Canada's First Department of Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering at McGill started with the founding of the Biomedical Engineering Unit in 1966. The original Unit was jointly administered by the Faculties of Engineering and Medicine, but was later integrated solely under the Faculty of Medicine. The first Director of the Unit of BME was Dr. John H. Milsum.
After Dr. Milsum moved to UBC in 1972, Dr. Charles A. Laszlo was briefly Acting Director before moving to UBC himself. The next BME Unit Director was Dr. John S. Outerbridge, until Dr. Robert E. Kearney became BME Unit Director in 1985.
Under Dr. Kearney's leadership, the Biomedical Engineering Unit became a full Department in 1989, the first in Canada.
Department Chairs
| CHAIR | TERM |
|---|---|
| Prof. Robert E. Kearney | 1989-2005 |
| Prof. Henrietta L. Galiana | 2005-2012 |
| Prof. Robert E. Kearney (Interim) | 2013-2018 |
| Prof. David Juncker | 2018-present |
The Master's in Translational Biomedical Engineering Program
McGill introduced the Master's in Translational Biomedical Engineering (TBME) in 2022, welcoming its first cohort. Developed in collaboration with industry professionals, this intensive, one-year professional program prepares students to navigate the process of translating medical device technologies from research and development towards practical applications and commercialization.
The program complements McGill BME's research strengths with an emphasis on the skills and knowledge needed to advance innovations towards real-world healthcare applications.
Timeline
