Throughout Fall 2024, the Department of Biomedical Engineering hosted a speaker series centered around biotechnology and biomedical engineering in Pangborn Hall at The Catholic University of America main campus. This series of lectures invited experts and alumni from around the biomedical engineering industry to discuss the work they do and provide insight on where this exciting field is advancing next!
This year’s guest speakers included, Dr. Martin Gaudinski, Senior Director in Vaccine Clinical Development at GSK; Dan Krainak, Ph.D., Assistant Director for the Magnetic Resonance and Nuclear Medicine Devices at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) at FDA; Dr. Robert Liotta, instructor at The Heights School in Potomac, Maryland, and former Head of Cardiothoracic Imaging at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland; Dr. Chad Zik, physician at INOVA Healthcare, and Tyler Zimmerman, Program Manager in Biotechnology Research and Design at United Therapeutics Corporation. Presentation topics included mRNA vaccine research, regulatory science for the medical imaging industry, the latest innovations in video-rate magnetic resonance imaging of the heart, genetic engineering treatments for sickle cell anemia, and tissue-engineered lung transplantation.
These guest speakers offered their professional insight to our students, providing them with a detailed look into how biomedical engineering is practiced and implemented in the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Additionally, students had a chance to converse and network with the speakers to learn more about their work and pursue further career opportunities.
Samantha Blumenthal, a freshman biomedical engineering student, said, “what I enjoyed most about the BE Speaker Series was hearing from experts and learning things that aren't usually in textbooks. The interactive format allowed for questions and the ability to get a better understanding of the topics. It was also great to meet other people with similar interests and feel part of a community. The different perspectives and experiences shared by the speakers were really interesting and made the series a valuable experience.”
Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Christopher Raub, Ph.D., said, “This speaker series is one way our students in Biomedical Engineering benefit from our location in a major global hub for biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, and medical technology. They also get to meet some amazing individuals with fulfilling careers in our field, including many friendly alumni who have fond memories of their time at The Catholic University of America, and have direct experience of the value of the education that they received.”
The School of Engineering regularly hosts guest lecturers on campus, in order to provide our students with academic and professional opportunities. Through these events, students get access to professional opportunities and see the plethora of career options available for engineers. Obtaining career advice and receiving mentorship, starting as early as freshman year, provides our students with the knowledge and skill set required to start their career and find success.