The Center for Healthcare Innovation and Humanitarian Engineering (CHIHE)
The Center for Healthcare Innovation and Humanitarian Engineering (CHIHE) is a collaboration of faculty, students and community partners from different disciplines whose purpose is to:
- Advance knowledge and practice in the areas of mental, physical, community and environmental health through experiential pedagogy, scholarship, practice, and community outreach.
- Advance technological innovations and applications for the health fields through bioengineering/biotechnology and humanitarian engineering.
The proposed Center has five components: Experiential Pedagogy, Scholarship, Humanitarian Engineering, Bio-engineering, Health Care Delivery, Program Evaluation, and Community Outreach and Partnerships.

CHIHE represents a holistic model with five distinct but interrelated components. The five components, while distinct in their own right, also have the potential for enhancing the projects and activities of other components within the proposed Center as well as synergistically connecting to projects in other centers.
Research
Deployment of Predictive Analytics to Understand the Interplay between Biopsychosocial Risk, Protective Factors and Health Outcomes in Utica Refugees
--Principal Investigators: Dr. Patricia Roach, DNP (PI), Dr. Jerome Niyirora, PhD (Co-PI), Dr. Joanne Joseph (Co-PI).
This project seeks to deploy predictive analytics and machine learning models to understand the complex interplay between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), war trauma, resilience, and physical and mental health outcomes in refugee populations. By elucidating these relationships, the project aims to identify risk and protective factors as well as inform targeted diagnostic and treatment interventions.
The Importance of Breast Cancer Early Detection Studies
--Principal Investigators: Tabrini Asumadi, PhD & Wole Soboyejo, PhD.
Two main approaches focusing on systems for early detection and finding less severe and localized or targeted treatment of cancer cells are envisaged. For early cancer detection, the application of nanoparticles/nanorods through biosynthesis and conjugation. By analyzing mammograms, ultrasound and MRI data, patterns associated with abnormalities with early-stage breast cancer can be determined. The application of machine learning will facilitate pooling of deep multiresolution features of these optical images and scans into a Bag of Deep Multiresolution Convolutional Features (BoDMCF) representation. This is to provide unified visual features for early detection. By continuous training with patient data, ML algorithms can be used to detect subtle changes over time. This can be used for the monitoring high – risk individuals while identifying potential signs and symptoms that could be associated with triple negative breast cancer.
Creating an Environmental Health Research Biorepository
--Principal Investigator: Lauren Endres, PhD.
This project involved the creation of an Environmental Health Research Biorepository (EHRB). The aim of creating this Repository is threefold: 1. Collect, catalog and store biological and water samples to support research in areas of environmental health concern (see figure below), 2. Establish cell-based research models that translate basic research into applications with human health benefits, 3. Engage students in multidisciplinary research projects for educational research training. This aim aligns with our strategic plan by providing campus infrastructure to support innovations in research, while serving the Health and Well-Being theme of our academic excellence mission. Further, students will learn relevant research skills and understand the impact – regionally and globally - of well-being research.

Creating Collaboratively Across Visual Abilities (CCAVA)
Team: Kristina Boylan, Associate Professor, History (PI), Ana Jofre, Assistant Professor, Creative Arts and Technology, Daniel Jones, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Jiayue Shen, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Shireesh Reddy Pyreddy, Graduate Assistant, Computer Science, Henry Zelenak, Graduate Assistant, Data Science, (Jan. 2024), Bao Do, Student Assistant (undergraduate), Electrical Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology
CCAVA’s goal is to change situations in which humans are pressured to adapt to devices and processes, rather than devices and processes being adaptable to their needs, desires, and creativity. Assistive technologies exist to aid persons with impairments in adapting to conventional-ability-oriented educational and work environments, but also to enhance daily living, learning, and recreation. So, enjoyment, autonomous decision-making, satisfaction, connection, and inclusion should be common elements of their design and use.
Virtual Reality Driving Training for ADHD Adolescents.
Co-PIs: Abolifazl Karimpour and Joanne Joseph:
ADHD adolescents are at 5x the risk for driving violations and accidents. The major reason for the increased risk factor for these individuals is their poor attentional focus capacities. Virtual reality training may be useful in re-conditioning the attentional focus for these at risk youth. The study may also inform future development of imbedded devices designed to compensate for the attentional deficits.
Other research projects by members of CHIHE:
The Impact of Climate Change on Health
This is a series of research studies designed to assess the public's understanding of the impact of climate change on health as well as an assessment of the experienced climate change on the health of elders living in 5 counties in New York State.
