Advancement of Invention Award

Late last week, we watched as 33 miners were safely extricated after having been trapped for 69 days deep underground. This is a remarkable example of Translational Research in Emergency Medicine. Doctors and engineers worked side by side on a pressing clinical need, for real patients, in real time to ensure their healthful survival and rescue.While not as dramatic, there are many other pressing clinical needs which must be solved quickly, and a process for success must become commonplace. This award represents the enthusiastic collaboration and support from many who endeavor to carryout that mission: It is a tribute to my physician colleagues who have volunteered their time and energy to advise our students on our projects: especially to my colleagues at Hackensack University Medical Center who have demonstrated their continued commitment to advancing the translational process, having included me and my students in some very novel research for civilian and military trauma. Stevens has provided an exciting environment, which promotes Innovation, in particular the Provost's Office of Academic Entrepreneurship, and my Biomedical Engineering colleagues. Finally, this is for my "Senior Design" students who accepted the challenge to learn, practice and perfect the process of Translational Research in Medicine. We've given you the tools to do something great in medicine, and I fully expect that you will. SOON. It counts as part of your final grade. Thank you, New Jersey Inventor's Hall of Fame.
- Dr. Vikki Hazelwood

Dr. Vikki Hazelwood is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Stevens. Having served 25 years in industry prior, she held executive positions in Sales and Business Development for Medical Device companies with technologies for pain management, drug delivery, and specialty biomaterials, with focus in the fields of orthopaedics and interventional cardiology. Her experience includes many years of clinical interface with surgeons and NY metro area hospitals, as well as successful business collaboration with senior decision makers of global medical device companies.

Dr. Hazelwood also works for Hackensack University Medical Center where she performs clinical research for the Emergency Trauma Department on projects related to disaster response.

Since at Stevens, she has successfully brought entrepreneurship into the educational process. Dr. Hazelwood has worked with students to develop a venture capital backed start-up company, and to develop and improve various life-saving technologies, with several patent filings and related clinical trials in progress.