Dr. Roy C. Blake III points out X-ray results alongside a Palm Beach State College dental health student. Photo provided
Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science has created the department of biomedical engineering, with a focus on biomaterials and tissue engineering, smart health systems and bio-robotics.
Biomedical engineering integrates concepts in electrical and mechanical engineering, biology, computer science and medicine into a cross-disciplinary field.
“The impetus to create our department was spurred by the significant projected growth of job opportunities related to this field nationally, statewide and, in particular, in southeast Florida,” said Stella Batalama, the college dean.
“We have invested in a brand-new clean room that will help our students learn micro- and nano- manufacturing techniques for medical devices and sensors as well as a new biomedical laboratory with state-of-the-art instrumentation.”
The university expects to enroll about 25 students by the end of the year and about 200 students by year four. The department is on the Boca Raton campus with courses and laboratory work also available on the John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter.
For more information or to apply, call Javad Hashemi at 561-297-3438 or email jhashemi@fau.edu.
Delray Medical Center offers new pacemaker
Delray Medical Center now offers the AVEIR DR dual chamber leadless pacemaker to treat patients with slow or irregular heart rhythms.
The first surgery was performed at the hospital by Dr. Mark Freher on April 18. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in June 2023, the AVEIR DR system, manufactured by Abbott, offers a minimally invasive option to treat people who require pacing in two chambers of the heart.
Daniel Listi, Delray Medical Center’s CEO, says the new treatment “will help improve the lives of our patients by reducing their exposure to the kinds of lead- and pocket-related complications associated with traditional pacemakers.”
More than 40 dental patients treated for free
By 6:50 a.m. April 17, all slots were taken at Palm Beach State College’s sixth annual Free Dentistry Day, its first since the pandemic. By 6 p.m., 10 volunteer dentists, aided by the college’s dental health students, did fillings and extractions on 41 adults who otherwise could not afford dental treatment.
Dentists installed 26 composite fillings and did 25 extractions, aided by 19 students who obtained each patient’s medical history, did X-rays and assisted the procedures.
Dr. Roy C. Blake III has volunteered at PBSC’s Free Dentistry Day since its first year in 2015.
“The local dentists come because they feel like they can give back," Blake said.
All the dentists were affiliated with the Atlantic Coast Dental Research Clinic, which provides continuing education for dentists and reduced-fee dental services for the community.
Local nurses honored during national week
The Palm Beach Health Network honored nurses during National Nurses Week, May 6-12, recognizing the role they perform for their communities.
“Every day, we are thankful to all of our nurses and humbled by the way they care for our patients,” said Maggie Gill, group president for Tenet Healthcare’s East Coast region.
Palm Beach Health Network includes Delray and West Boca medical centers.
The network also celebrated National Hospital and Healthcare Week, May 13-18, a time set aside to celebrate hospitals and show thanks and appreciation to people who work in them.
Send health news to Christine Davis at cdavis9797@gmail.com.
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