Wu Awarded Distinguished Professorship in Surgical Science

Fischell Department of Bioengineering Research Professor Zhongjun "Jon" Wu was named an inaugural recipient of the Peter G. Angelos Distinguished Professorship in Entrepreneurial Surgical Sciences by the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). Wu was recognized for his contributions to UMSOM patients served through outstanding research and clinical care, as well as to students on their way to becoming tomorrow’s physicians.

"The appointment to an endowed professorship represents an immense honor in academic medicine, and is bestowed upon the very best and brightest of our faculty members," said E. Albert Reece, University of Maryland Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor, and UMSOM Dean.

Wu, a tenured full professor of surgery at UMSOM, was formally awarded the professorship at an investiture ceremony in Baltimore on March 1.

"This appointment is an immense honor, in particular, as an engineer in a clinical department – surgery," Wu said. "I am thankful for the incredible journey of seeking opportunities and overcoming challenges in the multifaceted and multidisciplinary research fields of bioengineering and surgical innovation."

Wu is engaged in the basic and applied research of cardiovascular and pulmonary disease and the fundamental technical problems associated with artificial and bio-hybrid organ development. Over the years, he has developed core competencies in three interrelated areas in his laboratory: 1) bioengineering design, modeling and characterization of artificial orangs for heart/lung diseases 2) large animal models for cardiovascular disease and evaluation of blood-contacting artificial organs and 3) bioengineering and biologic characterization of heart disease and response to therapies with the use of ventricular assist devices and cellular transplantation. Current research projects include the use of artificial pumping lungs, computational design and modeling of biomedical devices, experimental study and computational modeling of blood damage, stem cell-based cellular therapy for cardiovascular disease and pulmonary disease.

Wu contributed to the clinical success of several commercial circuitry assist devices, which have been used to treat more than 20,000 patients, while others are in clinical trials.

Wu also invented the first integrated magnetically levitated pump-lung for respiratory failure. This invention makes it possible for a heart-lung machine to be integrated into a single compact device and allow a patient with heart failure or lung failure to be ambulatory.

The Peter G. Angelos Distinguished Professorship in Entrepreneurial Surgical Science is named for Peter G. Angelos, an attorney for more than 50 years who has devoted his professional life to representing those who have suffered from exposure to harmful asbestos fibers, defective products, medical malpractice, and personal injury. The University of Maryland School of Medicine recognizes Thomas and Alice Marie Hales, Hamish and Christine Osborne, the Abell Foundation, and the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund for their generous contributions to the establishment of the professorship.

Published March 12, 2018