Christine Hendon and Aaron Kyle Elected to AIMBE

Apr 10 2020 | By Holly Evarts | Hendon Photo Credit: Jeffrey Schifman | Kyle Photo Credit: Eileen Barroso

Two faculty members—Christine P. Hendon and Aaron Kyle—have been elected by the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) to its College of Fellows, one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to medical and biological engineers.

Hendon, who is an associate professor of electrical engineering, was cited for “developing optical imaging, spectroscopy, and processing tools for real time tracking and guidance of cardiac ablation therapy.” Her research is focused on biomedical optics and how optical imaging modalities can improve therapeutic procedures. She develops innovative medical imaging instruments that provide surgeons with a clear understanding of the tissue on which they are operating, including the heart, joints, and breast. She has worked on designing next-generation optical coherence tomography systems and integrated therapeutic catheters with near infrared spectroscopy, along with real-time processing algorithms to extract physiological information. In collaboration with colleagues at the Engineering School and at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, her group has developed integrative optics and therapeutic probes for improving the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. 

Kyle, a senior lecturer in the discipline of biomedical engineering design, was cited for his “outstanding teaching and training in STEM, outreach to underserved communities, and the development of low-cost solutions for global health.” His faculty role focuses on engineering education. He teaches biomedical engineering (BME) undergraduate labs, senior design, and bioinstrumentation and develops new courses and teaching methodologies for both undergraduate and secondary school students. He also leads SEAS' assessment and continuous improvement activities for ABET accreditation. Kyle believes that serving Columbia’s teaching mission extends to the local community as well. Accordingly, he created and launched the HYPOTHEKids (Hk)Maker Lab, an NIH-funded set of programs focused on introducing underprivileged and underrepresented minority high school students in New York City to engineering design and biomedical research. The program is now in its seventh year with plans for expansion and to broaden students' exposure to engineering design education. In 2017, he received the presidential award for outstanding teaching, Columbia's highest teaching award.

Because of health concerns, AIMBE’s annual meeting and induction ceremony scheduled for March 29-30, 2020, was cancelled. Under special procedures, Hendon and Kyle were remotely inducted along with 155 colleagues who make up the AIMBE College of Fellows Class of 2020.

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