My professional journey is unfolding in a way that might seem like living life in reverse. I started in medical science and weaved through technology before circling back to healthcare, moving from the USA to the Netherlands, then Israel, back to the USA, then Israel, and now the Netherlands. I went from English to Dutch and Hebrew(struggling) and then back to English, Hebrew (still struggling), and now Dutch.

I embarked on this path at 22 at the Medical University of California, San Francisco. Here, I pioneered technology in neurophysiology utilized in the biofeedback of brain waves, focusing on real-time physiological signal processing—a niche that, at the time, had me as its sole expert.

Later, I  applied technology to problems in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular and pulmonary disease at the Medical School of Erasmus University, Rotterdam, and then the Medical School of Tel Aviv University. During this period, I went from being a research assistant and technician to becoming an associate professor. I also established a business in Israel which commercialized my academic work.

I loved learning and practicing science, but my love of technology animated me the most. My initial career in medical science took me from San Francisco to the Netherlands and then to Israel.  It was an incredible 13-year journey. How could I have known then that I would return to medical science?

In 1978, I made a profound decision to leave the field of medicine. It was a difficult decision.  After all, I had achieved unlikely success from being a merchant seaman sailing on ships in Asia at 18 to an Associate Professor of Medicine by 29. I could not help myself.  I wanted to be part of the computer industry and play a role in shaping its development.  Digital Equipment Corporation offered me a position as the Small Computer Hardware Development Manager in its Central Engineering Organization, and a year later, I was promoted to Group Manager responsible for the Professional Computer Group.  Now, I was back in the USA (Boston Area). 

In 1984, I joined Intel Corporation, eventually becoming one of a few Corporate Officers and serving as Vice President of Corporate Development. In 1992, Les Vadasz and I established Intel Capital, one of the world’s most successful corporate venture groups. 

I left Intel in 1999 to work for my own account, providing strategic advice to public and private companies and serving on several companies’ boards.  In 2017, my wife and I moved to Israel, where we lived until recently.  Then, about ten years ago, I decided to focus my efforts again on the intersection of medicine and technology.  I made several early-stage investments in this area.  My initial focus was on sleep health.  I was one of the first investors in Oura Ring and pulled together much of its initial financing. I became a Senior Advisor to the Cleveland Clinics Research Institute and then worked with Sheba  Hospital in Israel to set up a Longevity Center.  This led me to explore personalized/precision medicine.  I started to learn about AI. It reminded me of fifty years earlier when I held a single transistor in my hand, discovered the concept of software, and learned to program. 

Then, I was granted an opportunity to participate in using AI in health care when I joined the board of Renovaro, which was in the process of acquiring an AI-based cancer diagnostic company (GEDi Cube). I joined Renovaro’s board and moved back to the Netherlands to work closely with the team at what is now called Renovaro AI in Amsterdam. We have moved to Amsterdam, and I go to the company’s offices several times a week.  I am also enjoying speaking Dutch once again.  At 79, I figure I have at least one more act ahead.

Much of what is written here can be read in more detail on in my book, The Flight of a Wild Duck.