About BMES

Mission Statement

BMES will work to promote the increase of biomedical engineering knowledge and its utilization by encouraging students who are interested in the application of science and engineering principles to medicine.

In order to meet the needs of its members, BMES provides opportunity for development in several major areas: academic, personal, professional, and social.

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General Meetings

To achieve the goal of professional development, BMES hosts bi-weekly lectures on a variety of topics by faculty, staff, graduate students, and representatives from industry. These topics range from biomaterials, bioinstrumentation, biomechanics, medical imaging, and biocomputing. Other speakers have discussed intellectual property, entrepreneurship, and scientific and engineering consulting as well as genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, cell biology and professional development.

Industry & Med School Trips

In an effort to increase members' exposure to post graduation opportunities, BMES plans both an industry trip and a medical school trip each semester. Industry trips are centered on tours of nearby engineering firms, specifically those that are directly related to medicine. Past trips include Biomet, GE Healthcare, 3M, Epic Systems, and Medtronic. Medical school trips include tours of nearby medical schools as well as admission seminars at those schools. Past medical school trips include the University of Wisconsin, the University of Minnesota, Northwestern, University of Chicago, and Michigan State.

Social Events

BMES is an excellent social outlet, and a great way for students to get to know each other in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. BMES social events help students make the connections and friendships which help them succeed academically and professionally. Recurring social events include football tailgate parties, rock climbing outings, ski trips, ice skating, and the annual trip to a Milwaukee Brewers game.

Outreach

BMES encourages a high level of participation in volunteer activities. The organization seeks to improve the Madison community by donating time to local community outreach programs. Past outreach programs include Science Olympiad (mentoring middle school students), Special Olympics, and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Members also donate time to a local food pantry. Additionally, over winter break, BMES sends a group of 20-30 students to build homes with Habitat for Humanity. This week-long trip has become the biggest outreach event.

C.R.U.I.S.E.

C.R.U.I.S.E. (Counseling and Resources for Undergraduates in Science and Engineering) is a program where upperclass BMES members become actively involved in mentoring underclassmen. C.R.U.I.S.E. events have included registration counseling, study nights, and career fair preparation workshops. The C.R.U.I.S.E. program encourages underclassmen to succeed both as students and professionals.

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Awards

Meritorious Achievement Award

The national BMES orgnization awards the Meritorious Achievement Award at the BMES annual fall meeting. The award recognizes the best student chapter in the nation for achievements during the last academic year. This is very competitive and the judgment is made upon completion of a Chapter Development Report that is submitted in June. The University of Wisconsin - Madison BMES chapter is proud to have accepted this award at the following annual fall meetings:

2001
2002
2003
2004
2008

Commendable Achievement Award

2005

Outstanding Student Organization

This award is given by the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the Wisconsin Alumni Student Board. The award recognizes the two most active and effective organizations on campus each academic year.

2001

Outstanding Student Leadership

The UW Student Organization Office (SOO) recognizes student organizations for superior leadership.

2001

History

The UW Biomed Group was formed during the 1997-98 school year to meet the needs of students who are interested in science and technology as they are applied to medicine. The group changed its name in the 1999-2000 school year to the UW Biomedical Society. The UW Biomedical Society grew rapidly as it added new officer positions and increased the number and variety of events that it offered to its members.

In early 2000, the UW Biomedical Society applied for national affiliation with the Biomedical Engineering Society. The purpose of the national Biomedical Engineering Society, as stated in the Articles of Incorporation, is to promote the increase of biomedical engineering knowledge and its utilization.

In late 2000, the UW Biomedical Society was accepted as the University of Wisconsin - Madison student chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society. The organization is known as "BMES" on campus.

The mission statement incorporates the original statement of the UW Biomed Group as well as that of the national Biomedical Engineering Society. The organization's purpose is to promote the increase of biomedical engineering knowledge and its utilization by encouraging students who are interested in the application of science and engineering principles to medicine.

Constitution

The Biomedical Engineering Society - University of Wisconsin Madison's constitution can be found here.

Upcoming Events

→ General Meeting

December 2, 2009
6:00 PM

→ Science Olympiad

December 3, 2009
2:20 PM

→ River Food Pantry

December 4, 2009
4:45 PM