Jay Stein interview, part 1

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  • Introduction/Education and Early Career
    Partial Transcript: Okay. So today is June 26th, 2020.
    Synopsis: Stein begins the interview by discussing his high school, college, and postgraduate education experiences and how his expertise and knowledge in x-ray astronomy led him to work for a company called American Science and Engineering.
    Keywords: American Science and Engineering; Brown University; Jersey City, NJ; NASA; physics; X-ray Astronomy
  • Work with American Science and Engineering
    Partial Transcript: So what came after American Science and Engineering, and about how long were you there?
    Synopsis: Stein describes the projects that he worked on while employed at American Science and Engineering; baggage x-ray inspection equipment used at airports and federal buildings and CT scanners. Stein details the motivation for undertaking these projects and his role in each of these tasks.
    Keywords: American Science and Engineering; baggage inspection system; CT scanner; Godfrey Hounsfield (1919-2004); X-ray inspection
  • Origins of Hologic
    Partial Transcript: Does this bring us up to your first company then that you founded?
    Synopsis: Stein explains how he and David Ellenbogen left American Science and Engineering and formed a company called Diagnostic Testing which made medical x-ray imaging systems. After selling Diagnostic Testing, Stein and Ellenbogen decided to start another company dedicated to building a bone densitometer using x-rays.
    Keywords: American Science and Engineering; David Ellenbogen; Diagnostic Technology; Hologic; osteoporosis; physicists; SQUIBB
  • Origins of Hologic pt. 2
    Partial Transcript: If I could jump around a little bit
    Synopsis: Stein first explains his interest in medicine and how that drew him to work with medical imaging technologies. White then tells the story of the name Hologic was decided on.
    Keywords: Analogic; Bernard Gordon; David Ellenbogen; Hologic; holotomographic scan; X-ray technology
  • Hologic and baggage inspection systems/Impact of terrorist attacks
    Partial Transcript: I'm just catching up on my notes
    Synopsis: Stein describes the way in which terrorist attacks on airplanes, such as PanAm Flight 103, triggered a rise in airline and airport security that then led to Hologic to build a baggage system to inspect checked bags instead of carry-on luggage.
    Keywords: 9/11; baggage inspection legislation; baggage inspection systems; David Ellenbogen; Hologic; PanAm 103; terrorism; Vivid Technologies
  • Hologic's bone density scanner
    Partial Transcript: So how did you convince people
    Synopsis: Stein walks through the development of the Hologic's bone density scanner and how they convinced people to buy this scanner over other scanners on the market
    Keywords: Eddie Copans; Hologic; product development; Radiological Society of North America; radiosotope
  • Hologic's work with Mammography
    Partial Transcript: So what comes after the bone density?
    Synopsis: Stein explains Hologic's move into mammography technology by first sharing a humorous story about David Ellenbogen and then going into the logistics of starting this endeavor, making mammography machines using digital detectors instead of film.
    Keywords: David Ellenbogen; Direct Radiography Corporation; General Electric; Hologic; mammography; x-ray technology
  • Relationship between Direct Radiography Corporation (DRC) and DuPont/Employees who came to DRC from DuPont
    Partial Transcript: Okay. So let's talk about that for a minute
    Synopsis: Stein begins to discuss the relationship between Direct Radiography Corporation (DRC), which Hologic acquired, and DuPont. He mentions several employees from DuPont and DRC who were crucial in the two companies interest in developing digital technologies
    Keywords: Denny Lee; Direct Radiography Corporation; DuPont; Hologic; Lothar Jeromin; x-ray film
  • End of Interview
    Partial Transcript: I'm just writing stuff down
    Synopsis: Stein talks about scheduling another interview
    Keywords: Hologic
Details
Title

Jay Stein interview, part 1

Date Created

2020-06-26

Summary

In this interview, Jay Stein details his journey to working at Hologic. He goes into detail about his education and work with American Science and Engineering, including his work with NASA to measure x-rays reflected from the moon. Within this discussion, Stein talks about his interest and experience working with x-ray technology, which ultimately led him to start a company called Diagnostic Technology with David Ellenbogen. Stein compares his work with x-ray technology that deals with baggage inspection systems and the technology used in medical imaging, such as mammography machines. Throughout much of the interview, Stein refers to his friendship and business partnership with David Ellenbogen, and how their relationship was a key factor in the success of Hologic.

Interviewee

Stein, Jay, 1942-

Interviewer

Spohn, Benjamin

Associated Name (corporate)

Hologic (Firm)

Biographical Note

Jay Stein (1942-) grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. After attending Brown University for an undergraduate degree in physics and MIT for a PhD in physics in 1964, Stein worked for American Science and Engineering as an x-ray engineer. After many years at American Science and Engineering, Stein and his colleague David Ellenbogen created a company called Diagnostic Technology. Through his work with Diagnostic Technology, Stein then helped to establish another company called Hologic, with the aim of building a bone densitometer using x-rays. Hologic worked with x-ray technology to create bone densitometers, baggage inspection systems, and mammography machines.

Subject(s)

Diagnostic imaging
Breast--Radiography
Medical technology
Entrepreneurship

Find all items with name(s)

Stein, Jay, 1942-
Hologic (Firm)
Spohn, Benjamin

Genre

oral histories

Language

English

Type of resource

sound recording

Extent

1 WAV file. (01:05:46:00).

Repository

Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library

Original Collection

Hologic Medical Imaging oral histories (Accession 2020.201)

Finding Aid

https://findingaids.hagley.org/2020_201

Preferred Citation

[Description and dates], Hagley ID, Box/folder number, Hologic Medical Imaging oral histories (Accession 2020.201), Audiovisual Collections and Digital Initiatives Department, Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, DE 19807

Access Condition

Access to this item is provided for educational and research purposes only. The user assumes responsibility for obtaining permission from the copyright holder to publish or distribute this image. If you would like more information, please contact askhagley@hagley.org

Hagley ID

2020201_Stein_Jay_20200626

PID

islandora:2661951

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