictures of arteries from the inside, showing physicians where there are build-ups of plaque."
Yock is currently developing and testing catheter-based delivery systems for cardiac cell transplantation. He is also continuing to perfect catheter and molecular imaging techniques for cardiology.
Yock was a pioneer in the field of intravascular ultrasound, authoring ground-breaking patents for intravascular ultrasound imaging, conducting the initial trials himself. He has authored over 40 U.S. patents, hundreds of publications and a textbook for cardiologists that explains intravascular ultrasound imaging.
Teaching at Stanford
Yock is now the director of the Center for Research in Cardiovascular Interventions at Stanford, a cutting-edge research center for cardiovascular medicine. He also founded Cardiovascular Imaging Systems, which Boston Scientific acquired in 1994 for $100 million.
As a professor of medicine and medical engineering and co-chair of the new department of biomedical engineering at Stanford University, Yock has developed the Biodesign Network, a pilot program that gives Stanford students an opportunity to venture into the field of biomedical research and contribute their own creativity to the field.
The program follows Yock's interest in invention. "Now in the Biodesign Program we are trying to groom young inventors, and it is a huge kick to see them coming up with great new concepts," he said. "We are trying to expand the teaching of this discipline, incorporating aspects of innovation, design and entrepreneurship to areas of medicine outside of my own specialty in cardiovascular diseases."
Words of advice
While many Amherst students may feel that they will never achieve the same level of accomplishment as Yock has in his field, he believes that all students can find fulfillment and success in the fields they ultimately choose to pursue.
Yock emphasized personal interest in his words of advice for current Amherst students. "Aim for excellence. Pick a career that fits you well enough that the prospect of working really hard sounds like fun!"