AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) - AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF COMPUTER AND CYBER SCIENCES IS EXPANDINg its engineering field WITH A NEW PROGRAM INTEGRATING BIOMEDICINE, HEALTH CARE AND CYBERSECURITY.

“WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO IS CREATE GRADUATES THAT CAN WALK INTO A HOSPITAL THAT CAN TALK TO NURSES AND DOCTORS AND OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND SAY, ""I UNDERSTAND YOUR SYSTEMS,"" Program director, Jeffrey Morris says. "HERE’S THE VIEWPOINT OF HOW WE’RE GOING TO MAKE IT MORE SECURE, SO IT’S USABLE FOR YOU and YOUR PATIENTS. BUT, iT PROVIDES the SECURITY YOU NEED TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN’T HAVE THIS DATA, DON’T GET IT.”

the degree is the FIRST-OF-ITS KIND in the state and nation. AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY plans to INTRODUCE the BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOMEDICAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING IN FALL 2023.

“AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY ON ONE HAND HAS STRENGTHS IN HEALTH SCIENCES, ON THE OTHER HAND STRENGTH IN CYBER SECURITY AND COMPUTING," DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF COMPUTER AND CYBER SCIENCES ALEX SCHWARZMANN says. "WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT IF WE BROUGHT THE TWO TOGETHER IN AN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM THAT WOULD FOCUS ON CYBER SECURITY ISSUES IN THE BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE ENTERPRISE?”

SCHWARZMANN SAYS THAT WHILE THIS FIELD IS GROWINg, THERE’S A NEED FOR PROFESSIONALS WHO UNDERSTAND HEALTHCARE AND SECURE INTEGRATION. THIS JOINT EFFORT WITH MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA AND SAVANNAH RIVER NATIONAL LABS WILL help to fill those gaps.

ASSOCIATE DEAN OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS GURSIMRAN WALIA BELIEVES THIS HEALTHCARE FOCUS WILL APPEAL TO AN UNDERREPRESENTED DEMOGRAPHIC. 50% OF ALL STUDENTS IN BIOMEDICINE ARE FEMALE, aCONTRAST from the other ENGINEERING DISCIPLINES WHERE LESS THAN A QUARTER ARE.

“A LOT MORE FEMALE STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN TRADITIONAL BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMs," Wallia says. "WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF FEMALE STUDENTS IN PRE-NURSING, PRE-MED, SO THERE’S A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR OUR COMPUTING CLASSROOMS IN BIOMEDICAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING TO LOOK VERY DIVERSE.”

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