This month, Florida International University and Baptist Health South Florida came together to host two innovative mini-workshops focused on advancing research collaboration and improving patient care through interdisciplinary partnerships.
The workshop titled “MCVI-FIU Mini-Workshop: Innovations in Detection and Interventions in Aortic Stenosis” took place at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute (MCVI). Simultaneously, “MNI-FIU/BME Mini-Workshop: Neurotechnology and Collaborative Research Opportunities” was hosted at FIU’s new Innovation Complex 1 (INV 1).
Both workshops originated from initial interactions between FIU’s Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) and two leading institutes within the health system: Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute. These events reflect a sustained commitment to fostering meaningful collaborations between academia and clinical practice.
Leading the initiative on FIU’s side were Professor Jorge Riera, chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Associate Professor Joshua Hutcheson, director of the Center for Innovation in Cardiovascular Health. Representing Baptist Health were Tom C. Nguyen, M.D., Chief Medical Executive of Baptist Health Heart & Vascular Care and Chair and Professor of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at FIU Medicine, and Aviva Abosch, M.D., Deputy Director of Baptist Health Miami Neuroscience Institute, whose leadership and support helped bring these workshops together.
Future meetings will focus not only on advancing ongoing research collaborations, but also on developing the infrastructure necessary to expand interdisciplinary partnerships. These efforts include facilitating clinician participation as primary advisors and dissertation committee members within BME; developing competitive federally funded research proposals; promoting philanthropic and strategic partnership opportunities; and expanding collaborative research initiatives through the creation of joint research centers. In addition, participants discussed plans to develop a multi-institutional consortium focused on improving the diagnosis and management of aortic stenosis.
Together, both institutions remain dedicated to advancing research, fostering innovation, and improving healthcare outcomes for communities across South Florida and beyond.
Explore the full photo gallery on our Flickr page.
- Innovations in Detection and Interventions in Aortic Stenosis
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCUfbZ - Neurotechnology and Collaborative Research Opportunities
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCUiNW