{"677783":{"#nid":"677783","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Couple Celebrates 25 Years at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the summer of 2023, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/garcia\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E Regents\u0027 Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Michelle-C.-LaPlaca\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMichelle C. LaPlaca\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Chair for Faculty Development and professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, reached a joint milestone, their 25th anniversary at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe pair\u0027s achievement was celebrated earlier this year at a symposium, \u0022Celebration of Science and Mentoring,\u0022 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The event was attended by Georgia Tech alumni and trainees and organized by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/singh\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnkur Singh\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Carl Ring Family Professor in the Woodruff School, as well as alumnus Charles Gersbach, Ph.D. BME 2006. Gershbach now serves as the John W. Strohbehn Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Duke University.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Andr\u00e9s and Michelle have had a remarkable 25 years. It was a great time reflecting on careers, camaraderie, mentoring, and science,\u0022 said Singh.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGarc\u00eda and LaPlaca, who married after they met at the University of Pennsylvania in grad school, joined Georgia Tech in 1998 after completing their postdoctoral fellowships. \u0022It was a combination of excitement, nervousness, and fear,\u0022 said Garc\u00eda when describing his first weeks at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022A blur!\u0022 said LaPlaca, remembering her excitement in those first few days. \u0022But I also sensed the endless possibilities ahead of me.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E25 years is an impressive term, and both have achieved incredible success and distinction over their time at Georgia Tech. Garc\u00eda serves as executive director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/bio\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EParker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Medicine, and National Academy of Inventors. In addition to her Associate Chair position, LaPlaca is an elected fellow in the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and the Biomedical Engineering Society.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor some, remaining in one place for 25 years may be unfathomable, and the fear of monotony may be too much. However, Garc\u00eda and LaPlaca have only felt themselves and their careers grow and expand with Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The school has grown in many ways.\u0026nbsp;The new buildings and international reputation are what some people see. However, I have also seen the continued excellence in education and research reflect the commitment and caring of the faculty, staff, and students,\u0022 said LaPlaca.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I feel very valued by the whole community. I have enjoyed working with outstanding faculty and staff and the best students in the world,\u0022 said Garc\u00eda.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech is undoubtedly a family affair for the pair. Their two sons are both graduates of the Woodruff School, and their beloved family dog carries a namesake famous in the Jackets\u0027 community, Buzz.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"In the summer of 2023, Andr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda, Regents\u0027 Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and Michelle C. LaPlaca, Associate Chair for Faculty Development and professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engin"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn the summer of 2023, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/garcia\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda,\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E Regents\u0027 Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/faculty\/Michelle-C.-LaPlaca\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMichelle C. LaPlaca\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Associate Chair for Faculty Development and professor in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bme.gatech.edu\/bme\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, reached a joint milestone, their 25th anniversary at Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In the summer of 2023, Andr\u00e9s J. Garc\u00eda, Regents\u0027 Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and Michelle C. LaPlaca, Associate Chair for Faculty Development and professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engin"}],"uid":"36454","created_gmt":"2024-10-21 17:06:59","changed_gmt":"2024-10-21 17:13:34","author":"swilliamson40","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-10-03T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-10-03T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"675376":{"id":"675376","type":"image","title":"Garci\u0301a_LaPlaca_0.jpg","body":null,"created":"1729530461","gmt_created":"2024-10-21 17:07:41","changed":"1729530461","gmt_changed":"2024-10-21 17:07:41","alt":"AG","file":{"fid":"258990","name":"Garci\u0301a_LaPlaca_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/Garci%CC%81a_LaPlaca_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/10\/21\/Garci%CC%81a_LaPlaca_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1149862,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/10\/21\/Garci%CC%81a_LaPlaca_0.jpg?itok=gwiOA4nR"}}},"media_ids":["675376"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/me.gatech.edu\/news\/couple-celebrates-25-years-georgia-tech","title":""}],"groups":[{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBy Chloe Arrington\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}