Hiba Sinno, Office of Communications, [email protected]
Biomedical engineering is a rapidly growing and evolving field. It sits at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and applied science, yet academic programs have not always reflected that reality. Unlike many biomedical engineering programs housed within a single academic unit, AUB's Biomedical Engineering (BMEN) Program is jointly governed by engineering and medicine, an approach that has contributed to strong outcomes in research, professional readiness, and educational innovation.
A recent study published in Biomedical Engineering Education and co-authored by seven AUB faculty members examines the program's first nine years. Launched in 2015 through a partnership between the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture and the Faculty of Medicine, BMEN is premised on the concept that healthcare challenges are best addressed when technical and clinical expertise inform one another. The study explores how this approach has influenced student outcomes, research productivity, and career preparation.
“Long before many biomedical engineering programs started to strengthen formal ties with schools of medicine, AUB's jointly governed model demonstrated remarkable foresight," says Dr. Zaher Dawy, AUB provost and professor of electrical and computer engineering, who is one of the study's co-authors. “The program was built on the understanding that biomedical engineering is inherently translational, and that impactful training and research require integration between engineering, medical sciences, and clinical practice."
Experiential learning is central to the program. Graduate students participate in laboratory research, clinical exposure, and hospital-based training that connect scientific discovery with real-world healthcare needs. Through laboratory rotations and a mandatory hospital rotation at the American University of Beirut Medical Center, students gain firsthand insight into clinical settings while identifying challenges that may benefit from engineering solutions.
“Our students work across disciplines, interact directly with clinicians, and are exposed to real healthcare challenges throughout their training," says Dr. Khraiche, professor of biomedical engineering and another co-author. “This has created an environment where engineering research is informed by clinical needs and where students learn to think not only about developing new technologies, but also about how those technologies can ultimately improve patient care."
The study highlights sustained growth across several areas. More than 90 percent of graduates reported employment or academic placement upon graduation, while student-led publications increased from approximately one-third of the program's research output in 2019 to more than half by 2024. BMEN also recorded continued growth in interdisciplinary collaborations, externally funded projects, and international research partnerships.
Students and faculty contribute to work spanning biomechanics, biosensors, computational biology, neuroscience, drug delivery, and tissue engineering, often alongside clinicians. Beyond scholarly output, the program has contributed to healthcare innovation through patents, startup ventures, technology transfer activities, and industry engagement.
“What made AUB's Biomedical Engineering Program unique was how closely it brought engineering and medicine together, says Trishia El Chemaly, AUB BMEN alumna. “Working directly with physicians at AUBMC taught me, as an engineer, to understand clinical needs and conduct research that directly addresses them. I carried this approach into my PhD at Stanford, working alongside surgeons to address challenges in the operating room."
While BMEN is not the first experiential biomedical engineering program, the study argues that its combination of joint governance and resource integration offers a distinct approach. As universities such as the University of Michigan, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Southern California strengthen formal ties between engineering and medicine, the paper situates AUB's experience within a broader evolution of the field.
Taken as a whole, the study's findings position BMEN as a successful example of biomedical engineering education and highlight its relevance for institutions seeking to expand educational and research opportunities in resource-limited settings.