Athanasiou's Legacy Stretches Beyond his 2024 Award - join his crusade to support BME

Innovator, BMES Fellow, and University of California, Irvine Distinguished Professor, Kyriacos A. Athanasiou, has centered his approach to biomedical engineering around translation, striving to turn what is developed in the lab into products. His passion for the work he does is matched only by his strong commitment to mentoring – something that hundreds of former students will attest to.

His perseverance, along with his numerous accomplishments, has led him to find homes both in academia and in industry, garnering influence on young and established engineers alike. This kind of meaningful leadership in BME is what has granted Athanasiou the 2024 BMES Robert A. Pritzker Distinguished Lectureship Award.  

Each year, BMES bestows this prestigious award on an individual who has demonstrated impactful leadership and accomplishments in biomedical engineering science and practice. 

“It's an absolutely humbling honor because the Pritzker is the premier award in our field, and being able to be the person who's receiving it this year is personally very significant. From the early 90s, I was a BMES member, and I kept saying, this society is the future. Now, to be recognized with the Pritzker award is exceedingly rewarding,” said Athanasiou. 

His journey in BME started in the late 1980s when he received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering with emphasis on bioengineering from Columbia University. During this time, BME was primarily handled by mechanical or other more traditional engineering departments. 

“How can a field that can provide structured approaches and solutions to some of medicine's most difficult and intractable problems not be the most monumental field in engineering?” said Athanasiou.  

So, he searched for answers, asking himself: "What scientific society has the potential to do all of this?” It was then that he found himself steadfast in the Biomedical Engineering Society. 

Since the early 1990s, Athanasiou has looked at BMES as the future of biomedical engineering, and bringing his translational approach into the Society showcased a new perspective for how that future could be structured.  

In 2003, he was elected BMES President where he actively sought industry support and relations as his vision for the future stretched far beyond academia.  Athanasiou established the first industry chapter of BMES in Houston where he was an active participant.  

“During the time of my presidency, we were pushing very hard for BMES, positioning it to become the professional society of all biomedical engineering and bioengineering. Strides have continued to be made, and I am now convinced that BMES is becoming  the true professional society for all bioengineers, in both industry and academia” said Athanasiou. 

While his presidency may have ended in 2004, Athanasiou has remained an influential part of BMES and in the BME community. He’s attended BMES Annual Meetings every year, won countless awards and honors, served as Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious journal, Annals of Biomedical Engineering (ABME), and established awards under the Athanasiou name. While many have witnessed his commitment to BME, it’s his wife Kiley’s unwavering support during his 30+ years of BMES membership that Athanasiou attributes to his legacy.

"Anything that I have done and anything that I'm doing, I'm doing it with Kiley. Kiley has always been the proverbial wind under my wings. She's always been the inspiration, and she has always been the support,” said Athanasiou.  

Kiley’s business perspective on biomedical engineering has allowed her to grow with the BME community. She’s witnessed not only the BMES work Kyriacos does, but established her own place in the world of science as President, CEO and Co-Founder of Cartilage Inc.

“BMES has been amazing; we love the staff and leadership. 
We also love the BME industry, and we are glad to see it being embraced by BMES.” “Over the years, I have interacted with his lab with all his Ph.D. students and fellows. Getting to know these incredibly brilliant people, and seeing their potential is incredible; their accomplishments extend Kyriacos' legacy,” said Kiley.  

Together, the two established the BMES Athanasiou Medal of Excellence in Translational Bioengineering which recognizes achievements of an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the field of biomedical engineering with particular focus on translation. Achievements include significant research contributions in translational bioengineering and/or development of new products in biomedical engineering. 

The Athanasious’ goals throughout their 30+ years in the community is to continue to support students in reaching their goals of being the next generation of great researchers and innovators.  

"The societal impact is potentially huge because the awards that we're giving out go to young investigators, Ph.D. students or postdocs just starting their careers, like Kyriacos was when he started really getting involved with BME,” said Kiley. 

The couple has created a translational ecosystem that not only works in favor of their goals for students, but to the benefit of the Society.   

For the next six months, the Athanasious will match donations to the Athanasiou Endowment Fund up to $50,000. This funding will benefit the continued awards of the BMES Athanasiou Medal of Excellence in Translational Bioengineering along with the aim of establishing more awards for student support.  

Their generosity towards the Society comes as no surprise as the symbiotic relationship that has been created between the Athanasious and BMES is something Kyriacos has felt throughout his entire membership. 

“It's like paying back. The same way that I believed in this Society when I was a young assistant professor; the Society believed back in me,” said Kyriacos. “It became natural for us to pay back and to continue paying back to this organization that I truly believe will continue changing humanity. We're only seeing the beginning of what BMES can do as a Society.” 

The Athanasious continue to innovate professionally and support BMES. Their contributions and commitment to the biomedical engineering field has created a legacy that young and established engineers will benefit from and admire for years to come.  

For information on donating, please visit Athanasiou Endowment Fund Donations.