Major Gift Creates New UM Bioengineering Department

WHAT:

The University of Maryland, and its A. James Clark School of Engineering will announce the new Fischell Department of Bioengineering, and Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices , made possible by a major new gift from pioneering biomedical device inventor and university alumnus Robert E. Fischell and his family. Through this gift, the creator of lifesaving medical devices, and highly successful biomedical companies is teaming with the University of Maryland to create a new bioengineering department and biomedical institute that can help bring better health to millions of people, and powerful economic benefits to the state and region.

WHO:

Speakers at the announcement event will include: Robert Fischell and son David Fischell; Clark School Dean Nariman Farvardin, and University of Maryland President C.D. "Dan" Mote Jr.

Scientist and engineer Robert Fischell has had two pioneering careers; his current one inventing life-saving medical devices, and an earlier one in which he helped create the era of space satellites so critical to communications, business and national security. Fischell, who holds more than 200 patents, is the father of modern medical stents, lifetime pacemaker batteries, and implantable insulin pumps. His latest biomedical inventions have the ambitious goals of warning of impending heart attacks, ending epileptic seizures, and stopping migraine headaches.

Fischell -- who serves on the University of Maryland Foundation, on the university's Board of Trustees and the Clark School of Engineering Board of Visitors -- has a Master of Science in Physics, and an honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Maryland.

WHEN:

Monday, December 19, 2005 from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

WHERE:

Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, University of Maryland, College Park, Md. The Kim Building is located at the intersection of Paint Branch and Stadium Drives. Media interested in attending can call the above contact for directions or parking information.

MEDIA NOTE:

Following the announcement ceremony, Fischell will be available for interviews, and to demonstrate his newest devices, including one to warn of heart attacks, another to stop migraine headaches, and a third to prevent epileptic seizures.

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Alumni Spotlight Article from April, 2000 about Dr. Fischell
(PDF - requires Acrobat Reader)
Outlook Faculty/Staff Newspaper Article from April 1, 2003
James A. Clark School of Engineering
Innovation Hall of Fame Article

Earlier Releases:

UM Names Robert Fischell Winner of the 2001
Major F. Riddick, Jr. Entrepreneurship Award
Fischell Donates $1.25 Million to Create Unique,
Student-Directed Fellowship Program

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