BME Seminar Series (Zoom): Engineering Immersion-Utilizing the Patient Perspective and Environment in Biomedical Innovation

Zoom: https://uci.zoom.us/j/97629106431 Password: 198Sem

Abstract: Biomedical engineers do amazing work creating solutions to problems which can impact those with diseases or  disabilities, however most researchers work behind the scenes with little opportunity to see those who benefit from the healthcare made possible by medical devices and therapies. Therefore, a gap exists between what the engineer thinks is the best solution, and what the end user needs. A distinguishing characteristic of a biomedical engineer is the desire to help people, and students often voice that BME was their major of choice in order to apply their engineering passion to a field that will have a direct impact on patients. We therefore believe it is valuable to incorporate the end-user perspective into the biomedical engineering curriculum, not only to satisfy the students’ passion to help, but to improve the design of the devices to better address the customer needs. 
We have partnered with The Matheny Medical and Educational Center, a facility for severely disabled individuals; Operation Rebound, an organization for disabled athletes; and Eric LeGrand, former Rutgers football star who was severely injured during a game and is now a quadriplegic, to draw inspiration for senior design projects. Since the program piloted in the summer of 2017 with 13 students, 30 new projects have resulted with 160 students participating. While simple, these ideas can vastly improve the quality of life of a disabled individual.

Bio: Kristen Labazzo is an assistant teaching professor and the undergraduate program director in biomedical engineering at Rutgers University. She has a doctorate in biomedical engineering from Rutgers University, an executive M.B.A. from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a B.A. in chemistry from Caldwell University. Labazzo brings 15 years of experience in biomaterials, tissue engineering and stem cell research to academia, ten of which were in industry at Celgene Cellular Therapeutics. As an educator, Labazzo has developed new industrial courses, a co-op program, and leads patient-centric capstone projects in collaboration with organizations for the disabled. She was the 2019 and 2021 Engineering Governing Council Professor of the Year (BME), the 2021 recipient of the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Innovations, and is the chair of the Matheny School Board.