Anthony Schwartz, a senior Biomedical Engineering (BME) major at the Georgia Tech, has been named the 2009 Co-op Student of the Year by the Cooperative and Experiential Education Division (CEED) of the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE).  Schwartz joined Georgia Tech’s Co-op Program in the summer of 2006 and has completed five co-op work terms at the Medical Division of C.R. Bard Inc., a provider of medical products and services in the vascular, urology and oncology areas.

Schwartz’s Work

Schwartz has worked with the Bard engineering staff on two of the division’s largest projects: a suburethal sling device for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence and a surgical implant for anterior and posterior female pelvic floor repair. He contributed to the final product designs, mechanical testing of the devices and writing technical documents and protocols. Schwartz was the first co-op student to receive the Bard “Caught on the Spot Award” which is given to employees who go above and beyond their normal job duties.

In addition to his regular co-op duties at Bard, Schwartz worked as a research assistant at Tech in a preclinical study. He is the co-author of a paper that will appear in an upcoming issue of the International Urogynecological Journal.

Selection Criteria

Schwartz’s selection was based on criteria including quantity and quality of the co-op work experience, challenges faced and overcome at work, published papers or presentations, employer awards or recognition, community involvement and overall contributions to cooperative education.