Roderic Pettigrew, PhD, MD
Engineering Medicine to Transform Healthcare

Thursday May 16th, 4:00pm
Shriram 108, Stanford University
Roderic Pettigrew
Executive Dean for Engineering Medicine
Chief Executive Officer of Engineering Health
Texas A&M University
Abstract: During recent decades, many changes have taken place across the
bioengineering, biomedical research, and translational science landscape. In
particular, the integration of engineering, the physical and the biological
sciences has resulted in (1) significant progress in the understanding of the
cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie disease, (2) amazing advances
in medical diagnostics, (3) remarkable improvements in therapeutics, (4) an
enhanced focus on preventative strategies, and (5) an accelerating
development and implementation of artificial intelligence. All of these are now focused on helping to achieve the overarching
goal of healthy longevity. This is a vision that is focused on maintaining wellness and striving for precision in earlier diagnosis
and efficient treatment of disease. Innovations are required to enhance our ability to bring healthcare to all who need it, in
particular those areas that are traditionally underserved, such as rural locales and developing countries. This remains a goal in
great need of sustained pursuit and development. As we move further into the 21st Century, engineering converged with
medicine holds the exciting promise of a deep healthcare transformation. This is beginning with a new engineering and
medicine blended education and translational research paradigm where “physicianeers” will be trained to be invention minded.
This promises to be a more efficient way to help solve both common and vexing healthcare problems. In so doing, there is
greater hope of achieving the grandest challenge of sustained good health throughout the entirety of our lifetimes.
Bio: Roderic Ivan Pettigrew, PhD, MD, serves as CEO of Engineering Health (EnHealth) and executive dean for Engineering
Medicine (EnMed) at Texas A&M and Houston Methodist Hospital. He was the founding Director of the US National Institute of
Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) of the NIH [2002-2017], oversaw $5Billion in research investments and is
credited with building it into the signature NIH institute for emerging medical technologies. Of note, under Dr Pettigrew’s
leadership, NIBIB produced more patents per appropriated dollar than any other institute or federal agency returning $30 per
each $1 invested in research or 3000% (5 x the already remarkable NIH Average of 600%).
His newest undertaking is EnHealth, the world’s first initiative to holistically integrate engineering into all of the colleges of a
university that are a part of the health care enterprise. EnMed is the first constituent initiative, creating a new school that
integrates engineering into medical training to develop a new kind of engineering-minded physician, or Physcianeer, who
invents solutions to healthcare problems. Of note, an invention is required of each EnMed graduate who will earn both MD and
MEng degrees in 4years.
Dr Pettigrew’s expertise is in health technologies emerging from the convergence of the life sciences, the physical sciences and
engineering. An MIT graduate (PhD ’77) who finished his medical training at UCSD (’83), he is known internationally for his
pioneering work involving four-dimensional imaging of the cardiovascular system using magnetic resonance (MRI). His current
knowledge base also includes nanotechnology, regenerative medicine, and point-of-care technologies. He has been elected to
membership in the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Inventors
and a foreign member of the National Academy of Sciences, India. Other awards include the Pierre Galletti Award (highest
honor) of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, the Inaugural Gold Medal of the Academy of Radiology
Research, the Distinguished Service Medal of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, the Spirit of the
Heart Award of the ABC and the Gold Medal of the Radiological Society of North America.
Hosted by David Camarillo

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Event Topic:
Engineering Medicine to Transform Healthcare

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Date/Time:
Date(s) - 05/16/19
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

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Other:

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