Office Hours

Office Hours

By Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)Science
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Office Hours episodes

  • Translating Biomedical Engineering Research to the Clinic — A Conversation with Dr. Craig Goergen

    In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz talks with Craig Goergen, PhD, a member of the BMES Board of Directors and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University and Associate Head for Clinical Engagement in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and an Adjunct Professor of Surgery at Indiana University School of Medicine.The conversation focuses on how biomedical imaging can help researchers better understand disease, track changes in the body, and move new technologies toward clinical use.

    Goergen shares how his lab uses advanced imaging techniques to study cardiovascular disease and other complex biological systems, and discusses the challenges of developing tools that can translate from preclinical research to real-world patient care.

    Liz and Craig also discuss the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, what it takes to move research from the lab toward the clinic, and how curiosity, communication, and a willingness to work across fields can help biomedical engineers make a meaningful impact.

    Connect with Us:
    Follow BMES on social media for more conversations like this:
    Twitter/X: @BMESociety
    Instagram: @Bmesociety
    Facebook: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    LinkedIn: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    Website: www.bmes.org

    Links to Dr. Craig Goergen's Work:

    AHA Awards Purdue BME with Undergraduate Summer Program Grant

    Follow Dr. Craig Goergen:
    Linkedin: @CraigGoergen

    Music Credit: “Vlog Music Beat Trailer Showreel Promo Background Intro Theme” by Coma-Media via Pixabay
    https://pixabay.com/music/beats-vlog-music-beat-trailer-showreel-promo-background-intro-theme-274290/

    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Office Hours with Liz Wayne wherever you get your podcasts.

    49 min
  • Math, Models, and the Future of Cancer Research – A Conversation with Dr. Stacey Finley

    In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz talks with Stacey Finley, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Quantitative and Computational Biology and the Nicole A. and Thuan Q. Pham Professor at the University of Southern California, about how computational and mathematical modeling helps researchers understand complex biological systems, predict treatment outcomes, and explore new approaches to cancer research.

    Finley breaks down agent-based modeling and shares how her lab uses these tools to study HER2-positive breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and the role a tumor’s local microenvironment plays in treatment response.

    Liz and Stacey also discuss the importance of strong collaboration between modelers and experimental researchers, how AI and machine learning complement mathematical modeling, and why curiosity and creativity are just as important as coding skills for the next generation of computational researchers.

    Connect with Us:
    Follow BMES on social media for more conversations like this:
    Twitter/X: @BMESociety
    Instagram: @Bmesociety
    Facebook: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    LinkedIn: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    Website: www.bmes.org

    Links to Dr. Stacey Finley's Work:

    Computational Systems Biology Laboratory

    Follow Dr. Stacey Finley:
    Linkedin: @StaceyFinley

    Music Credit: “Vlog Music Beat Trailer Showreel Promo Background Intro Theme” by Coma-Media via Pixabay
    https://pixabay.com/music/beats-vlog-music-beat-trailer-showreel-promo-background-intro-theme-274290/

    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Office Hours with Liz Wayne wherever you get your podcasts.

    52 min
  • Beyond the Lab: Leadership, Mentorship and Student Advocacy – A Conversation with Amal Shabazz

    In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz chats with Amal Shabazz, Ph.D. candidate and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, College Park.

    Amal discusses her research using 3D printing to develop nipple tissue for breast reconstruction, her journey to graduate school, and the mentorship that shaped her path. She also shares advice on balancing research, leadership, and advocacy, setting boundaries, working with advisors, and building meaningful professional connections. 

    Connect with Us:
    Follow BMES on social media for more conversations like this:
    Twitter/X: @BMESociety
    Instagram: @Bmesociety
    Facebook: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    LinkedIn: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    Website: www.bmes.org

    Follow Amal Shabazz:
    Linkedin: @AmalShabazz

    Music Credit: “Vlog Music Beat Trailer Showreel Promo Background Intro Theme” by Coma-Media via Pixabay
    https://pixabay.com/music/beats-vlog-music-beat-trailer-showreel-promo-background-intro-theme-274290/

    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Office Hours with Liz Wayne wherever you get your podcasts.

    46 min
  • Do We Still Need Universities? – A Conversation with Dr. Conrad Zapanta

    In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz chats with Dr. Conrad Zapanta ("Dr. Z"), Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, College of Engineering and Teaching Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, to explore the evolving role of higher education. They discuss what universities offer beyond the classroom, how engineering programs are adapting to AI and changing workforce needs, and why community, mentorship, and hands-on learning remain essential in biomedical engineering.

    Connect with Us:
    Follow BMES on social media for more conversations like this:
    Twitter/X: @BMESociety
    Instagram: @Bmesociety
    Facebook: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    LinkedIn: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    Website: www.bmes.org

    Follow Dr. Conrad Zapanta:
    Linkedin: @ConradZapanta

    Music Credit: “Vlog Music Beat Trailer Showreel Promo Background Intro Theme” by Coma-Media via Pixabay
    https://pixabay.com/music/beats-vlog-music-beat-trailer-showreel-promo-background-intro-theme-274290/

    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Office Hours with Liz Wayne wherever you get your podcasts.

