MEET The DIrectors

Dr. Frank D. Vrionis, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Director

Dr. Frank D. Vrionis is Chair of Neurosurgery at Marcus Neuroscience Institute and Director of the Spine Innovation and Research Institute at Florida Atlantic University. He holds dual professorships at FAU in Surgery and Biomedical Engineering.

With degrees from the University of Athens, Harvard, and Duke, he specializes in spine and skull base oncology. Formerly Chief of Neurosurgery at Moffitt Cancer Center, he has led major research efforts, securing over $20 million in funding and pioneering national spine tumor guidelines. Board-certified and widely published, he continues to advance neurosurgery through innovation and education.

Dr. Maohua Lin

Co-Director

Dr. Maohua Lin is a Research Assistant Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Co-Director of the Spine Innovation and Research Institute. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Florida Atlantic University in 2019. Dr. Lin’s research focuses on AI applications in spine health, robotics, and biomechanics, with over 50 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications to his credit.

Dr. Javad Hashemi

BME Department Chair: Sports Biomechanics, Design, and Materials Science Consultant.

Dr. Javad Hashemi serves as the Chairperson of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Florida Atlantic University. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University in 1988 and has been engaged in engineering education and research for over 35 years.

As a professor, he has received numerous awards and recognitions for his commitment to engineering education. He is currently the Associate Dean for Research for the College of Engineering and Computer Science at FAU. Dr. Hashemi has extensive experience in managing large programs and complex organizations.

His current research interests include biomaterials, biomechanics, and sports medicine. He has published over 50 journal articles, co-authored an undergraduate textbook on Materials Science and Engineering, and his work has been cited more than 7,000 times.