A Message from AIMBE President Michael King

Dear AIMBE Fellows,

It is a tremendous honor to serve as President of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead an organization that represents some of the world’s most accomplished innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, educators, clinicians, and public servants.

Today, AIMBE’s role as a collective voice for medical and biological engineering is more important than ever. We are living in a period of extraordinary scientific advancement, with breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, regenerative medicine, advanced imaging, diagnostics, and bioengineering transforming healthcare and improving lives. At the same time, the policies that shape research, innovation, education, and healthcare are evolving rapidly. In this environment, it is essential that our community remains engaged, visible, and united in communicating the value of science and engineering to society.

The challenges and opportunities facing biomedical innovation are increasingly global. Scientific progress depends upon collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and national borders. AIMBE’s growing community of Fellows strengthens our ability to share perspectives, foster partnerships, and advance solutions that improve health worldwide.

During my presidency, I will focus on three priorities that build upon AIMBE’s longstanding strengths while positioning us for even greater impact.

Advocacy as a Year-Round Responsibility

Advocacy is one of AIMBE’s most important contributions to the field, and it cannot be confined to a single event each year. While our Annual Event and Capitol Hill visits remain central to our mission, advocacy is most effective when it becomes an ongoing commitment.

Advocacy is public service. It is our responsibility to help policymakers and the public understand how engineering drives medical innovation, strengthens economies, improves health, and addresses society’s most pressing challenges. Whether engaging elected officials, mentoring future advocates, communicating the value of research, or participating in local and regional outreach, every Fellow has a role to play. While advocacy takes different forms across countries and institutions, the responsibility to champion science and innovation is one we all share. You will see several examples online of advocacy in our home districts in coming months, and I hope you will join me in similar outreach activity.

Engaging During a Consequential Election Cycle

As we enter another election year in the United States, decisions made by policymakers will have lasting implications for research, innovation, healthcare, education, and workforce development. AIMBE remains proudly nonpartisan, but we are not neutral on the importance of science.

Our community has both the opportunity and responsibility to provide objective, evidence-based expertise that helps inform public policy. By sharing our knowledge and experiences, we can ensure that scientific discovery, technological innovation, and investments in research remain part of the national conversation.

Expanding Our Impact Through Partnerships and Regional Engagement

No single organization can address today’s challenges alone. Strengthening partnerships with other professional societies, patient organizations, and allied groups will allow us to amplify our collective voice and increase our impact. By working together, we can more effectively advocate for policies that support research, innovation, and patient care.

I am also excited about expanding regional engagement opportunities that bring AIMBE’s mission closer to our members. Regional events can foster new collaborations, engage local policymakers and stakeholders, and create additional pathways for Fellows to contribute their expertise. These efforts will complement our national advocacy activities while helping build a stronger and more connected community.

The year ahead presents an important opportunity for AIMBE and for our profession. The decisions being made today will shape the future of biomedical research and healthcare for years to come. As Fellows, we have a unique opportunity to influence that future, not only through our discoveries and leadership, but also through our collective voice.

I encourage each of you to engage with AIMBE throughout the year, whether through advocacy, mentorship, partnerships, regional activities, or public outreach. Together, we can strengthen the voice of medical and biological engineering, expand our impact, and ensure that innovation continues to improve lives around the world.

Thank you for your dedication to our profession and for your continued commitment to AIMBE. I look forward to working alongside you in the year ahead.

Sincerely,

Michael King
President
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)