Michael Whitt

Michael Whitt serves as Associate Professor in the Biomedical Engineering Department at California Polytechnic State University, specializing in hemodynamics, vascular mechanics, and medical device product development. He holds five medical device patents and co-founded Cordex Systems Inc., which developed a noninvasive cardiovascular disease detection method. His expertise spans pharmaceutical process development, medical device startups, and entrepreneurship education.

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers University/University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
• M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers University/University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
• MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management
• B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University

Dr. Whitt's research integrates biomechanics with clinical innovation, focusing on noninvasive cardiovascular diagnostics and vascular assessment technologies. His work in medical device development bridges engineering principles with real-world healthcare applications, particularly through patent-protected technologies for endothelial function measurement. He actively promotes entrepreneurship through curriculum design, including Purdue University's product development course and Notre Dame's ESTEEM program, emphasizing 'learn-by-doing' pathways for underrepresented students.

Analysis of his 2017-2025 publications reveals three dominant research trajectories: (1) cardiovascular diagnostics (70% of output) featuring novel devices for arterial reactivity assessment; (2) sustainable medical device manufacturing (20%) exploring nanostructured coatings for dry machining; and (3) engineering education (10%) with recent clinical immersion frameworks. His diagnostic work consistently targets operator-independent, noninvasive methodologies validated against obesity/fitness metrics.

Recognition includes:

• 2008 Center for Leadership Development Achievement in Science and Technical Disciplines Award for advancing minority youth in STEM

He has developed educational initiatives at Miami Dade College, the Center for Leadership Development (Indianapolis), and the Academy of Business Leadership (Rosemead), focusing on product development curricula and pathways to financial self-sufficiency for high-potential, low-opportunity students. His industry collaborations span medical device manufacturing process optimization and community-based health technology education programs.