THE Inauguration of Brian C. Mitchell - Bucknell University

Rakerd Studio
Faculty Profile: Dan Cavanagh
8 BUCKNELL WORLD • June 2005
Chem. E. Meets Bio On the wall in
Dan Cavanagh’s office is a photograph
of his young son, Tim,
in the bathtub. Like his
two-year-old, Cavanagh,
associate professor of
biomedical and chemical
engineering, likes playing
with bubbles. While
the younger Cavanagh’s
bubble-play is purely
recreational, that of the
senior Cavanagh holds
implications for patients
recovering from various
types of cardiac surgeries.
His primary area of focus has been
intravascular gas embolism, which is
the presence of gas bubbles in the
blood stream, resulting primarily from
surgical procedures.
Cavanagh starts with a basic science
approach, trying to understand
how bubbles behave as they flow
through glass tubes. When the bubbles
WYNEE WONG ’04 EXEMPLIFIED THE
American dream. A first-generation college
student of Chinese descent, she grew up in
Manhattan, got good grades, and worked
hard to get to Bucknell, where she was actively involved
and excelled academically, graduating magna cum laude.
Then, less than a week after graduation, the dream was
cut short. Wong was killed crossing a street in New York
City when she was struck by a vehicle. She had obtained
her job working in the Family and Violence Bureau of the
Manhattan District Attorney’s office through the Bucknell
Public Interest Program shortly before the accident.
Wong’s mother, Ellen, is determined to carry on her
daughter’s legacy. She explains, “My daughter liked to help
out people during her school years, and she motivated me
hit a branching point, do they split up?
Or go down one side or the other? As
he says, “From a purely engineering
point of view, there is no reason why
they should stop in the glass tubes.” In
the complex human circulatory system,
the situation is very different, as medical
complications can arise when bubbles
stop in blood vessels. When this
occurs, the delivery of vital nutrients,
such as oxygen, to regions downstream
from the bubble can be completely
restricted, thereby damaging tissue.
Clinical research suggests that 30 to
70 percent of post-surgical cognitive or
physical conditions (e.g., short-term
memory loss, vision problems) may be
attributable to gas emboli. The ultimate
goal of Cavanagh’s research is to find
ways to break up the bubbles or allow
the bubbles to move further downstream
where they’re not likely to block
off as much tissue. “It’s like moving an
accident to the exit ramp from the
main part of the highway,” he explains.
“If you can get it to the exit ramp,
you’re in a much better position.”
When not teaching, conducting
research, or mentoring senior design
projects, Cavanagh is directing the
newly minted biomedical engineering
program. The new major began two
years ago and is one of only three biomedical
engineering degree programs at
a non-Ph.D.-granting institution in the
United States. “I remember asking the
search committee when I was interviewing
for my job,” he says, “‘Where
do you think the program will be in
five years?’ The committee laughed
because no one really knew where the
program would be in five years. It was
a sign that this was a newly started
book that definitely wasn’t finished yet,
and no one knew where it was going.
It’s probably what was the most appealing
aspect of the job for me in coming
to Bucknell. Since then, we have
accomplished a great deal, but we still
have a lot to do.” — Ilene Ladd
Honoring a Young Life to have that wish to set up a memorial fund.” Grateful
Terry Wild
Her Last Spring: Wynee Wong volunteered for the Bucknell Brigade in Nicaragua.
for the financial aid her daughter received, Ellen hopes to
give other students the same opportunity by creating a
memorial scholarship; however, the family needs support
in funding the scholarship.
Donations to the scholarship fund will help to honor
the positive role that Wong played at Bucknell both inside
and outside the classroom. Along with high academic standards,
she was involved in many campus groups, including
the Chinese Cultural Association, Japanese Society,
Bucknell Brigade, and other cultural and service groups.
Those who knew her at Bucknell have only glowing
comments. Gary Sojka, professor of biology, taught her in a
capstone course and says Wong was “well known, well
liked, and well respected with peers and faculty.” He adds
that she was “headed for a terrific career.”
Mike Purcell, assistant director of housing and residential
life, had contact with her through the International
Advisory Board. He says that “Wynee always had a smile,
and she was always trying to make things better for the
next group of students that would be in her place.
“Wynee touched a lot of people on this campus, professors
and students alike. She was and still is in the hearts of
all those who knew her,” says Purcell. With the creation of
the memorial, Wong’s impact at Bucknell will be honored,
and the opportunities she had will be passed on to other
students. However, approximately $40,000 still needs to be
raised. If you would like to give to the Wynee Wong
Memorial Scholarship, please send donations payable to
Bucknell University to the Office of Gift Planning, Bucknell
University, Lewisburg, PA 17837. — Lindsay Hitz ’08