Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
Encyclopedia
The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering is Purdue University
's school of biomedical engineering
. The school offers an undergraduate B.S.
degree in biomedical engineering and M.S.
, Ph.D.
, and integrated M.D.-Ph.D. graduate degrees in biomedical engineering.
and located in Purdue's A.A. Potter Engineering Center. Currently, it is the only engineering discipline at Purdue that requires an entrance exam to be accepted into the program. In 1998, the Hillenbrand Biomedical Engineering Center was elevated in status to the Department of Biomedical Engineering within the school of Engineering at Purdue. George R. Wodicka was the department's founding head. After a generous $10 million donation by Norman Weldon, an alumnus
of Purdue, and his family, the department was formally expanded into a school of biomedical engineering. The donation provided for hiring additional faculty, research initiatives and other start-up costs. In honor of Weldon's donation, the school is named The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. In 2006, the Weldon School moved from Potter Center to the new Biomedical Engineering Building on Purdue's campus. Dr. Geddes remained on staff as a Professor Emeritus until his death in 2009. George R. Wodicka is now the head of The Weldon School. As of 2008, the biomedical engineering building was renamed to the Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering, after the former president of Purdue University.
and the State of Indiana
. The building is strategically located near Lynn Hall of Veterinary Medicine, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, Bindley Bioscience Center, and Lilly Hall of Life Sciences. The building houses the academic and head offices for the Biomedical Engineering School, learning spaces, research labs, faculty offices, conference rooms, and a computer lab.
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
's school of biomedical engineering
Biomedical engineering
Biomedical Engineering is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology. This field seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine: It combines the design and problem solving skills of engineering with medical and biological sciences to improve...
. The school offers an undergraduate B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in biomedical engineering and M.S.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
, Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
, and integrated M.D.-Ph.D. graduate degrees in biomedical engineering.
History
Biomedical engineering at Purdue started in 1974 with the creation of the Hillenbrand Biomedical Engineering Center. The Center was headed by Dr. Leslie A. GeddesLeslie A. Geddes
Leslie Alexander Geddes was an electrical engineer and physiologist. He has conducted research in electromyography, cardiac output, cardiac pacing, ventricular defibrillation, and blood pressure. He discovered and demonstrated precisely the optimal sites on the chest for defibrillation or pacing...
and located in Purdue's A.A. Potter Engineering Center. Currently, it is the only engineering discipline at Purdue that requires an entrance exam to be accepted into the program. In 1998, the Hillenbrand Biomedical Engineering Center was elevated in status to the Department of Biomedical Engineering within the school of Engineering at Purdue. George R. Wodicka was the department's founding head. After a generous $10 million donation by Norman Weldon, an alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
of Purdue, and his family, the department was formally expanded into a school of biomedical engineering. The donation provided for hiring additional faculty, research initiatives and other start-up costs. In honor of Weldon's donation, the school is named The Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. In 2006, the Weldon School moved from Potter Center to the new Biomedical Engineering Building on Purdue's campus. Dr. Geddes remained on staff as a Professor Emeritus until his death in 2009. George R. Wodicka is now the head of The Weldon School. As of 2008, the biomedical engineering building was renamed to the Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering, after the former president of Purdue University.
Facilities
In 2006, Purdue University opened the Biomedical Engineering Building. The state-of-the-art building cost $25 million and was financed in part by grants from the Whitaker FoundationWhitaker Foundation
The Whitaker Foundation was based in Arlington, Virginia and was an organization that primarily supported biomedical engineering education and research, but also supported other forms of medical research. It was founded and funded by U. A. Whitaker in 1975 upon his death with additional support...
and the State of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. The building is strategically located near Lynn Hall of Veterinary Medicine, Birck Nanotechnology Center, Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, Bindley Bioscience Center, and Lilly Hall of Life Sciences. The building houses the academic and head offices for the Biomedical Engineering School, learning spaces, research labs, faculty offices, conference rooms, and a computer lab.