Faculty Projects
Human Health Engineering (HHE) at McCormick

Headshot of Sanjay Mehrotra

Faculty

Sanjay Mehrotra, IEMS

Amount Requested

$40,000

Summary

Project Objective and Expected Outcomes:

This project will assess the need and potential demand for an undergraduate engineering program at the McCormick School of Engineering, exploring options such as a certificate, minor, or major. The study will evaluate workforce demand by engaging healthcare providers, technology companies, consulting firms, and industry leaders, while also assessing student interest through surveys, focus groups, and enrollment analyses. In addition, the project will benchmark peer institutions and identify emerging educational trends at the intersection of engineering and healthcare. The expected outcome is a data-driven recommendation on the feasibility, structure, and market potential of a Human Health and Healthcare Engineering program at Northwestern. This work will help ensure that future educational investments align with workforce needs, attract talented students, and position Northwestern as a leader in preparing engineers to address critical healthcare challenges.

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Planned Activities/Investments

A preliminary market assessment conducted by student researchers (funded through my discretionary funds) established a strong foundation for evaluating the potential for such an educational program at Northwestern. The study reviewed peer programs, examined workforce trends, interviewed faculty, analyzed job market data, and developed an initial curriculum framework. While these findings suggest promising opportunities, the report also identified several critical evidence gaps—particularly the need for rigorous assessment of student demand, employer demand, and program feasibility—before a new academic program can be recommended.

The proposed project will move substantially beyond this preliminary work by conducting a comprehensive, evidence-based feasibility study focused on validating market demand and identifying the most appropriate educational model for Northwestern.

Project activities will include:

Industry and Employer Needs Assessment: We will conduct structured interviews and surveys with healthcare systems, medical technology companies, consulting firms, pharmaceutical companies, digital health organizations, and healthcare startups to identify current and emerging workforce needs, desired competencies, anticipated hiring demand, and opportunities for experiential learning and industry partnerships.

Student Market Analysis: We will assess interest among current Northwestern undergraduate students and prospective applicants through surveys and focus groups across multiple engineering disciplines. The study will examine students' educational interests, career aspirations, preferred program formats (certificate, minor, major, or combined BS/MS pathway), and perceived barriers to enrollment.

Competitive and Strategic Positioning: Building upon the initial benchmarking study, we will conduct a more comprehensive analysis of national and international related programs to identify successful curricular models, distinctive competencies, partnership structures, and opportunities for Northwestern to develop a nationally differentiated program.

Curriculum and Workforce Alignment: Using evidence gathered from employers and students, we will identify the engineering, analytical, computational, clinical, and professional competencies that graduates should possess. These findings will inform recommendations regarding curriculum design, experiential learning, capstone projects, internships, and industry collaborations.

Feasibility and Sustainability Analysis: We will develop enrollment projections, implementation scenarios, resource requirements, and partnership models for alternative educational pathways, including a certificate, minor, major, and accelerated BS/MS program. The analysis will evaluate academic feasibility, financial sustainability, and opportunities for phased implementation.

The primary outcome of the project will be a comprehensive feasibility report providing data-driven recommendations regarding the demand, scope, structure, and implementation strategy for a Human Health and Healthcare Engineering educational program at Northwestern. The study will provide university leadership with the evidence needed to determine whether such a program should be established and, if so, how it can best meet the needs of students, employers, and the rapidly evolving healthcare sector.

Impact

Project Impact and Evaluation:

The primary beneficiaries of this project are prospective undergraduate engineering students, who will benefit from educational opportunities that better align with emerging careers in healthcare and life sciences. The project will also benefit employers—including healthcare systems, medical device companies, biotechnology firms, digital health startups, consulting organizations, and government agencies—by identifying the workforce competencies they seek in future engineers. Faculty and university leadership will gain evidence to inform strategic decisions regarding curriculum development and interdisciplinary education.

