Physician-Engineer Trainee Spotlights
Ayeeshik Kole
Why did you choose to become a physician engineer?
The physician-engineer training pathway uniquely positions us to become future leaders in healthcare that can bring two different knowledge sets towards solving a biomedical problem. The medical curriculum trains us in providing clinical care, while graduate biomedical engineering research provides us with the opportunity to use engineering strategies to fulfill areas in need of medical advancement.
What does being a physician engineer mean to you?
Being a physician-engineer means being at the crossroads of technological innovation and clinical medicine, and ultimately having knowledge in both to see engineering discoveries translate into practical solutions in the hospital. Oftentimes, clinical problems are not fully understood by engineers attempting to solve them. Conversely, engineering constraints are not grasped by clinicians seeking solutions to unmet needs. As a future physician-engineer, my training will allow me to communicate and contribute to medical research with a perspective from both fields.
Why is the joint IUSM-Purdue MD/PhD program a good fit for you?
The abundance of strong clinical and life science faculty at IU School of Medicine and the diverse engineering faculty at Purdue University has provided an unmatched training environment. I have been able to identify expert mentors with different research backgrounds, which I have found essential for my current physician-engineer training and research project. Furthermore, the close proximity between both campuses has further fostered easy collaboration.
What is one of your most memorable experiences since you came into the program?
Since joining the labs of Dr. Michael Sturek and Dr. Ji-Xin Cheng, one of the most memorable experiences was our first attempt to use our imaging device in vivo in a preclinical animal model. With the whole team assembled to attempt this first-in-animal demonstration, we were ultimately unsuccessful. The reason it was memorable is because it was during that experience we identified many practical shortcomings of our device and further reiterated the value of a clinical perspective throughout biomedical device development.
What do you do for fun outside of the program?
Outside of the program, I enjoy various outdoor activities, traveling, and exploring different foods and restaurants around the city.
What advice would you give to a prospective student?
Attending different seminars and talks outside of your field can provide you with different perspectives, research tools, and collaborations that could be valuable for your project. Also, the value of communicating your research is just as important as the data you collect. Presenting your work in a variety of settings – within the lab or department, to clinical collaborators, at local symposiums, or at international conferences – provides necessary and diverse exposure, feedback, and criticism of your research, which will ultimately help improve your project.