The broad aim of this demonstration program is to jointly develop the graduate biomedical engineering curriculum of the Drexel-Jefferson Academic Alliance, specifically addressing the educational needs of modern biomedical engineers.  The specific objective of this project is to initiate the collaborative creation, redesign and implementation of a model graduate concentration area in biomedical ultrasound with special focus on biomedical information processing (sensing, imaging and informatics.)  The approach is tailored to address the scientific, technological, clinical, industrial and social changes facing the biomedical engineer in the next century.

The curriculum emphasizes clinical aspects of biomedical engineering and stresses experiential learning through laboratory work, clinical practicum and introduction to entrepreneurial extensions of biomedical engineering.  This philosophy is reflected in the Curriculum Template below where essential components and concepts of the curriculum are summarized.  The components include scientific foundations of biomedical ultrasound, biomedical sensing and information processing, integrative biomedical systems engineering and social and economic aspects of biomedical technology.

The project is primarily based on the excellent joint research track record of the Alliance partners in biomedical ultrasound and information engineering.  Building on our strengths, it is designed to create an academic course exchange between our two universities aimed to augment and enrich the academic offerings for students enrolled at both Institutions.  The academic exchange will greatly benefit from the development of the proposed courses and laboratories, in particular, the remotely accessible collaboratory.  As a bonus, the collaborative spirit created by this educational project has inspired new cooperative multidisciplinary research proposals and grants involving faculty from Drexel and Thomas Jefferson Universities.

Two new faculty with expertise in biosensors and cellular micromechanics have joined Drexel to contribute to the progress of the projec.  A third new faculty in neurocontrol is focused on cortical biosensors and is planning to participate in the proposed curriculum. Two senior chair professorships in biosensors and cellular science and engineering, respectively, are under negotiations.  A fourth entry-level position in tissue engineering will be filled at Drexel University by September 2000. In parallel, Thomas Jefferson University expects to finalize the recruitment of a cellular and tissue engineering faculty member with expertise in micromechanics and bioimaging by the Fall of 2000.

An assessment plan has been developed to monitor and measure the value of the educational experience offered by new curriculum and to provide feedback necessary to upgrade and optimize the proposed program.  Based on the second year results, we are convinced about the positive contribution of the curriculum to the professional development of our students and are making plans to adopt similar educational approaches in other concentration areas under development. In addition, the assessment method developed specially for the project is under consideration for institutionalization within our unit.