Course: BEN486 | Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design
Institution: Syracuse University
Faculty: Prof. Doug Yung

Excerpt from Syllabus

This course is more than just an academic requirement. It is a journey through the development of medical devices, blending innovation, hands-on learning, industry collaboration, and professional preparation. This year, we will also embrace the inclusion of AI as a design team member, mirroring how modern engineering teams increasingly integrate AI into research, design, and project management. This approach not only reflects real-world practice but also prepares you to critically evaluate and responsibly apply AI tools in professional settings.

We will also introduce and practice the virtue of empathy. Human-centered design in biomedical engineering requires understanding patient needs and societal contexts. Activities such as patient shadowing, empathy mapping, and case-based reflection will help you develop this virtue and apply it to your design process.

This course can be imagined as having several tracks running in parallel:

1. Professional skills of a biomedical engineer: project management, communication, teamwork, ethics, FDA regulation, intellectual
   property, and other career foundations.
2. Capstone design project: working through the entire design process of your assigned project from ideation to prototype.
3. Teamwork development: learning how to function effectively as a team, manage conflict, and build collective responsibility.
4. Nurturing empathy as a virtue: engaging in activities that strengthen your ability to understand patients, users, and broader
   societal contexts.

In addition to my teaching, I serve as a Program Evaluator for ABET, ensuring that engineering programs nationwide meet the highest standards of quality and rigor. My goal is to guide you in developing not only technical solutions but also professional skills, ethical reasoning, and collaborative practices that will carry you beyond the classroom.