By Alyssa Patrick, College of Engineering & Architecture
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Paul Drumheller (BS ‘87) recently became a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, an honor given to the top 2 percent of the organization’s members.
The AIMBE College of Fellows includes 1,500 “outstanding bioengineers in academia, industry and government,” according to the organization website. Fellows are nominated by peers for making distinguished contributions through research, industrial practice and/or education.
Drumheller is a chemical engineer who develops novel intervention technologies in the medical products division at W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. He has 179 patents issued and pending worldwide for therapies that improve blood compatibility, shorten hospital stays, improve patient outcomes, reduce processing times and enhance diagnostic accuracy.
He also developed novel polymers for biomaterials and novel molecules for blood biocompatibility.
He also has been heavily involved in the commercialization process, from research and discovery to intellectual property prosecution and surveillance.
“I had the pleasure of mentoring Dr. Drumheller during his undergraduate years at WSU,” said Jim Petersen, director of the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering at Washington State University. “I am extremely pleased to see him honored for his tremendous contributions.”
Drumheller received his bachelor’s degree from WSU in chemical engineering and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Texas in 1994. He is on the advisory board of WSU’s Voiland School and the executive leadership board of the College of Engineering and Architecture.