James LeVoy Sorenson (1921–2008) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was a medical device inventor with nearly 50 patents to his name and the founder of Sorenson Companies.
Born in Rexburg, Idaho, Sorenson grew up in the depths of the Depression in central California. He attended Sierra College in Rocklin, California 1940–41, but his studies were interrupted by World War II and a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sorenson started his career in pharmaceutical sales with the Upjohn Company in the 1950s. While visiting doctors, he observed that cloth masks used in surgery were insanitary and had to be laundered. He developed disposable surgical filter masks. Sorenson’s other inventions included the first real-time computerized heart-monitoring systems, the disposable venous catheter, and a mechanical intravenous-drug pump.
Sorenson established Sorenson Research Company in 1972 to manufacture and market innovative medical instruments. That company quickly became one of the world’s leading providers of surgical and critical care products. Abbott Laboratories bought the company, renaming it Abbott Critical Care Systems in 1980.
Later, Sorenson developed an interest in genetics and established Sorenson Genomics, a company that assisted with DNA identification of victims of the 2004 tsunami in Thailand.
Sorenson was the richest man in Utah; his fortune was estimated at $4.5 billion in the Forbes magazine 2007 rankings. He donated his entire personal estate to charity, giving millions of dollars to medical facilities, religious organizations, and other causes.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by James LeVoy Sorenson
A vision without action is called a daydream.
—James LeVoy Sorenson
Topics: Vision
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