Improving Health Care Through Technology

New campus group shines light on the field of biomedical engineering

By Jenna Fazio ’24 CpE

In Fall 2022, I spoke with a graduate student about his research on brain monitoring with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Through this noninvasive optical imaging technology, researchers can gain insights into a person’s cognitive functioning, demonstrating one of the many ways that biomedical engineering can positively affect society. The grad student and I saw an opportunity to bring students together to share our passion for biomedical engineering. As a result, Villanova University’s Engineering in Medicine and Biology (VU EMB) group was born.

Officially recognized as a student organization last spring, VU EMB is open to all individuals interested in the rising field of biomedical engineering. Though the group is an offshoot of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), its impact spans a wide variety of majors outside engineering because of its focus on the medical field. VU EMB’s mission is to facilitate learning and increase medical or technical engineering knowledge beyond the classroom. As acting president, I am helping to create new and unique experiences for our members as we prepare for our professional careers.

One way VU EMB is enhancing the academic experience is through industry field trips. In the fall, we visited Tyber Medical, a manufacturer of orthopedic devices focused on implants in the spine and extremities. During visits like this, students get to tour labs and manufacturing facilities while networking with company employees and executives. Two more industry trips are planned this spring.

VU EMB also plans to introduce students to areas of biomedical engineering through professor and student talks. Faculty members who have worked professionally in the industry will speak about their experiences and how they’ve continued to pursue their passion through teaching and research. Meanwhile, graduate students with a research focus on biomedical engineering will discuss what led them into the field. The goal is to show students the different paths they can take with their interest in biomedical engineering.

One final way we engage students is by discussing news headlines related to biomedical engineering at the end of every meeting. A hot topic in the fall was the debate over undergoing surgery after tearing an Achilles tendon, which came right after New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers injured his Achilles during a game against the Buffalo Bills. This headline led to a rich conversation about the benefits and disadvantages of surgery.

Biomedical engineering—and VU EMB in particular—has helped me realize how much I want to use engineering for good, to better the health and well-being of those directly impacted by harm or illness. Through advancements in medicine with technology, we can improve medical treatments and enhance the healing process for everyone. I am grateful to have such a wonderful community where I can share my passion for biomedical engineering for the betterment of future societies.

Jenna Fazio is a senior from Hemlock, N.Y., majoring in Computer Engineering and minoring in Biomedical Engineering. She is president of Villanova’s student chapter of IEEE and acting president of VU EMB.