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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
MD Education Program

Biomedical Engineering and Applied Medical Technology Scholarly Concentration

In the Biomedical Engineering and Applied Medical Technology Scholarly Concentration, medical students develop their understanding and application of biomedical engineering for the ethical design, development and translation of medical and related technologies. Students have opportunities to understand and advance the design and translation of medical and related technologies into clinical settings through interactions with engineering teams actively translating medical technologies and well as through completion of a scholarly project. This concentration is in partnership with Purdue University’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering in West Lafayette.  

Locations

Students participate in coursework and related meetings at the West Lafayette campus. Completion of the scholarly project with a faculty mentor in biomedical engineering or related discipline will be done in West Lafayette.

Curriculum and Timeline

Students completing this concentration will receive an introduction to biomedical engineering design, development, deployment of medical and assistive technologies and their translation into clinical practice. Prior coursework or training in engineering is not necessary. Students begin with introductory learning in discussions with engineering faculty and students about the processes of medical technology development and identification of customer needs. Students are required to participate in summer research projects on medical technology development and will join ongoing projects or develop their own with mentorship from engineering faculty. In the final phase, students will continue research on their project and development of a scholarly product deliverable.

Topic-Specific Courses

Introduction to Biomedical Engineering and Translation of Medical Technologies

Introduction to Customer Discovery

Core Curriculum

Fundamentals of Research and Scholarship

Scholarly Concentration Project

Scholarly Concentration Product

Recommended Pathway

This table shows that the first topic specific course, should be completed during phase one in year one. The second topic specific courses should be completed during the summer between first and second year of med school. The third topic specific course should begin during the summer between first and second year of med school and completed in fall of phase two. The two remaining courses, project and product, are longitudinal. The project can begin as soon as the summer between first and second year of med school while the product should begin during phase three and conclude on or before the end of fourth year.

Students determine if a concentration pathway will fit in their schedule by contacting concentration co-directors. 

Scholarly Project Topic Examples

Students work with faculty to complete a project in a relevant topic based on student interests. Students are welcome to come up with their own project idea. Potential project topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Ethical design and implementation of wearable sensors for opioid use.
  • Biomedical engineering of treatments for Parkinson’s disease
  • Clinical translation of a new biomedical diagnostic device for preeclampsia
  • Clinical translation of new point-of-care diagnostic devices 
  • Development of technologies specifically for pediatric clinical use.

Student Testimonials

Co-Directors

Students should reach out to co-directors with any questions about this concentration.

26307-Munguia-Vazquez, Ray

Ray Munguia-Vasquez, MD, MSc, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery

Bio and Contact Information

Craig Goergen, PhD

Leslie A. Geddes Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of Clinical Programs, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University

Adjunct Professor of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine - West Lafayette

Bio and Contact Information

Aaron Lottes, PhD

Associate Professor of Engineering Practice, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University

Bio and Contact Information

map shows location of the biomedical engineering concentration in west lafayette

MD Student News

In their words: Scholarly Concentration Q&A with Biomedical Engineering and Applied Medical Technology co-directors

Craig Goergen, PhD, Andrew Brightman, PhD, and Ray Munguia-Vasquez, MD, PhD, share details on the Biomedical Engineering and Applied Medical Technology Scholarly Concentration, in which medical students develop their understanding and application of biomedical engineering for the ethical design, development and translation of medical and related technologies.