Case Western Reserve University, which has been a permanent feature in Cleveland, has now expanded across the country.

This past fall, the university officially launched a new master’s program in wireless health in San Diego, following the launch of its related graduate certificate in the fall of 2011. The program is a joint initiative of the electrical and biomedical engineering departments, with physical classrooms that accompany the capacity for online classes. Students in the program are able to access the utilities and assets of CWRU all while residing in the city that is the center of the wireless health universe.

The development of this new Master’s Program has been in the works for the past several years. The Case School of Engineering has been searching for ways to further advance its graduate programs and draw greater national recognition.

After extensive research and assessment headed by Professor Mehran Mehregany, CWRU was able to secure its wireless health program in San Diego. Mehregany is the director of the Case School of Engineering in San Diego.

“I studied the technology markets in Austin, Dallas, Phoenix, and ultimately decided on San Diego,” said Mehregany.

“San Diego is a hub of biotechnology and wireless communication, and there was an opportunity to have an influential role in this market, given the critical mass of medical device companies in Southern California.”

After identifying San Diego as the target market, Mehregany moved there in 2007 in order to explore opportunities and craft a program, with support from the School of Engineering and the university.

“Living and working in San Diego, I could identify the ways in which Case’s new program would contribute to the community,” said Mehregany.

“I could then develop a program that would blend our interests with those of the San Diego community.”

Although finding a wireless health opportunity took six months, fully understanding the technology community in San Diego took two years. With the help of Qualcomm, Inc. and other local companies, CWRU was able to launch a graduate certificate program in wireless health in fall 2011.

Qualcomm, a leading company that designs, manufactures, and markets digital wireless telecommunication products and services, gave CWRU an $80,000 grant to develop the curricula and the courses and provided the university with exhibit spaces at conferences as well as rooms for classes.

As of now, Mehregany and the Case School of Engineering intend to promote the new Master’s program to students at CWRU and in San Diego, as well as across the nation. In a year or two, the wireless technology program intends to attract students looking to do research in the field while in the capital of the wireless technology world.

“We intend to have students in San Diego, enrolled in the program and working on research, all while being online with the main campus,” said Mehregany.

The Case School of Engineering continues to gain national recognition while creating new opportunities for students in the hub of this very promising field.