still alive and kicking in NJ

[Glenn]

Hi y'all!

I've been out of touch for a while, and thought I'd say hi. Hi! :happy45:

I got into the PhD program at Drexel University in biomedical engineering(where I also teach elsewhere), so I'm busier than a one-armed wallpaper hanger.

To help wake up the lower half of my body, I also started dance lessons. Ballet, to be specific. It's amazing and fun and challenging as all heck. Ssshhhhhhh! It's a secret!

Anyway, gotta go prep some lecture notes.

XOXOXO!

[Fee]

Hey, hiya Glenn, nice to see you:ARMS1: I used to do Scottish country dancing in my teens...ballet was too hard, all those plies and arabesques...great for building muscle though, I bet. I love watching ballet too.

I've had a bit more health trouble and had to have a breast biopsy today. Get the results later this week. I also, recently, did a talk to new staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital....didn't pull any punches, merely told it how it was, my/our experiences of the hospital from a parent's perspective. I didn't paint quite the perfect picture they were expecting, but it was the truth. Hopefully some lessons might have been learnt, too.

Hope you and the family are well. Take care.

Fee

[Glenn]

Yeah, ballet ain't a cakewalk. My inner thighs didn't speak to me for the first couple weeks. But I suppose it's good to find the weak muscles and make them strong, right?

Hope your biopsy results are happily boring. And kudos for speaking up to new staff peoples.

I've been in monthly talks to bring together scientists, engineers, and doctors - mostly the latter - which has been real weird. Never been a room with 60+ MD's before; it's a bit intimidating! Of course I'm keeping my ears pealed if IS issues come up.

This post needs some BATS! :bat: :bat: :bat: :bat: :razz:

[Morgan]

Hi Glenn, and Fee

Glad you're both still around :)

Glenn - I'd love to know more about biomedical engineering... can you describe it?

M

[Glenn]

Good to hear from you! I assume you're back on the other side of the pond again?

Biomedical engineering is the hybrid between the medical/biochemistry world, and electrical/mechanical engineering. The goal is to produce a better scientific understanding of how the body works (or doesn't), and use that to produce better tools for diagnosis and treatment.

To borrow from my school's intro on the subject:
"Biomedical engineering is concerned with the application of engineering and science methodologies to the analysis of biological and physiological problems, the delivery of health care, and/or industrial applications. The biomedical engineer requires the analytical tools and broad physical knowledge of modern engineering and science, fundamental understanding of the biological or physiological systems, and familiarity with recent technological breakthroughs. The biomedical engineer serves as an interface between traditional engineering disciplines and living systems and may work in either direction, applying the patterns of living organisms to engineering design or engineering new approaches or products to improve human health and productivity. On the one hand, the biomedical engineer may use his/her knowledge of physiological systems to reverse engineer nature, creating, for example, artificial tissues and neural networks. On the other hand, a biomedical engineer may use his/her knowledge of engineering to create new equipment or environments for maximizing human performance, accelerating wound healing, providing non-invasive diagnostic tools, product design, or numerous other applications."
http://www.biomed.drexel.edu/new04/Content/academics/academic_programs/biomedical_engineering.cfm

[Morgan]

Hi Glenn

I'm now the other side of a very big pond :)

This stuff sounds very interesting - and I like how it's multi-disciplinary. I recently read an article called 'Human 2.0', by Ray Kurzweil. Although I find it hugely aspirational and optimistic, it's an interesting exploration of where biomedical engineering might take us...

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/10/24/1130006035858.html

[Glenn]

very interesting... My current main class has included discussion panels on various hot topics - cloning, stem cell research, intelligent design, etc., and he's touching on many of them.
I got a peek into the nanotechnology world over the summer. Amazing stuff. It's hard to imagine stuff happening on such a small scale you couldn't even use light to see it.

And I love the interdisciplinary part too. I hate fields where they get so lost in a little corner, that they forget to see what else is going on around them.

[Fee]

Hi Glenn and Morgan,

Just to let you know I had the breast biopsy last Monday and it's CLEAR - thankfully:) It's been more than a bit stressful though.

Recently, I told my women's group committee that I would like to do a talk on IS conditions/issues as part of our next year's programme. Will let you know what we decide as I shall definitely be using your slideshow, Glenn, as a starting point - it's wonderfully incisive, without being too 'medically nerdy' if you know what I mean.

Thanks for your concern. Will keep in touch here/email.

Fee

PS Liked the bats:happy68: