We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Byeol 鈥淪tar鈥� Kim, USF鈥檚 newest Assistant Professor of Medical Engineering! Her arrival marks a bold addition to our vibrant research landscape, one that promises to yield new breakthroughs across bioengineering, AI鈥慹nabled healthcare, and surgical simulation. She brings her expertise in Extended Reality (VR/AR), Human-Centered Medical Systems, Machine Learning and 3D Printing. With roles in USF Medical Engineering, Morsani College of Medicine and USF CAMLS (Center for Advanced Medical Learning Simulation), we look forward to the impact she will make in Tampa and beyond. Dr. Kim earned her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and M.S. and B.S. from the University of Maryland, College Park, in Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering (with a minor in International Engineering).
At USF, Dr. Kim is developing battery鈥慺ree, electronic鈥慺ree, 3D鈥憄rinted VR/AR controllers and goggles for smartphone鈥慴ased simulations. These devices aim to make immersive medical training and therapy tools affordable, accessible, and adaptable, helping reduce health disparities worldwide. Her current and future research directions include:
- Building AI鈥憄owered, clinician鈥慺riendly interfaces for diagnosis, treatment planning, and skill development.
- Creating immersive, low鈥慶ost simulation platforms for surgical education and behavioral health therapy.
- Applying human鈥慶entered design and rapid prototyping to translate engineering innovations into practical healthcare solutions.
Her previous work at Johns Hopkins includes CorFix, a VR-based cardiac surgical planning system that supports 3D diagnosis, design custom vascular grafts, and assess predicted hemodynamic performance for informed surgical decision.
Dr. Kim鈥檚 appointment fortifies USF鈥檚 commitment to multidisciplinary innovation, advancing technology that empowers medical practitioners to deliver more precise and personalized care. We are honored to have her aboard and her journey is already off to a shining bright start.