BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Overview

Medicine is undergoing a transformation based on the rapid advances in science and technology that are combining to produce more accurate diagnoses, more effective treatments with fewer side effects, and improved ability to prevent disease. The goal of the MD/MS in Engineering is to prepare medical graduates to be leaders in the development and clinical deployment of this technology and to partner with others in technology based translational research teams.

Recent developments in the School of Medicine have opened opportunities to achieve this goal. Research is now a requirement of the MD degree. The new Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM), a separate college within the School of Medicine, prepares physicians for research careers through a five-year program requiring a master's level research thesis. In addition, students in the medical school's University Program (UP) must complete a research project as a graduation requirement.

The MD/MS in Engineering provides an opportunity for students in either the University or CCLCM programs to obtain expertise and to perform research in engineering with an emphasis in translational biomedical research. The MD/MS in Engineering provides an integrated experience in which the clinical MD training complements the engineering training, and the thesis research integrates the two.

At this time, a track in Biomedical Engineering (BME) is available. It is anticipated that other tracks may be offered in the future. A Track Executive Committee (TEC, see below) with a designated Track Leader administers each track. The remainder of this document applies to the BME Track.

Application and Admissions

The MD/MS degree is open to Case School of Medicine students in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine or the University Program, which will award the MD component of the dual degree. The MS in Engineering component is awarded by the School of Graduate Studies, with one of the following major field designations: aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, ceramics and materials science, chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computing and information science, electrical engineering, engineering mechanics, fluid and thermal engineering, macromolecular science, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, and systems and control engineering. Each major field designation has its own admissions criteria and prerequisites, and is administered by a specific department in the Case School of Engineering. Thus, students must complete the admission and degree requirements of one of the major fields.

Students should submit their applications through the BME department, as the department taking responsibility for program management. Students will normally apply to the program during their first year of medical school. Students should submit their medical school application instead of a separate graduate school application, including MCAT scores instead of GRE scores. The application should include a letter specifying the intended track, the department/major field designation, and a statement of purpose for seeking the combined degree. Program faculty from the appropriate track and department/major field designation will interview all students. The TEC will make the formal admission decisions with approval of the appropriate department admissions representative, and the Track Leader will write the letter of admission. Admission does not guarantee placement with a research mentor and project, which must be identified prior to submitting a Program of Study (see below).

Background Requirements

An undergraduate degree in engineering is not a requirement, but undergraduate preparation should include courses in calculus with differential equations, physics, chemistry, and electronic circuits. Additional undergraduate courses in instrumentation and signals/systems would be helpful. Students with an insufficient background will be admitted conditionally until they take the remedial undergraduate courses. Remedial courses will not count toward the MS requirements.

The student must remain in good standing in medical school to continue in the MS program and must graduate from medical school to complete the dual degree MS. Students who fail to maintain the academic standards of the MS Program (discussed below) will be dropped from the program following review by the Oversight Committee.

Curriculum

The MS requirements are the same as the engineering school MS. The engineering MS degree requires a total of 27 credit hours including nine hours of thesis registration (EXXX 651) for a thesis based degree program (Plan A).

Students must complete the normal MD requirements in either the UP or CCLCM program. Portions of the medical school curriculum earn graded credit toward the MD/MS degree. Students in the University Program register for Integrated Biological Science courses (IBIS 401-405), as in the MD/PhD program. Students in the CCLCM Program enroll in the 6-credit IBIS 434 Process of Discovery course in the second year of the CCLCM curriculum. Six credit hours are applied to the MS component of the dual degree.

Expected Time Course of Degree Completion

Students are expected to complete the MS degree requirements by January of their fifth year. CCLCM students may begin their research block anytime after the end of year 2. The research block is expected to extend for at least 12 months and up to 15 months. Students will have the opportunity to identify and work with their research thesis adviser on a part-time basis prior to the end of year 2 in order to plan and develop pilot data for the project to be completed during their research block. CCLCM students have 9 week research experiences in basic and clinical research, respectively, in their first 2 summers of medical school. The class schedule for CCLCM students facilitates their ability to enroll in graduate school courses during their first and second years of medical school, with only 21 contact hours of coursework each week. It is expected that students in the MD/MS program in Engineering will complete some of their coursework during these first 2 years with up to 2 courses being completed during their 12 month research block. Students in the University Program will probably require additional time beyond the normal 4 year curriculum in order to complete requirements for the MS program.

Faculty and Staff

Financial Issues

No additional tuition will be charged for the MS degree, beyond what is required for the MD. Current medical students are not charged for elective courses taken during their medical training. Students in CCLCM pay a continuation fee during their fifth (research) year. Research advisors will pay the continuation fee and a cost of living stipend to students during their research year. The Oversight Committee will set the cost of living stipend after consultation with the medical school and engineering school deans. It is unlikely that a student in the UP will be able to complete all the requirements for the MD and the MS in the normal four year time period, and that an additional year will be required.

Sample BME Track Programs of Study

Three examples are given for different areas of research concentration. Students should schedule the electives during the first four years. CCLCM students should make sure to take the core clinical curriculum (at least one 16-week block) during the third year. In the following examples, this is indicated by placing the core clinical curriculum in the summer of the third year.

Neural Engineering

Biomedical Imaging

Tissue Engineering

Organization and Administration of the MD/MS in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering is a well-established field that educates students to serve in roles ranging from basic science discovery to the creation, clinical evolution, and commercialization of new technologies, devices and therapies. As such, the BME department at Case will play a central role in program administration and oversight. Other CSE faculty may also function as academic and research advisors for students in the BME track.

The MD/MS in Biomedical Engineering is administered by a Track Executive Committee (TEC), appointed by the Oversight Committee (OC) of the MD/MS in Engineering Program.

Oversight Committee

BME Track Executive Committee

MD/MS Seminar Coordinator
TBN

Annually, or as needed, the OC reviews the status of students (enrollment, progress, academic standing, programs of study) and faculty participating in the individual tracks. The role of the Oversight Committee is to ensure the quality of the MD/MS program, and establish policies. The Oversight Committee is responsible for decisions regarding student termination in cases of academic difficulty.

The Track Leader chairs a three member TEC, selected by the Oversight Committee. The TEC is responsible for the leadership and day-to-day operation of the Track, including student admission decisions, twice-yearly review of student progress and academic standing, approval of Academic and Research Mentors, review/approval of Programs of Study, and organizing student activities (seminars, retreats, etc.). The Track Leader, with the assistance of the TEC, is responsible for preparing reports to the Oversight Committee for their review. The Track Leader is responsible for regularly updating a database of student progress.