Roll Call Tribute

Conrad R. Yiu 

December 19, 1965 - November 24, 2023 

Conrad R. Yiu was born on December 19th, 1965, in Kankakee, Illinois, to Chau Rong Yang M.D. and to Hedy S. Yang, and passed away on November 24th, 2023, in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 57 years old.

Conrad grew up in Ingleside and Corpus Christi, Texas, with sisters, LiLi and JoJo, graduated from Incarnate Word Academy (High School), Texas A&M University (Bachelor's degree), Pepperdine Graziaeio Business School (MBA), and then worked in international marketing with various companies and the medical device industry, in which he was involved in endovascular stroke therapy for over 30 years. He last resided in Ingleside, Texas, to be closer to family and friends.

Conrad's hobbies were extensive, and included traveling around the world, and hiking in the Utah mountains.

Conrad had significant life achievements - Conrad was a medical device industry leader and was involved in endovascular stroke therapy. While at ev3, Covidien and Medtronic, he was one of the key individuals who paved the way for thrombectomy to become what it is today. Conrad convinced his peers to conduct a trial in 2009 called STAR. This trial was confirmatory and provided great confidence to conduct SWIFT Prime as well as helping to assist in funding a series of trials, such as ESCAPE, EXTEND-IA, and REVASCAT, all published in 2015 in The New England Journal of Medicine. This helped to change the standard of care. Conrad made the world a better place for so many and it is important that his significant contributions are not lost in this great story of a revolution in therapy.

Conrad was a loving son, brother and great colleague, and a friend to so many that he worked with over the years. His laughter and positive energy were infectious. Conrad had a brilliant mind and had an incredible vision and passion to shape endovascular stroke treatment. He never gave up for a good cause and did make the world a better place.

Conrad is preceded in death by his parents.

Conad is survived by sisters, LiLi Yiu and JoJo Yiu, and Billy Van Leeuwen, a lifetime friend since childhood.