of Engineering department
Dr. Frank Abrams,
professor in the Department of Biological
and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) in the College
of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and N.C.
State senior vice provost for academic affairs and chief of staff
from 1994 to 2003, has been named interim director of graduate programs
of the new Department of Biomedical
Engineering (BME) at N.C. State University. Dr. H. Troy Nagle, professor
of electrical and computer engineering in the College
of Engineering, was named interim head of the new department, effective
Jan. 1. Dr. Susan Blanchard, professor of biological and agricultural
engineering, serves as interim associate head of the department and
interim director of its undergraduate programs.
Abrams, who
holds N.C. State bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees
in biological and agricultural engineering, was a leader in the early
development of study opportunities for students in the area of biomedical
engineering at the university. The B.S. degree program in biomedical
engineering at N.C. State was established in August 2001 from a curriculum
developed in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
While the new department will be administered by the College of Engineering
and housed in that college’s Daniels Hall, responsibility for its
programs of study will continue to be shared by Engineering and Agriculture
and Life Sciences, with courses being taught by faculty from both colleges.
Biomedical
engineers are professionally trained to combine the rigors of medical
and biological systems with the exacting calculations of engineering
to improve the health care of people and animals the world over.
The objectives
of the biomedical engineering program are to educate students to be
successful in biomedical engineering by emphasizing engineering and
biology as related to basic medical sciences and human health; to produce
biomedical engineers able to communicate effectively with diverse audiences
and prepared to work in multi-disciplinary teams; to develop in students
professional, ethical and societal responsibility in biomedical engineering
practices; to introduce students to advances in biomedical engineering
practice and research; and to instill in students a life-long thirst
for knowledge.
Students with
strong backgrounds in basic biological sciences coupled with engineering
sciences have unique opportunities in medical equipment development
and sales, pharmaceutical and biomedical companies, and hospitals. The
degree also offers a rigorous analytical and scientific program for
students planning to enter professional schools of medicine or pursue
advanced degrees.
At a February
celebration of the new department in Daniels Hall, Dr. Ken Esbenshade,
CALS director of academic programs said, “The CALS administration
is very supportive of this program and will help in the best way we
can in the transition to and development of this full-fledged department.
We’re especially proud to be associated with the College of Engineering
in this endeavor. We know that the core group of faculty will use their
expertise to build a program that will have effect worldwide.”
—Terri
Leith