The COVID Study and Academic Resilience
COVID represented a threat to the academic progress of students enrolled in K-12. This study looked specifically at the impact of COVID on the academic performance and attitudes of students grade 7-12. Specifically, we identified the factors that moderated the effects of COVID. The study hopefully informs interventions and policy for future policy makers especially as it applies to pandemics or other natural environmental threats.
COVID and Post-traumatic Growth
Adversity has both the capacity to be both destructive and constructive to human motivation and performance. Research has established the fact that most individuals are resilient and some even grow from the adversity. COVID caused a great deal of adversity for both children and adults. This study examined the protective factors behind the post-traumatic growth experienced by youth in grades 7-12.
The Interactive effects of environmental and social toxins on health and well-being.
Research has certainly established the relationship between certain environmental toxins and health. Research has also established a robust relationship between social toxins such as adverse childhood experiences and health. We are examining the cross-over effects of environmental toxins when social toxins are present.
People
Winston Oluwole Soboyejo, PhD, President, SUNY POLY. Dr. Soboyejo received his PHD in materials science and metallurgy from the University of Cambridge. He is now serving as the seventh president of SUNY POLY. Previous to his appointment as SUNY POLY president, Dr. Soboyejo was the provost and dean of engineering at WPI and president and provost of the African University of Science and Technology in Abuja, Nigeria, a Pan-African University. Dr. Soboyejo has a long and distinguished record as a researcher and an academic leader. He is the recipient of numerous grants and awards. He together with other colleagues have patents pending. His research focus is broad and encompassing; and includes the use of nanoparticles for both assessment and treatment interventions for various diseases such as cancer and the application of material science to advance global development.
Joanne M. Joseph, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Community Behavioral Health, College of Health Sciences, Department of Community and Behavioral Health. Dr. Joseph received her BA degree in psychology from Canisius College and a PHD in psychology from SUNY Albany. She holds the rank of Professor in both Psychology and Community behavioral health and has instructed a number of courses in psychology and community Behavioral Health. Dr. Joseph is a licensed psychologist in the State of New York. She is the author or co-author of a number of publications including two books. In addition to her academic teaching and research activities, Dr. Joseph regularly consults with Pre-K-12 educational institutions, health care agencies and agencies dedicated to services for individuals with disabilities. She is or has been the PI for a total sum of over 3 million dollars. Her research interests include: trauma, resilience and post-traumatic growth, trauma Informed classrooms, trauma informed therapy, and multidisciplinary humanitarian engineering to benefit individuals with disabilities.
Natalie A. Stepanian, PhD, RN Assistant Professor of Nursing, College of Health Science, Department of Nursing, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Utica. Dr. Stepanian received her PHD in nursing science from George Mason University. She has several years teaching experience both didactic and clinical within university settings and has had experience as a research assistant. Her expertise in both quantitative and qualitative research methods has developed as a result of work on different kinds of research projects. Dr. Stepanian worked in collaboration with international research partners (Norwegian) on chronic disease self-care management that has led to several publications and the development of a measurement tool. Her current research interests include climate change and the health and welfare of seniors.
Alexander R. Thomas, PhD. Professor of Sociology and Executive Director, PLACES Institute, SUNY Oneonta. Prior to the pandemic, Dr. Thomas focused on the relationship between rural and urban communities, both in the United States and in broad cultural and historical perspective. Having published a number of books and articles on the subject, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to refocus on earlier training in medical sociology. To research and combat the pandemic in the region, he formed the Intermountain COVID-19 Impact Consortium (ICIC). Over the ensuing three years, the group collected psychological, social, economic, and health data from a variety of settings. Most of this data is still being processed, although several articles have been published and others are currently under review. Dr. Thomas recent research expands on the work during the pandemic crisis examining issues of inequality, urban-rural difference, environmental change, and health: it also is part of a greater effort to build on the partnerships forged during the pandemic to study the relationship between environment and health in our own region and nationally.
Jiayue Shen PhD, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology, College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology. Dr. Shen received her PHD from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She instructs courses in mechanical engineering technology. She also serves as a research scientist for SUNY POLY Research Foundation and the program coordinator for the mechanical engineering technology program. Dr. Shen is the author of a number of peer reviewed publications and is the PI or CoPI of four grants involving titanium alloys and nanostructures for next generation biomedical devices, breaking down barriers to degree completion for Engineering and Engineering Technology, and work on assistive devises for visual impairments, and virtual reality for engineering education. She also serves as the senior personnel for SUNY POLY Offshore Wind Training Team. Dr. Shen is a reviewer for IEEE Sensors and Scientific Reports and a grant reviewer for NSF and is a summer camp instructor for K-12 STEM summer camps and the professional summer workshops.