The project's impact will be evaluated through a comprehensive assessment of stakeholder demand and program feasibility. Metrics will include the number and diversity of industry partners and alumni engaged, survey response rates from current and prospective students, interviews with employers and healthcare leaders, benchmarking of peer institutions, and analysis of labor market trends. The principal deliverable will be a data-driven report with recommendations regarding the feasibility, preferred structure (certificate, minor, or major), curricular themes, and implementation considerations for a program at Northwestern. Success will be measured by the strength of the evidence gathered, the breadth of stakeholder engagement, and the extent to which the findings inform institutional decision-making and future program development.

Deliverables

  • Healthcare Workforce Demand Assessment: Analyze national and regional employment trends for engineers in healthcare-related industries. Identify growth areas such as digital health, medical devices, AI in healthcare, biotechnology, hospital operations, and healthcare consulting. Summarize desired technical and professional competencies from publicly available job postings and labor market reports. Deliverable: A report summarizing workforce demand and employment opportunities for Healthcare Engineering graduates.
  • Student Interest Assessment: Survey current McCormick undergraduate students regarding interest in healthcare-related careers, interest in a Healthcare Engineering certificate, minor, or major, and preferred topics (AI, medical devices, healthcare analytics, systems engineering, etc.). Conduct one or two student focus groups to better understand motivations and career aspirations. Deliverable: A report summarizing student interest, preferred program formats, and desired curricular themes.
  • Peer Program Scan: Review existing Healthcare Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Health Systems Engineering, and related undergraduate programs at leading universities and identify common curricular themes and program structures. Deliverable: A concise benchmarking report highlighting opportunities for differentiation at Northwestern.
  • Feasibility Summary and Recommendations: Integrate findings from the workforce analysis, student survey, and peer benchmarking. Recommend whether Northwestern should pursue a certificate, minor, or major and identify the next steps. Deliverable: A final report and presentation to McCormick leadership.

Sustainability

This proposal requests one-time funding to assess the feasibility of establishing an undergraduate Healthcare Engineering educational program at the McCormick School of Engineering. The project itself is not intended to become an ongoing activity; rather, it is designed to provide the evidence needed to inform future strategic decisions. If the study demonstrates strong demand from employers and students, the findings will serve as the basis for developing a formal proposal for a Healthcare Engineering certificate, minor, or major. Subsequent curriculum development and program implementation would be supported through a combination of McCormick School resources, university educational initiatives, industry partnerships, philanthropic support, and external educational grants.

The deliverables generated through this project—including the workforce demand assessment, student interest survey, peer benchmarking analysis, and feasibility report—will remain valuable institutional resources that can guide future curriculum planning, industry engagement, and program development. By investing in this planning effort, Murphy funding will enable Northwestern to make evidence-based decisions regarding future educational investments while minimizing the risk of developing programs without demonstrated demand.

Budget Overview

  • Undergraduate Research Assistants (8–10 students throughout the academic year and summer): $34,000
  • Student Survey Administration and Participant Incentives: $2,000
  • Labor Market Analytics and Educational Benchmarking Resources: $1,000
  • Travel for Student and Faculty Engagement with Industry and Healthcare Stakeholders: $3,000

Total Budget Amount: $40,000

Budget Justification: The proposed budget is intentionally centered on undergraduate student engagement. Approximately 85% of the requested funds will directly support undergraduate researchers who will participate in all aspects of the project. Under faculty mentorship, students will analyze labor market trends, benchmark peer institutions, design and administer surveys, interview healthcare and industry stakeholders, synthesize findings, and prepare recommendations regarding the feasibility of a Healthcare Engineering educational program. Funds are also requested to support student survey administration and participant incentives, modest access to labor market and educational benchmarking resources not otherwise available through the University, and travel for undergraduate researchers and faculty to meet with regional healthcare systems, industry partners, and employers. These stakeholder interactions will provide students with direct exposure to healthcare organizations while ensuring that the project's recommendations are informed by employer needs.

Matching Funds

N/A