The RPI chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society received the Meritorious Chapter Achievement Award at the National Annual Fall Conference of the BMES, which took place last week in Nashville. The Meritorious Chapter Achievement Award is the highest honor a student chapter can earn, recognizing a chapter’s “outstanding performance in enhancing the professional awareness and education of their membership.” The RPI chapter was one of three to be so honored this year, out of over 60 in the nation. RPI Vice President for Research Wolf von Maltzahn was also honored, elected by his peers to be the president of the national organization for 2004-2005.
“Our chapter was at a low point at the beginning of last year, both in terms of membership and programs,” said RPI BMES President Alexander Grant. “But last year’s executive board really stepped up. I’m very proud of them. Everything we did was rewarded.”
When the group looked at their organization last year and saw the need for change, they immediately began brainstorming for programs through which they could revamp their chapter. One of the first changes that was brought up, Grant said, was the groups interaction with alumni. “They began an alumni mentoring program in conjunction with the Rensselaer Alumni Association that has grown considerably since it was first proposed. When the RAA first began contacting alumni, only two were interested in the program, but now 13 have become BMES mentors.
The chapter also started up a pre-college program, something that was seen as quite innovative by the national organization. “I’ve been in contact with the national executive board to make this a national effort,” Grant said.
The society sent out letters to area high schools, trying to find schools to work with for their program. South Colonie High School was the first to respond, and the BMES began working with their “Lead the Way” activity, a high school engineering program that had chosen to emphasize biomedical engineering last year.
“It’s really become a trickle down, from alumni to [current students], then to the high school, and now the high school students have started a middle school program,” said Grant.
The creation of a biomedical engineering library is another goal of the group that has been completed. BMES members have been donating books, back tests, lab reports, and other materials so that other students can take advantage of a centralized source for this information. “It works just like a library,” said Grant. “Students sign out the material, we tell them when it’s due, and we call them to say ‘you’ve got a week before you have to return it,’ then they do.”
The group also aided in the formation of other societies at RPI, such as the Rensselaer Biotechnology Association and Alpha Eta Mu Beta, the BME honor society. BMES members counseled students of these two groups in how to organize and how to create an executive board to govern the associations.
All of these efforts paid off last week at the conference when they were presented with the award and asked to lead a workshop on chapter development.
“It’s been our goal to make our chapter one whose achievements are recognized and being there brought that goal to life,” said Justin Seret, events coordinator for BMES.
“We’ve really been blessed to be able to get this chapter to the level it’s at,” added Grant.
The BMES holds bi-weekly meetings at which they host speakers, hold workshops, and “anything that makes BME more exciting.” Next week’s topic is how to effectively pursue an internship, co-op, or research opportunities.
