Beyond Traditional Borders

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Global Health Technologies Curriculum

Professional Development

Educational Programs

"...a unique, multidisciplinary educational program
which will train a new generation of students to reach
beyond traditional disciplinary and geographic borders
to understand, address and solve global health disparities"

Dr. Richards-Kortum – Rice University HHMI Professor, Stanley C. Moore Professor and Chair of Bioengineering – lecturing to her BIOE301 students.

The primary aim of the Beyond Traditional Borders (BTB) Initiative is the advancement of an innovative and novel interdisciplinary global health technologies curriculum. Coupled with faculty development and outreach programs, BTB seeks to proactively expand knowledge and understanding of human disease processes, related health technology advancements, and an appreciation of the complexity of issues important to the provision of healthcare in the global arena.

Supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, BTB unites faculty from Rice University and the Texas Medical Center, including Baylor College of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, University of Texas School of Public Health, and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

BIOE301 students presenting their final course projects; designs for theoretical new technologies to address a significant global health need.

... In the Classroom

Together academic and health specialists from the sciences, bioengineering, social sciences, humanities, and public policy, will train the next generation of citizens and leaders on the global health challenges faced by the least developed countries and empower them to develop and implement appropriate biotechnology and bioengineering solutions that integrate engineering, health, policy, and economic perspectives.

Ultimately, the global health technologies curriculum culminates in a capstone course where students participate in design challenges aimed at solving real-world health problems.

Clockwise from top left: Workshop participants doing in-class pizza pan immunology, "engineering the human body", and taking a tour of a Rice University tissue engineering laboratory led by graduate student Ami Mistry.

... For Educator Development

BTB offers opportunities for professional development to a range of educators.

Rice graduate students and post-doctoral research associates can participate in mentored fellowships and team teaching training experiences, in preparation for the instruction of the global health technologies curriculum, including formal training in teaching techniques and hands-on teaching practicums.

Pre-college and international educators are offered a summertime professional development workshop, in preparation for teaching an appropriately modified version of the Bioengineering and World Health course.