With voting for Proposition 4 quickly approaching, UH continues to make academic advancements to establish itself as a national research university.’
Provost John Antel and Cullen College of Engineering Dean Joseph Tedesco appointed Metin Akay, a professor and former interim chair at Arizona State University’s Harrington Department of Bioengineering, as the department chair for the new biomedical engineering degree plan at UH.
Akay will begin his appointment in January 2010.
‘ ‘Biomedical engineering enables and integrates science and engineering to discover new fundamental principles regarding the function and structure of living systems,’ Akay said.’
Akay played a significant role in promoting bioengineering and biomedical engineering research and education in the U.S.’
Internationally, Akay’s research in neural and cardiovascular engineering, informatics and imaging is well known. He also published the Encyclopedia of Biomedical Engineering, which was recognized by the Association of American Publishers in 2006.’
Akay said he wants to focus on improving enrollment for women and minorities.
‘In my new role, I will work hard to promote biomedical engineering education and research at UH, in the U.S. and in the world, as well as get females and minorities engaged in the field,’ Akay said.’
Akay also said he wants to add to the faculty and stimulate research collaborations with Houston’s medical center. He wants to partner with the medical center to build a joint Ph.D./M.D. program to attract top-flight students.
His mission is to build a community that promotes trans-disciplinary biomedical engineering research and innovative education, which would create and nurture the next generation of biomedical engineering leadership in academia, government and industry.
‘ ‘We will establish a health care focused on academic curriculum and an entrepreneurship environment to meet the demands and requirements of the ever-changing global economy that influences health care technology, management and delivery,’ Akay said.
Tedesco said he is optimistic about Akay taking on this position.
‘I have the utmost confidence in him; he’s been successful in everything he has done,’ Tedesco said. ‘Because of his experience in the field, he’s well connected in the biomedical industry, which is beneficial to the department.’
Electrical power engineering technology junior Emmanuel Albert is’ positive about the new degree.’
‘I feel that the new biomedical degree plan is a great thing because we are located near one of the world’s largest medical centers,’ Albert said.’
Albert also said he trusts that the UH administration used the right judgment in selecting the new chair, and he supports its efforts to expand.’
‘I feel as if they will select the right people to put under (Akay’s) leadership to make this program one of the elite programs in the nation,’ Albert said. ‘
