As fall quarter wraps up, it’s been a busy season in BMED, with new lab spaces coming online, faculty and student achievements to celebrate, and welcome chances to reconnect with many of you in person.
In October, we celebrated an important milestone: the 20th anniversary of the Biomedical Engineering Department. More than 130 alumni, faculty and supporters joined us in the Engineering Plaza for food, music and a short program honoring our founding faculty. It was energizing to see so many people who helped establish BMED at Cal Poly and to hear how the department has shaped their paths. Thank you to everyone who attended and to those who continue to support our students and our department from afar.
One of the highlights in this issue is the opening of our new Cell Therapy Lab in the Frost Center for Research and Innovation. This 1,500-square-foot space is already changing how students learn regenerative medicine techniques, with undergraduates and graduate students working side by side on equipment more common in industry than in classrooms. Their experiences, from project work on campus to internships at companies such as Novo Nordisk and Thermo Fisher Scientific, show how well our programs prepare students to make an immediate impact.
We are also proud to recognize Professor Ben Hawkins, named a Lockheed Endowed Professor for his work in semiconductor biosensors, and Professor Trevor Cardinal, whose new patent explores a promising approach to prevent amputations. I was honored to receive the university’s Distinguished Scholarship Award, which recognizes research that advances the field and strengthens Cal Poly. Our faculty also earned additional university- and college-level awards and grants that highlight leadership in scholarship, teaching and innovation. Together, these distinctions speak to the strength of our department.
That same spirit of dedication is reflected in our staff. Dave Laiho, who has served as our department technician since 2007, received the College of Engineering’s Outstanding Staff Award for his expertise and leadership in building and maintaining our labs.
As you’ll read in this issue, leadership in the college is also closely tied to BMED. Interim Dean Bob Crockett and Associate Dean Lily Laiho both continue to guide the College of Engineering while staying deeply connected to our department. Their work underscores the strong role BMED plays across the college.
Of course, our students remain at the heart of our mission. This year, their achievements exemplify excellence in academics, research and service, from outstanding graduates to CSU Research Competition honorees developing VR tools for brain injury assessment. Their success reminds us why Learn by Doing continues to define Cal Poly.
Thank you, as always, for supporting BMED, whether through mentoring, collaborating on research, hiring our graduates or staying in touch. Your involvement helps us create the opportunities that brought so many of you back for our 20th anniversary. I look forward to what we will accomplish together as the year continues.
Kristen O’Halloran Cardinal
Department Chair
