Biomedical expertise demand spurs new degree program

March 26, 2009

By hammersmith

[Source: ASU News] – Arizona State University will offer the nation’s first comprehensive undergraduate degree program in biomedical informatics, beginning in the 2009 fall semester.

Biomedical informatics involves the integration of computer and information sciences with basic biological and medical research, clinical practice, medical imaging and public health disciplines.

The American Medical Informatics Association foresees 10,000 new jobs being created in the field by 2010. Phoenix employers, including Banner Health, United Health Care and Mayo Clinic, predict a local need for at least 200 new employees in the field within 5 years.

An undergraduate degree in biomedical informatics is also a viable choice for a pre-med program because it provides students with a solid background in life sciences as well as information technology that plays an increasing important role in medical care, said Robert Greenes, chair of the Department of Biomedical Informatics. The department is in ASU’s School of Computing and Informatics, which is part of the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering.

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