A Brief History of Laser Therapy

Developed in the 1960’s Laser Therapy is the use of Monochromatic light emission from a low intensity laser diode (250 milliwatts or less) on an array of high intensity Super Luminous Diodes. It was originally tested in laboratories in Hungary, Russia, and Japan. The early clinical applications of this technology were not started until the 1970’s (He-Ne). Laser Therapy did not begin its initial “Western” applications until the 1980’s, and even then the evolution of the technology was slow. This can be contributed to 2 major factors; the lack of English language publications on Laser Therapy, and the Pharmaceutical culture that was prevalent in western society at that time.

Dr. Fred Kahn, MD, FRCS (C), DABS
President & CEO,
Meditech International, Inc.

Dr. Kahn grew up on a farm in the Uxbridge area of Ontario, Canada. He attended the University of Toronto on a scholarship and subsequently, graduated from the School of Medicine.

His internship at Montreal General Hospital included initiation of a surgical training program, which was followed by the successful completion of the Fellowship in the Royal College of Surgeons and the Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery.

Post graduate training included a surgical residency at Montreal Children’s Hospital, a Fellowship at the Lahey Clinic in Boston and a teaching staff position at the University of Toronto in the Department of Anatomy. Additionally, he spent a year training in vascular surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital, (MA) and Baylor University Medical Center in Houston, (TX).

Initially Dr. Kahn developed an extensive surgical practice in Northern Ontario followed by a similar surgical practice in Southern California for fifteen years.

Dr. Kahn is credited with development of a multi-clinic practice in California as well as being the driving force behind establishment of a 250 bed hospital.

Dr. Kahn returned to Canada in 1984, and developed a consulting business in the medical field.