EMNCEI Report, Volume Three

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the newest report of the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation. This past year has been one of transformative growth, meaningful collaboration, and continued pursuit of a future where nurses and engineers work together to improve outcomes in healthcare.

As co-directors of the Center, we have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the incredible synergy that emerges when interdisciplinary teams come together to solve complex healthcare challenges. Elaine Marieb’s generous legacy and vision continue to inspire us daily, reminding us of the profound impact that innovative thinking and cross-disciplinary collaboration can have on individuals, communities, and health systems.

In this report, we celebrate the achievements of 2024 – a year marked by increased research, student-led innovation, and strong partnerships with healthcare and engineering leaders. We are particularly excited to highlight:

Research Innovations: From wearable technologies that monitor patient health in real time to real-world, user-driven healthcare product innovation, our projects are making tangible differences in healthcare practices.

Student Engagement: Our undergraduate and graduate students remain at the heart of our mission. Through mentorship programs, innovation challenges, and hands-on learning experiences, they continue to amaze us with their creativity and commitment to improving patient care.

Collaborative Partnerships: Building bridges between academia, industry, and healthcare systems remains a cornerstone of our approach. We continue to forge new partnerships and strengthen existing ones, further increasing our collective impact.

As we reflect on these accomplishments, we are also looking ahead to new opportunities. The Center’s mission is not just about addressing today’s healthcare challenges, but also about preparing for those of tomorrow. By fostering a culture of curiosity, resilience, and ingenuity, we aim to empower a new generation of interdisciplinary healthcare innovation leaders who will continue to push boundaries and reimagine what’s possible.

We are deeply grateful for the support of our community—faculty, students, staff, donors, and partners—who have made these achievements possible. Your belief in our mission fuels our determination and enables us to dream bigger and reach further.

As you explore this report, we invite you to join us in celebrating milestones achieved, and we hope you will feel as inspired as we do by the collective potential of nursing and engineering innovation. Together, we are transforming the future of healthcare, one breakthrough at a time.

The Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation aims to address healthcare challenges through a collaborative Nurse-Engineer approach. This approach brings together experts from nursing, engineering, and other disciplines to create new solutions for healthcare. The Center was established in 2021 with support from three UMass alumni. Michael and Terry Hluchyj, representing the College of Engineering and the College of Nursing, provided the initial seed funding. The Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation contributed additional funding. To advance its mission, the Center provides funding and resources to UMass students and faculty. This support encourages interdisciplinary teams to pursue innovative research, work on joint projects, and seek external funding to realize the impact of their work.

We are excited about the Center's future and appreciate your support.