Course: Clinical Experience for Engineers – BMED 8843-CEE
Instructor: Lena Ting, PhD
Next offering: GT Full Summer Session 2026 (offered alternate years)
Typical class times: Tuesday 3:45-5:05 at Emory, about 6 hours of travel and clinical observation time independently scheduled throughout the week.
This is an intensive summer course that provides students with immersive experiences in clinical setting across the Emory Healthcare system, focusing on neuro-related disorders. Students will spend a significant amount of time outside of the classroom observing and interacting with clinical researchers, clinicians, and patients. Students will receive clinical credentialing and basic training in patient interactions, and privacy concerns. They will spend about a day a week traveling independently to various clinics and clinical research observations across areas such as neurology, rehabilitation, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, and imaging. There is some public transportation available to sites such as the Emory Brain Health Center at Executive Park, and Emory University Clinics and Hospital on the Clifton Campus. These visits will be augmented by a few lectures from experts working at the interface of technology, clinical research, and clinical care.
Associated costs: clinical credentialing costs ~$200 (may be reimbursed for CNTP trainees), travel costs (non-reimbursable).
This class is offered by permit only, with priority to CNTP students.
Example syllabus
Reflections: Why should engineers learn about clinical problems?
“My favorite aspect of the class was how emotionally impactful and enjoyable it was. From observing complex surgeries, to dancing, to interacting with patients from diverse backgrounds, every experience was both eye-opening and humbling. One moment that still stays with me was when a patient at the ALS clinic asked, “Can you fix me?” A question that left me speechless and made me rethink how my research could truly make an impact beyond academic achievements. The class balanced hands-on learning with deep, meaningful connections both with the patients and clinicians that reminded me of the human side of my work.” – Collette
Click to read Collette’s reflections for Clinical Experience for Engineers
How does the class complement your training as a neural engineer? “I would say there are two major areas. First it bridges the gap between technology and practicality. I feel that sometimes in engineering, due to the disconnect with the clinic, the focus is mainly in developing the most sophisticated technology. By being in the room and understanding the clinical workflow, I think it helps to put the work as a neural engineer in perspective, and the need that is being addressed in the center, i.e., sometimes you just need something fast and easy. And secondly, interacting with patients and seeing how technology genuinely helps them have a better life gave me real meaning to what I do.” -Eva
Click to read Eva’s reflections for Clinical Experience for Engineers
“The class provided a variety of lectures ranging from cultivating a business in our field to the science behind deep brain stimulation. Combined with our clinical experiences, I felt that this course diversified my knowledge of computational neural engineering. I now have a deeper understanding of the disorders we research in the lab and the technology that our work innovates.” -Tiernon
Click to read Tiernon’s reflections for Clinical Experience for Engineers