Spring/Summer 2015

Michael Eppihimer OEA

Photo fo Michael Eppihimer OEA for Biomedical Engineering

Dr. Michael Eppihimer (M.S. '92 & Ph.D. '95) has been awarded the Outstanding Engineering Alumni (OEA) Award by the College of Engineering. Established in 1966, the OEA Award is the highest honor bestowed by the College of Engineering and recognizes graduates who have reached exceptional levels of professional achievement.

Eppihimer says one particular faculty member influenced his decision to attend graduate school at Penn State. “Dr. Herbert Lipowsky was a leader studying the microcirculation, and I wanted to further my research in that area.”

At Penn State, the duo worked on an animal model that caught the attention of Dr. D. Neil Granger, a renowned researcher in inflammation, at Louisiana State University. Michael recalls, “Dr. Granger invited me to LSU to teach our technique. I was very interested in what was going on there, so I completed my post-doctoral fellowship at the LSU Medical Center.”

In 1997, he began a seven-year career at Genetics Institute-Wyeth in Cambridge, MA. Michael established a laboratory and R&D program to evaluate inflammatory cell trafficking interactions in vascular, auto-immune, and respiratory diseases; supervised six research scientists; and directed multiple interdisciplinary projects to develop strategies for identifying and evaluating protein and small molecule antagonists for the treatment of these diseases.

The Reading, PA, native returned to his home state in 2004 as an associate professor of bioengineering at Penn State. He explains, “My dream all along was to be in a faculty position. When Dr. Lipowsky called, I jumped at the chance.”

As a professor, Michael used his experiences in research and industry to help prepare his students for real-world challenges.

In 2006, he left Penn State to join Boston Scientific Corporation, a leading innovator of medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. Michael says, “It was a tough decision because I enjoyed Penn State. However, I missed applications work and translating research to tangible things that would help people.”

He initially led a new group that focused on biology and cellular engineering. “This work was not typical for a medical device company. Over time, I established a unique group that helped us better understand our devices and technology, so we could develop products more quickly.”

Today, Michael is director of tissue and cellular engineering, pathology, and therapeutic area research.   He manages multifunctional groups of scientists in Minnesota, California, and Massachusetts to support identification and evaluation of new drugs and biomaterials for medical devices.

Michael lives in Franklin, MA, with his wife Lois (’93 BioE M.S.) and daughters, Natalie and Anna.