Sam Frishman

Sam Frishman is the Founder and CEO of MDC, a robotics company developing an MRI-compatible platform for image-guided biopsy and tumor ablation. The system uses custom actuators to achieve sub-millimeter precision while operating in MRI scanners. This architecture enables physicians to perform interventions with real-time MRI and lays the foundation for AI-assisted procedures. Research on MDC’s technology has been published in IEEE journals and conferences. Sam completed his PhD and MS in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford and holds a BS from Johns Hopkins. During his doctoral research, he developed robotic hardware for challenging environments, including a patented robotic gripper and tactile sensing system designed for manipulation in space. He also led the design of an annuloplasty ring for minimally invasive heart valve repair, published in the ASME Journal of Medical Devices, and his work received multiple awards. He later served as an adjunct lecturer in MechE at Stanford.