    1 hr
  • Reimagining Women's Health – A Conversation with Dr. Erika Moore & Dr. Shreya Raghavan

    What does “women’s health” really mean and who gets to define it? In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz chats with Dr. Erika Moore, Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Dr. Shreya Raghavan, Associate Professor at Texas A&M University, to unpack how biomedical engineers are reshaping the future of women’s health research. From uterine mechanics and cancer mechanobiology to wearable technologies and FDA-cleared health apps, the conversation explores how engineering is driving new discoveries across reproductive health, autoimmune disease, imaging, diagnostics, and beyond. Together, they discuss the evolution of the BMES Women’s Health SIG, the importance of trainee involvement, and why expanding the definition of women’s health could transform healthcare for everyone.

    Connect with Us:
    Follow BMES on social media for more conversations like this:
    Twitter/X: @BMESociety
    Instagram: @Bmesociety
    Facebook: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    LinkedIn: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    Website: www.bmes.org

    Links to Dr. Erika Moore's Work:
    Moore Lab

    Cell Line-Specific Estrogen Responses Uncover Functional Sex Differences in Murine Macrophages

    TRACE: Applying AI Language Models to Extract Ancestry Information From Curated Biomedical Literature

    Modeling Uterine Fibroids Using Bioengineered Hydrogels

    Follow Dr. Erika Moore:
    Instagram: @MooreLabBME
    Linkedin: @MooreLab
    Instagram: @ErikaMooreTaylor
    TikTok: @DrErikaMoore

    Links to Dr. Shreya Raghavan's Work:
    ElevateHER: Engineering a New Era in Women's Health

    Follow Dr. Shreya Raghavan:
    X: @LabRaghavan
    LinkedIn: Shreya Raghavan

    Music Credit: “Vlog Music Beat Trailer Showreel Promo Background Intro Theme” by Coma-Media via Pixabay
    https://pixabay.com/music/beats-vlog-music-beat-trailer-showreel-promo-background-intro-theme-274290/

    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Office Hours with Liz Wayne wherever you get your podcasts.

    51 min
  • What Does a Teaching Professor Really Do? – A Conversation with Dr. Jenny Amos

    In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, she chats with Dr. Jenny Amos, Teaching Professor in Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, about what it really means to build a career centered on teaching in academia. From her transition away from a traditional research path to her passion for student engagement, Dr. Amos breaks down the role of teaching faculty and how they shape the classroom experience for future biomedical engineers.

    They explore topics like active learning, student belonging, and how course design can directly impact retention and success in engineering programs, along with how teaching has evolved in recent years. This conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the impact of great teaching in biomedical engineering.

    Connect with Us:
    Follow BMES on social media for more conversations like this:
    Twitter/X: @BMESociety
    Instagram: @Bmesociety
    Facebook: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    LinkedIn: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    Website: www.bmes.org

    Links to Dr. Jenny Amos' Work:
    Jenny Amos Profile

    Facilitating the Development of Sessions and Dissemination of Outcomes from the 5th Biomedical Engineering Educational Summit

    Promoting Teaching‑Focused Faculty in Biomedical Engineering: Education Summit Highlights Best Practices for Professional Development

    Overview of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Education Landscape

    Follow Dr. Jenny Amos:
    LinkedIn: Jenny Amos

    Music Credit: “Vlog Music Beat Trailer Showreel Promo Background Intro Theme” by Coma-Media via Pixabay
    https://pixabay.com/music/beats-vlog-music-beat-trailer-showreel-promo-background-intro-theme-274290/

    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Office Hours with Liz Wayne wherever you get your podcasts.

    54 min
  • What Comes After Graduation? Finding Your Path in Biomedical Engineering — A Conversation with Dr. Jose Rios Lizarraga

    What does life really look like after earning a biomedical engineering degree? In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, she chats with Dr. Jose Rios Lizarraga, Director of Formulation Sciences at Nuvalent, to unpack the realities of building a career in the biopharmaceutical industry, from graduate school uncertainty to landing that first job and beyond.
    Dr. Lizarraga shares how a single undergraduate course sparked his passion for drug delivery, leading him from research at MIT to a PhD at Cornell and ultimately into pharmaceutical development. Along the way, he shares the challenges of breaking into industry, the pressure of the job search, and the importance of learning how to translate academic experience into real-world impact.

    Connect with Us:
    Follow BMES on social media for more conversations like this:
    Twitter/X: @BMESociety
    Instagram: @Bmesociety
    Facebook: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    LinkedIn: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    Website: www.bmes.org

    Follow Dr. Jose Rios Lizarraga:
    LinkedIn: Jose Rios Lizarraga

    Music Credit: “Vlog Music Beat Trailer Showreel Promo Background Intro Theme” by Coma-Media via Pixabay
    https://pixabay.com/music/beats-vlog-music-beat-trailer-showreel-promo-background-intro-theme-274290/

    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Office Hours with Liz Wayne wherever you get your podcasts.

