BME chair steps down

The new year brings a big change to Case’s vaunted Department of Biomedical Engineering. For the first time in 14 years, Robert “Bob” Kirsch, PhD, will not be at the helm.

Kirsch stepped down Jan. 1 and returned to the faculty ranks, where he will continue to conduct and lead research.

“I am honored to have been chair of the department,” he said in a statement. “We have amazing faculty, a strong student population, and nationally prominent research labs and translational research programs.”

The department moved up to #17 in the most recent biomedical engineering rankings of U.S. News & World Report and is sought after by students worldwide. Observers say Kirsch deserves some of the credit. Some 60% of department faculty were hired during his tenure as chair while the faculty grew to 36 members.

Among his accomplishments is the creation of the Biomedical Engineering Alliance between Case and Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, which helps bring together world-class researchers from both institutions.

“While Bob’s strategic vision is well known, I would emphasize his genuine talent for connecting with people,” said Christopher Pulliam ’06, MSE ’09, PhD ’13, an assistant professor in the depart-ment. “Over time, I have seen firsthand – and through the eyes of others in our field – the authentic value he places on those around him.”

Kirsch will continue to lead the Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimula-tion Center as executive director and the university tapped him to develop a neural technology cluster in the Inter-disciplinary Science and Engineering Building, which is scheduled to open on Case Quad in October.