Diana McSherry (born 1945) is an American

computer scientist A computer scientist is a person who is trained in the academic study of computer science. Computer scientists typically work on the theoretical side of computation, as opposed to the hardware side on which computer engineers mainly focus (al ...

and

biophysicist Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that applies approaches and methods traditionally used in physics to study Biology, biological phenomena. Biophysics covers all scales of biological organization, from Molecule, molecular to organismic ...

. She is known for her research in and development of computer-based systems to analyze heart function. Her system produced computer images of the circulation system and heart, allowing physicians to observe circulatory and heart functions without surgery. This system was developed in the 1970s and was revolutionary at the time, given that computational approaches to medicine was a burgeoning field.

Education

McSherry received her B.A. in physics in 1965 from

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

. She went on to earn an M.A., also in physics, from

Rice University William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is a Private university, private research university in Houston, Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is ranke ...

in 1967. McSherry continued her education at Rice University, earning a Ph.D. in nuclear physics in 1969. She stayed at Rice University for one year after receiving her Ph.D. as a fellow in nuclear physics. After this stint as a fellow at Rice, McSherry changed career tracks and has spent the rest of her career working in the corporate field.

Career

McSherry began working at Digicon, Inc. as a research physicist in

ultrasonics Ultrasound is sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing. Ultrasound is not different from "normal" (audible) sound in its physical properties, except that humans cannot hear it. This limit varies fr ...

in 1969 and continued at this position until 1974. In 1974 she was promoted to the position of executive vice president of the medical ultrasound department. After Digicon, Inc. was acquired by Digisonics, Inc. in 1977, McSherry became the president of cardiology analytical systems. She has since risen to the position of Digisonics' CEO, a position she currently maintains. Under her leadership, Digisonics creates ultrasound equipment for use in cardiology, radiation, and obstetrics/gynecology. McSherry has also been a chair on the board of directors for Information Products Systems,

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

Honors and recognition

McSherry is a member of many professional organizations. She holds memberships in the

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) is a multidisciplinary association dedicated to advancing the use of ultrasound in medicine through professional and public education, research, development of guidelines, and accreditation. ...

, the

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a 501(c)(3) professional association for electronic engineering and electrical engineering (and associated disciplines) with its corporate office in New York City and its operation ...

, the

American Heart Association The American Heart Association (AHA) is a nonprofit organization in the United States that funds cardiovascular medical research, educates consumers on healthy living and fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and death ...

, and the

American Physical Society The American Physical Society (APS) is a not-for-profit membership organization of professionals in physics and related disciplines, comprising nearly fifty divisions, sections, and other units. Its mission is the advancement and diffusion of k ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McSherry, Diana 1945 births Living people American women computer scientists American computer scientists Women biophysicists Harvard University alumni Rice University alumni Scientific computing researchers American women chief executives 21st-century American women