- Harvey Picker
Harvey Picker (
December 8 ,1915 –March 22 ,2008 ) was an American businessman, educator, inventor, and philanthropist. He was the founder, along with his wife, Jean, of the Boston-based Picker Institute, whose goal is to promote patient-centered healthcare.Picker's father, James, founded Picker X-ray acquired by General Electric Co. Ltd. of England in 1981, which produced air-dropped X-ray labs for the Army in World War II and the Korean War. The younger Harvey led the company into such pioneering fields as cobalt treatment for cancer and ultrasound and nuclear imaging diagnostics. He remained with the company from 1946-1968.
At age 50, Picker sold the family business and earned his doctorate. He worked briefly in the diplomatic service, taught political science at
Colgate University , then, between 1972-1983, served as dean ofColumbia University 's School of International and Public Affairs.Dr. and Mrs. Picker believed that the American health care system was technologically and scientifically outstanding, but overall was not sensitive to patients' concerns and their comfort. Thus, in 1986, they founded the Picker Institute - a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing a patient-centered approach to healthcare - and in 2000 founded the Picker Institute Europe.
Jean Picker, who died in 1990, served as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations and was a journalist for
Life Magazine .References
* [http://www.pickerinstitute.org/about.htm Listing from Picker Institute's Website]
* [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/record/archives/vol21/vol21_iss5/record2105.14.html 1995 Article from Columbia University Record]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article614512.ece 2006 Article] fromThe Times On-Line
* [http://www.colgate.edu/printerFriendly.aspx?tabid=731&pgID=6014&nwID=4531 2006 Article from Colgate University News]
* [http://www4.colgate.edu/scene/july1997/people.html Article from the Colgate Scene On-Line]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/health/29picker.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin Obituary: "New York Times"]
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