CHE 598 Seminar: Engineering Meets Medicine: Building Collaborative Pathways for Innovation in Research
About the event
SPEAKER: Dr. Olivia Coiado, Assistant Dean for Student & Resident Research, Professor, Department of Medical Education & Clinical Sciences, WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
BIOGRAPHY:
Olivia Coiado, PhD, earned her B.S. degree in Medical Physics from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2005, followed by an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Campinas, Brazil, in 2008. She completed her Doctorate in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Campinas in 2012. Dr. Coiado pursued postdoctoral training at the Bioacoustics Research Lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2013–2015), where she investigated innovative technologies for cardiac therapy. She served as an Assistant Professor in the Electrical and Biomedical Engineering Department at the Shiley School of Engineering, University of Portland, from 2015 to 2017. From 2018 to 2023, Dr. Coiado held a Teaching Associate Professor position in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and the Bioengineering Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At Carle Illinois College of Medicine, she served as the Director of Student Research and Discovery Learning, teaching a variety of courses for medical and engineering students. Currently, Dr. Coiado is a Professor and Assistant Dean for Student and Resident Research at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University. In this role, she mentors and advises students and faculty on research, clinical, and global studies opportunities. Dr. Coiado is an active member of professional organizations such as the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). She is recognized as an expert in active learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship pedagogies. Her research interests include cardiovascular studies, acoustics, bioinstrumentation, and education. Dr. Coiado has authored numerous journal articles on topics spanning engineering and medical education, cardiovascular studies, and bioacoustics.
ABSTRACT:
The journey from engineering to medicine exemplifies the transformative potential of interdisciplinary collaboration. With a foundation in bioacoustics and a passion for advancing healthcare, Dr. Olivia Coiado has harnessed her expertise to address critical challenges at the intersection of these fields. Her work has bridged engineering and medicine, driving impactful innovations such as wearable health monitors, ultrasound technology, and other advancements that enhance patient care and medical diagnostics. Drawing from her academic and professional milestones, Dr. Coiado reflects on the successes and obstacles encountered in fostering cross-disciplinary partnerships. Among the key challenges are navigating differences in language and priorities between engineers and medical professionals and establishing a shared vision for collaborative research initiatives. To address these barriers, Dr. Coiado advocates for strategic frameworks, including co-training programs, interdisciplinary research hubs, and symposia designed to encourage knowledge exchange and mutual understanding.
Looking ahead, Dr. Coiado envisions a future where engineering and medicine seamlessly integrate to revolutionize healthcare delivery. By leveraging her unique path and experiences, she aims to inspire and enable collaborations that accelerate innovation, improve patient outcomes, and address global health disparities. Her presentation will highlight her academic journey and her commitment to fostering an integrated research landscape that creates meaningful and lasting impacts in healthcare.