Bongmook Lee, PhD, Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology, College of Engineering, SUNYPOLY, Department of Electrical Engineering Technology. Dr. Lee received his PHD in electrical and computer Engineering from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. He instructs courses in electrical engineering technology. Dr. Lee is the PI or CO-PI of a number of funded grants. He is also the author or co-author of a number of peer reviewed publications and conference proceedings and has a patent pending with a colleague on "Monolithically Integrated and Densely Packed Array Sensor Platform for Untra-low power Gas Sensing Applications", US. Patent Application No. 17/764,332, 2022.
Lauren Endres, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biology SUNYPOLY, College of Arts and Science, Department of Biology. Dr. Endres received her PHD from the University of Toronto in medical biophysics. She completed a post-doctoral program at Harvard Medical School in cancer biology and served as a senior research fellow at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and is currently an affiliate of the RNA Institute at the University of Albany. Dr .Endres instructs courses in biology and is the author or co-author of over twenty publications including two book chapters. She is a reviewer for Future Medical Chemistry, Cancer Research, and Clinical Cancer Research. Dr. Endres research interests are in the area of environmental toxins and ovarian cancer.
Jerome Niyirora, PhD, Associate Professor Health Informatics, SUNYPOLY, College of Health Sciences, Department of Health Informatics. Dr. Niyirora received his PHD in systems science from Binghamton State University and a MS in both Health Services Management and Industrial Engineering from SUNYIT and SUNY Buffalo respectively. Dr. Niyirora is both an instructor and the coordinator for the Health Informatics program. He is the author or co-author of a number of publications involving health care issues and delivery. Dr. Niyorira and Dr. Roach are the recent recipients of a seed grant to study the biopsychosocial risk and protective factors related to health outcomes for Utica’s refugee population. The research is designed to inform treatment interventions and prevention targeted programs.
Yu Zhou, PhD, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, SUNY POLY Institute, College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Zhou received a PHD in mechanical engineering from John Hopkins University. He instructs courses in mechanical engineering and oversees the capstone course in mechanical engineering. Since 2018, Dr. Zhou has collaborated with NYSID CREATE program and ARC of Oneida-Lewis Counties to advise award-winning assistive technology student projects. He is the author or co-author of a number of peer-reviewed publications involving communication networks and robotics.
Patricia Roach, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC., Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the PMHNP CAS & DNP programs, SUNYPOLY, College of health Sciences. Dr. Roach received her DNP from Rush University and a post master certificate of study from Upstate Medical University. She instructs courses and coordinates the programs in the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner DNP and CAS programs. Dr. Roach also practices as a nurse practitioner in the greater Utica area. She is the recipient with Dr. Jerome Niyirora of a seed grant involving the biopsychosocial risk and protective factors in the refugee population. Dr. Roach along with a number of colleagues is also examining the moderating effects of key variables on academic resilience and post-traumatic growth.
Tabiri Asumadu PhD, Research Scholar, SUNYPOLY, College of Engineering, Department of Engineering Technology. Tabiri received his PHD in materials engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana and MSc, degree in materials engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. Dr. Asumadu currently has two patents in conjunction with other associates including Dr. W. Soboyejo and three publications related to material science and engineering. He is also the co-principal investigator for seed grant examining titanium alloys and nanostructures for the next generation of biomedical devices and an International collaborator with MIT examining the irradiation stability of indigenous carbonitriding agent.
Daniel K. Jones, PhD, P.E, Associate Professor Mechanical Engineering Technology, SUNYPOLY, College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology. Dr. Jones received his PHD in mechanical engineering from University of Pittsburgh. He instructs courses in mechanical engineering technology and works closely with colleagues from Health Sciences and Arts and Sciences on projects related to the use of technology to study attachment behavior and anxiety and avoidance responses in relationships. He has also played an instrumental role in the development of the Humanitarian Engineering minor. Dr. Jones is the co-author of a number of conference presentations and two peer-reviewed articles.
Kristina A. Boylan, D. Phil., Associate Professor of History, SUNYPOLY, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Communications and Humanities. Dr. Bolan received her D.PHIL in modern Latin American history from the University of Oxford, UK. Dr. Boylan offers courses in history and interdisciplinary Studies, . She has also been instrumental in the development of the humanitarian studies/humanitarian engineering minors and the multidisciplinary projects designed to improve the aesthetic experience for individuals with visual disabilities. Dr. Boylan is the PI or CoPI for a number of grants and the author of six peer reviewed publications on topics related to Latin America history and culture.
