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Frank A. DiBianca, Dean, College of Health Science Engineering,

Steps Down from Administrative Role

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College of Health Science Engineering to Become the

Department of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging 

in the College of Medicine at UT Health Science Center

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Memphis, Tenn. (June 13, 2006) – Effective June 30, Frank A. DiBianca, PhD, will step down from his position as dean of the College of Health Science Engineering at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC).  After 17 years as the administrator for Health Science Engineering, Professor DiBianca will focus on his research and teaching duties as the Children’s Foundation of Memphis Chair of Excellence in Biomedical Engineering.

“It has been a privilege and honor to serve as the founding and chief administrator of this discipline,” Dr. DiBianca said.  Prior to joining UTHSC in 1989, Dr. DiBianca served on the faculty at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and as senior physicist for General Electric Medical Systems.      

“I want to express the Health Science Center’s deep appreciation for the many contributions Dean DiBianca has made throughout his years of service,” Chancellor William F. Owen, Jr., M.D., stated. 

Effective July 1, the College of Health Science Engineering will be realigned as the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging within the UTHSC College of Medicine.  The realigned department comprises two areas and one division: Biomedical Engineering, BioImaging, and the Biomedical Instrumentation Division (BID).  Repositioning the academic units as a single department will allow UTHSC to achieve greater efficiencies in operations and increase administrative economies.  Health Science Engineering has been a college of UTHSC since 2003.

 Gary Keyes, professor and acting chair of the Department of BioImaging, will serve as interim department head.  Chris Waters, professor and interim chair of the Department of Physiology, will lead the national search to identify a candidate to assume the leadership role in the realigned department.

The Health Science Engineering staff includes ten faculty members, nine full time, two administrative workers and a part-time business manager.  In addition, nine technical staff, a supervisor and a part-time director work in the BID. 

“During this transition, there will be no disruptions of the educational programs for pre- or post-doctoral trainees,” Chancellor Owen observed.  “In addition, our exciting educational partnerships in this discipline with the University of Memphis will continue uninterrupted.”

UTHSC and the University of Memphis offer a joint program in the field of biomedical engineering that allows graduate students to access a broader range of educational opportunities that reflect the expertise of the faculty at both universities. 

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is focused on a four-tier mission of education, research, patient care and community service, all in support of a single goal: to improve the health of Tennesseans. Offering a broad range of post-graduate training opportunities, the main campus, with its seven colleges, is in Memphis.  UTHSC has additional College of Medicine campus locations in Knoxville and Chattanooga.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

 

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