    46 min
  • Why Professional Societies Matter in Biomedical Engineering — A Conversation with Dr. Michael King

    In this episode of Office Hours with Liz Wayne, Liz sits down with longtime BMES member and leader Michael King, E.D. Butcher Professor of Bioengineering at Rice University, to explore the evolving role of professional societies in biomedical engineering. From his first BMES Annual Meeting in 2000 to serving in major leadership roles, King reflects on how conferences, mentorship, networking, and community have shaped his career and why these spaces remain essential for students, researchers, and faculty alike.

    Together, they discuss how BMES has grown over the years, the balance between in-person and virtual engagement, the importance of supporting early-career scientists, and the challenges professional societies face in a rapidly changing academic landscape. The conversation also touches on leadership, scientific advocacy, and what the future of bioengineering communities could look like as technology and culture continue to evolve.

    Connect with Us:
    Follow BMES on social media for more conversations like this:
    Twitter/X: @BMESociety
    Instagram: @Bmesociety
    Facebook: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    LinkedIn: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    Website: www.bmes.org

    Follow Dr. Michael King:
    Twitter/X: @profmikeking
    Bluesky: @profmikeking.bsky.social
    Instagram: @profmikeking
    LinkedIn: Michael King

    Links to Dr. Michael King's Work:
    Rice-Led Study Finds Focused Ultrasound Therapy Improves Cancer Treatment
    An AI Novel Series (4 Books)

    Music Credit: “Vlog Music Beat Trailer Showreel Promo Background Intro Theme” by Coma-Media via Pixabay
    https://pixabay.com/music/beats-vlog-music-beat-trailer-showreel-promo-background-intro-theme-274290/

    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Office Hours with Liz Wayne wherever you get your podcasts.

    40 min
  • Nerve Regeneration and Academic Leadership — A Conversation with BMES President Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert

    In this episode of Office Hours, Liz Wayne talks with Shelly Sakiyama‑Elbert, Vice Dean, Research and Graduate Education, Professor of Bioengineering at University of Washington, and President of the Biomedical Engineering Society. 

    From nerve regeneration and stem cell biology to academic leadership and professional service, Sakiyama-Elbert shares how she balances research, mentorship, and administration while helping shape the future of biomedical engineering. Together, Wayne and Sakiyama-Elbert unpack what it really means to build strong academic ecosystems, lead with purpose, and support the next generation of engineers in a rapidly changing world.

    Connect with Us:
    Follow BMES on social media for more conversations like this:
    Twitter/X: @BMESociety
    Instagram: @Bmesociety
    Facebook: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    LinkedIn: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    Website: www.bmes.org

    Follow Dr. Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert's:
    Linkedin: @Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert

    Links to Dr. Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert's Work:
    The Sakiyama-Elbert Lab
    The Office of Research & Graduate Education

    Music Credit: “Vlog Music Beat Trailer Showreel Promo Background Intro Theme” by Coma-Media via Pixabay
    https://pixabay.com/music/beats-vlog-music-beat-trailer-showreel-promo-background-intro-theme-274290/

    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Office Hours with Liz Wayne wherever you get your podcasts.

    54 min
  • Pregnancy as an Engineering Process — A Conversation with Dr. Michelle Oyen

    Dr. Liz Wayne, host of the Office Hours podcast, is joined by Dr. Michelle Oyen, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Wayne State University, for an in-depth discussion on pregnancy through an engineering lens. Oyen shares how biomechanics, materials science, and data analysis are transforming our understanding of pregnancy, from placental development to preterm birth—the leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide. Together, they explore the mechanical properties of the amniotic sac, how environmental factors like atmospheric pressure can influence birth outcomes, and why pregnancy remains one of the most understudied areas in medicine. The conversation highlights both the challenges of researching pregnancy and the powerful role biomedical engineering can play in advancing women’s and maternal health.

    Connect with Us:
    Follow BMES on social media for more conversations like this:
    Twitter/X: @BMESociety
    Instagram: @Bmesociety
    Facebook: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    LinkedIn: Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
    Website: www.bmes.org

    Follow Dr. Michelle Oyen:
    Linkedin: @Michelle Oyen

    Links to Dr. Michelle Oyen's Work:

    Engineering is Pregnant with Possibilities

    Virtual Pregnancies: Predicting and Preventing Pregnancy Complications with Digital Twins

    FDA Modernization Act 2.0 and Reproductive Research

    As Mentioned on the Episode:
    America’s Stillbirth Crisis: Before a Breath | FULL DOCUMENTARY

    Music Credit: “Vlog Music Beat Trailer Showreel Promo Background Intro Theme” by Coma-Media via Pixabay
    https://pixabay.com/music/beats-vlog-music-beat-trailer-showreel-promo-background-intro-theme-274290/

    Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review Office Hours with Liz Wayne wherever you get your podcasts.

    55 min

About Office Hours

From the publisher's feed

Now more than ever, it’s essential to engage the public in the work of biomedical engineers, especially those advancing science and medicine from within universities.

To help bridge that gap,…