The strong, strategic connection between academia and the clinical setting is transforming biomedical research and education at The University of Texas at Austin.
A partnership between UT Austin’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and the UT Austin Dell Medical School opens the door to a dual-degree program, hands-on learning experiences and an outlet to expedite research moving from the laboratory to the doctor’s office.
Students and faculty alike benefit from state-of-the-art clinical facilities, equipment, and Dell Med clinicians specializing in a variety of fields including cardiology, neurology, oncology and psychiatry to name a few. There are three principal programs in the Department of Biomedical Engineering that are made possible in part due to this strategic partnership.
Clinical Innovation Design (CID)
The CID program was launched in the fall of 2020. Participants in the CID program practice design thinking and are involved in all aspects of medical device development and innovation, from needs assessment and analysis of current solutions to prototyping and business plan development.
The CID program pairs third-year medical students from the Dell Medical School with master’s students from the Cockrell School of Engineering for nine months. During the first six weeks of the program, sub-teams made up of two students observe clinical needs across a specific clinic service area.
In the spring semester, the student teams will brainstorm solutions for their selected clinical need, prototype their solution and write a business plan for the medical device they develop.
“We have been excited to lead programs like CID to catalyze true collaboration between the Dell Medical School and the Cockrell School of Engineering, specifically the Department of Biomedical Engineering. This course provides both a model and example of the potential when clinicians collaborate with engineers to develop impactful medical technologies,” said Dr. John Uecker, M.D.
There is already a bona fide impact of UT Dell Med clinicians working with UT Austin biomedical engineers to successfully commercialize translational research developed on the Forty Acres:
Imaging & Informatics Program
The highly selective program trains comprehensive imaging scientists in the skills necessary to improve the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases. A one year, NIH T32-supported fellowship includes a stipend, funds for educational and research supplies, as well as two semesters of tuition.
The facilities and physicians at Dell Medical School allow students to have real-world experience in a clinical setting and help them determine an optimal career path in biomedical engineering based on their personal passion. As part of the program students are required to take Imaging Clinical Immersion. Contrary to the Capstone/Senior Design Program that aims to create a solution or improvement to an existing problem, the Imaging Clinical Immersion course identifies unmet needs.
Dr. George Rodgers, M.D. is an internal medicine physician at Dell Med specializing in cardiology and clinical imaging. He serves as one of the potential clinical mentors that students can choose to work with.
"One of the key advantages for students is gaining a deeper understanding of how imaging is applied in medicine—particularly the indications for its use, the limitations, and how biomedical engineers can enhance its capabilities. These insights come from students engaging directly with clinicians, using their biomedical engineering knowledge to address real-world challenges," said Dr. Rodgers.
Dr. Rodgers also developed an ongoing collaboration with biomedical engineering professor Ed Castillo to use deep machine learning to enhance cardiac imaging.
“Our work will be groundbreaking for the detection of cardiac conditions, especially in underserved communities, since we will be able to infer functional information that would ordinarily require expensive specialized imaging,” said Castillo.
Students see the training program as an invaluable, unique opportunity to distinguish themselves from other doctoral students on a national level.
“Academically, the program provides the framework to become an expert in biomedical imaging. This will both strengthen my research, but it will also expose me to knowledge that I may not encounter in the lab; making me a more well-rounded scientist,” said Blake Evans, graduate student.
Integrated M.D./M.S.E. program
In collaboration with Dell Medical School, the Department of Biomedical Engineering offers an M.S.E. degree specifically designed for current medical students. Dell Medical students can choose the biomedical engineering M.S. to fulfill requirements in Year Three, also known as the Growth Year.
The overarching goal of the program is to produce physicians who can practice medicine and biomedical research with the quantitative analytical skills of an engineer.
"Enrolling in the dual-degree program empowers medical students with a unique blend of clinical expertise and high-impact biomedical engineering knowledge. As they progress through their M.D. journey, they’re not only preparing to wear the white coat but are also equipping themselves with advanced tools in biomedical innovation. This dual skillset will set them apart on Match Day, support their success through residency, and enable them to deliver exceptional, technology-driven patient care throughout their careers,” said Jenny Kondo, graduate program administrator for the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Regardless of which program a biomedical engineering student takes advantage of, or the career path they choose, the opportunities offered by the partnership between the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Dell Medical School is consistently mentioned among alumni as one of the premiere factors that prepared them to apply their education and skills beyond the Forty Acres.
WRITTEN BY JOSHUA KLEINSTREUER