Nick Lejune, MFA, Assistant Professor of Interactive Media and Game Design, SUNYPOLY, College of Arts and Sciences. Nick received his MFA from West Virginia University in arts and design. Nick instructs courses in the interactive and game design program. In 2019, Nick’s interactive installation work was presented in a solo exhibition at Ground Level Platform in Chicago, Il. In 2021, his installation work was accepted into the virtual New York City Electro-Acoustic Music Festival as well as into the Concept 2021 exhibition featured at the Czong Institute of Contemporary Art in Gimpo, South Korea. In 2023, Nick’s work was showcased in the Performing Media Festival hosted by Indiana University South Bend. Most recently, Nick’s research will be presented at the 19th International Conference on the Arts in Society, hosted by Hanyang University, in Seoul, South Korea.
Ibrahim Yucel PhD, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Interactive Media and Game Design, SUNY POLY, College of Arts and Science. Dr. Yucel received his PHD in information sciences and technology from Pennsylvania State university. He teaches classes in the interactive media and game design program. Dr. Yucel is the author and co-author of a number of publications. His research interests include new media, virtual reality, online communities, game studies, serious games and socio-technical analysis.
Megan Dischiavo, D.C. Lecturer, SUNY POLY, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology. Dr. Megan Dischiavo has been a lecturer at SUNY POLY since 2008. She has taught a multitude of courses such as Anatomy and Physiology, Pathophysiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology. As of 2019, Dr. Dischiavo incorporated one of the few plastic cadavers in the northeast region to both her classes and research endeavors. Dr. Dischiavo earned her chiropractic doctorate from Northeast College.
Cynthia Grabski DNS., Assistant Professor of Nursing, SUNYPOLY, College of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing. Dr. Grabski ,a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, is a graduate of SUNY College of Technology, Sage Graduate School and Russell Sage College. Dr. Grabski has over 30 years of clinical experience and has been teaching nurse practitioner students for 20 years. Her research interests include provider’s management of concussions and the neurocognitive impact of concussion on college athletes. Additionally, Dr. Grabski is interested in the use of simulation to improve the clinical practice experience for nurse practitioner students.
Nicolau DePaula, PhD, Assistant Professor at SUNY POLY. Dr. DePaula’s research concerns how public agencies communicate scientific information to the public, in particular health, risk and environmental information, and regulatory aspects of information technology management in healthcare and the public sector. Dr. DePaula also develops applications for environmental and health data analysis, and writes about issues at the intersection of politics, information science and public health. His work has appeared in journals including Government Information Quarterly, Social Science Computer Review, JMIR Infodemiology and others, and has been presented at leading information systems, information science and digital government conferences.
Capabilities
CHIHE has and will have several capabilities related to the mission of the center. Some of these include:
- Quantitative and qualitative studies
- Design of products and devices for individuals with disabilities
- Program evaluation services for schools
- Nurse-run clinics
Other capabilities are being developed in current meetings and research collaborations.
Publications
Ana Jofre (PI), Kristina A. Boylan and Ibrahim Yucel, “Building Convivial Educational Tools in the 21st Century,” with Ana Jofre (PI) and Ibrahim Yucel, in Rosa Bruno Jofre, Michael Attridge, and Jon Igelmo Zaldivar, eds., Rethinking Freire and Illich: Historical, Philosophical, and Theological Perspectives (University of Toronto Press, 2023), pp. 157-175.
Ana Jofre (PI), Kristina A. Boylan and Ibrahim Yucel, "Desarrollo de Herramientas de Educación Convivencial en el Siglo XXI: una propuesta desde las ideas de Paulo Freire, Ivan Illich, y los ”Makers," Espacio, Tiempo y Educación, 9: 1 (Jan.-Jun. 2022), 6-26, at https://www.espaciotiempoyeducacion.com/ojs/index.php/ete/issue/view/19
Sponsors
Kristina A. Boylan, Principal Investigator, SUNY Innovative Instructional Technology Grant, “Creating Collaboratively Across Visual Abilities (CCAVA): Open Library of Methods and Tools for Collaboration and Connection among Conventional and Assistive Technology Users,” $30,000, awarded May 2023 for Aug. 2023-Jun. 2024. Co-PIs: Ana Jofre, Daniel K. Jones, and Jiayue Shen.