The Development of Biomedical Engineering: Historical Comments and Personal Observations

The historical development of biomedical engineering and biophysics in the United States is summarized as experienced by the author, concentrating on the early decades until about 1970. Sections include: Early Developments and First Institutions; Early Initiatives and Committees of the IRE and AIEE Since 1947; Development of Biophysics in the USA; The IEEE Society for Engineering in Medicine and Biology and the Drive for a Bioengineering Society; The Development of the Biomedical Engineering Society; Some Other Biomedical Engineering Societies; The NIH Initiative for the Development of Biomedical Engineering; First Academic Programs in Biomedical Engineering in the USA; International Interdisciplinary Organizations; and Some Conclusions and Recommendations.