Inaugural Dr. Hossein Doc Yassini Lecture Series in Science and Medicine

September 22, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Introducing the Dr. Hossein “Doc” Yassini Lecture Series in Science and Medicine

A stimulating new speakers program devoted to thoughtful dialogue, captivating subjects and lifelong learning. Presented annually in association with the Ohio Valley Public Library.

The Dr. Hossein “Doc” Yassini Lecture Series in Science and Medicine is dedicated to creating an engaging and thought-provoking environment for conversation, learning and community camaraderie. Presented at the Ohio County Public Library auditorium, this forum brings internationally known subject-matter experts to the stage to explore meaningful ideas, pursuits and breakthroughs touching on modern science, medical, and technological advancements. Designed for lifelong learners, curious individuals and engaged citizens of Ohio Valley, the program is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Hossein Yassini, a revered physician and civic figure who touched countless lives with grace and humility over more than six decades.

Our first guest for the series on September 22 at noon, will be Dr. Yassini’s nephew and the sponsor of the series, Dr. Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard.

Please join us for the inaugural edition of the Dr. Hossein Yassini Lecture Series, featuring the entrepreneur and author known internationally as “the Father of the Cable Modem.” The Accidental Network: Implications for Connectivity, Community and the Future of Healthcare.

On Tuesday, September22 at Noon at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library our keynote speaker will be Dr. Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard, inventor of the core technology behind today’s always-on, high-speed Internet infrastructure, and the author of the new book, “The Accidental Network: How a Small Company Sparked a Global Broadband Transformation.” (West Virginia University Press, 2025).

Dr. Yassini-Fard will provide an accessible, straightforward perspective into how today’s “broadband” revolution came to be – and why it matters. In keeping with the broader theme of the lecture series, he will also share insights around the intersection of broadband networks and advancements in remote medical diagnosis/connected healthcare that have become critical in the wake of the 2020 Covid crisis. Don’t miss this engaging, direct-from-the-source discussion about a technical revolution that continues to move forward at astonishing speed.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard is a technology entrepreneur and philanthropist whose Massachusetts-based organization, YAS Foundation, supports innovation and creativity addressing medical technology, telecommunications advocacy, educational scholarship and cultural collaboration.

Dr. Yassini is widely known as the “father of the cable modem,” tracing to the breakthrough achievements around high-speed data technology pioneered by LANcity, a company Yassini founded in 1988. LANcity was the developer of key technologies including a Media Access Control software solution which Yassini contributed on a royalty-free basis to the global cable telecommunications industry.

In 2024, Yassini was inducted into the Syndeo Institute’s Cable Hall of Fame, joining numerous notable industry luminaries and trailblazers. The same year, he was selected to receive an Emmy Award for Technology and Engineering from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Earlier, Yassini served as an executive advisor to CableLabs, providing guidance and support for the non-profit organization’s Data over Cable Services Interface Specification (DOCSIS) program and a separate device interoperability initiative that paved the way for the scaled deployment of cable modems, a pillar of today’s worldwide, multi-trillion-dollar broadband sector.

As Founder and CEO of YAS Ventures LLC, Dr. Yassini was instrumental in the creation of multiple start-up companies that were acquired or successfully staged initial public stock offerings.
Yassini holds an Honorary Ph.D. in Science and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from West Virginia University; an Honorary Ph.D. from Merrimack College; and an equivalent MBA from General Electric’s Financial Management Program.

Dr. Yassini is a member of the Lane Department Academy and the West Virginia University Academy of Distinguished Alumni and is the author of The Accidental Network How a small company sparked a global broadband transformation, published in the fall of 2025,

Lunch With Books Livestream starts at noon on Facebook and YouTube.

Subscribe to the Lunch With Books Youtube channel or like us on the Lunch With Books Facebook page or to receive notifications of our upcoming LWB broadcasts. To receive emails about our upcoming programs, visit our News page, click the "Subscribe" button to sign-up for our news blasts or download our free OCPL Connect app from your smartphone's app store. 

"Lunch With Books" is the library’s flagship program for adult patrons. These lunchtime programs feature authors, poets, musicians, historians, and more every Tuesday at noon. Bring lunch (to your computer), feed your brain!