ARLINGTON, Va., April 7, 2003 – Three biomedical engineers were among 77 new members recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Paul Citron of Medtronic Inc., Yoram Rudy of Case Western Reserve University, and Victor L. Poirier of Thoratec Corp. were among those elected to one of the highest professional distinctions in engineering.

NAE membership recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the theory and practice of engineering, advanced new and traditional engineering disciplines, or improved engineering education.

Citron, vice president for technology policy and academic relations for Medtronic in Minneapolis, Minn., was cited for "innovations in technologies for monitoring cardiac rhythm and for patient-initiated cardiac pacing, and for outstanding contributions to industry-acadmia interactions."

Rudy, Ph.D., professor of biomedical engineering, physiology and biophysics, and medicine, at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland was elected for leadership in genetic and molecular studies of cardiac activation and for new methods of diagnosing and treating heart disease.

Poirier, chief technology adviser of Thoratec Corp. in Woburn, Mass., was cited for the "design, development, clinical trial, and commercialization of first-generation left-ventricular assist systems for treating heart failure."

More information:
National Academy of Engineering News