Keynote Speakers

Mr. Peter Hoffman, Vice President of Intellectual Property Management,
The Boeing Company, will host a panel discussion with industry leaders on the following topic:

Frenemies: Navigating the collaborative DMZ between competitors

Increased competition and global economic pressures are changing industry and require a balanced approach between self-funded R&D investment and collaboration with suppliers and business partners. These partnerships are mutually beneficial, but may also require working closely with technology partners who are sworn competitors. This approach to technology development and global market presence brings with it many benefits and also challenges. Among the most challenging issues is how to protect intellectual property that is critical to the long-term success of the company, while fulfilling the role of collaborative partner.

Mr. Rob Hunter joined Bull Housser in 1980 after serving as Crown Counsel in British Columbia’s Ministry of Attorney General. He focuses on resolving insurance, construction, engineering, architectural, environmental and professional regulatory disputes with an emphasis on the representation of design professionals in liability claims and contractual disputes. Rob also acts on behalf of professional regulatory bodies.

Dr. Subrata Saha is presently the Director of Musculoskeletal Research and Research Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. He is also: 1) the Director of the Biomedical Engineering Program in the School of Graduate Studies; 2) Research Professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, and 3) Research Professor in the School of Public Health at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. He received a BS in Civil Engineering from Calcutta University (1963), an MS in Engineering Mechanics from Tennessee Technological University (1969), and Engineer and PhD degrees in Applied Mechanics from Stanford University (1972 and 1974, respectively). Dr. Saha has been a faculty member at Yale University, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Loma Linda University, Clemson University, and Alfred University. He has also received many awards from professional societies, including Orthopedic Implant Award, Dr. C. P. Sharma Award, Researcher of the Year Award, C. William Hall Research Award in Biomedical Engineering, Award for Faculty Excellence, Research Career Development Award from NIH, Engineering Achievement Award and Distinguished Alumnus Award from Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology (IIEST). He is a Fellow of The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM). He is presently the Chair of the Bioethics Committee of the International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE), Ethics Committee of the Biomedical Engineering Society, and the Development Committee of Sigma Xi, and Co-Chair of the International Committee of AIMBE. He is the immediate past chair of the Ethics Committee of the American Association of Dental Research (AADR). He is also a member of the IEEE SSIT Board of Governors and the Ethics Committee of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR). He has received numerous research grants from federal agencies (NIH and NSF), foundations, and industry. He is the founder of the Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference Series and also started the International Conference on Ethical Issues in Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Saha has published over 127 papers in journals, 47 book chapters and edited volumes, 390 papers in conference proceedings, and 152 abstracts. He is the Editor-in Chief of: 1) Journal of Long-Term Effects of Medical Implants and 2) Ethics in Biology, Engineering and Medicine: An International Journal. His research interests are bone mechanics, biomaterials, orthopedic and dental implants, drug delivery systems, rehabilitation engineering, and bioethics.

Dr. Philip J. Chmielewski is Professor and Sir Thomas More Chair of Engineering Ethics in the Seaver College of Science and Engineering, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. He was granted his Ph.D. in Social Ethics at Yale University. As the Sir Thomas More Chair of Engineering Ethics he offers courses in the ethics of design and production, research ethics, and the ethical assessment of contemporary technologies. His research currently focuses on developing elements of a framework for international engineering ethics. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and of the Association of Asian Studies (AAS). Further, he is an Affiliate Member of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). He frequently lectures and pursues research in mainland China and Hong Kong.