5 Medical Innovations You Probably Didnât Notice Happened in 2020 Written by Brian Mastroianni on December 30, 2020 â Fact checked by Michael Crescione Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical community made advances throughout 2020. Here are 5 of the yearâs most impactful innovations. From breakthroughs in oncology, gene therapies, and heart health, the medical community made many new advances in 2020. Morsa Images/Getty Images Overall, 2020 has been a tumultuous year. From a health perspective, itâs been one turned upside down with a deadly global pandemic reorienting how we live our lives and relate to others. The COVID-19 pandemic has justifiably dominated headlines and attention from media, policymakers, and health officials alike.