Harvey Borovetz receives CMU Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award

In recognition of fostering excellence, innovation, and leadership in engineering, University of Pittsburgh Distinguished Professor of Bioengineering Harvey Borovetz is a 2025 recipient of Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU) College of Engineering Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award.  

The Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award is a prestigious recognition bestowed upon CMU’s College of Engineering alumni who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in their respective professional fields, whether through groundbreaking innovations, influential leadership, or notable advancements that have positively impacted society. Borovetz earned both his master’s degree (‘73) and PhD ('76) in Bioengineering at Carnegie Mellon’s College of Engineering.

"I believe there are more than 30,000 living alumni from CMU Engineering, and I can’t believe I was selected among so many incredible people,” Borovetz said. “I'm overwhelmed to receive this recognition from a world-class university like Carnegie Mellon, and it's truly an amazing honor.”

Borovetz, chair emeritus of the Swanson School of Engineering Department of Bioengineering, has been a lifelong innovator in artificial organ technology development, and his pioneering work has significantly advanced the understanding and application of artificial organ technology. He has participated in the development and clinical use of life-saving cardiopulmonary technologies on behalf of thousands of patients around the world. Throughout his career, Borovetz has also maintained close ties with Carnegie Mellon through teaching and collaboration with faculty colleagues. 

“I taught introduction to biomedical engineering at the school for a number of years, but I also co-taught, along with a Pitt faculty colleague and Carnegie Mellon alumnus, an engineering course in theater arts,” Borovetz said. “They were interested in their students learning basic biomechanics principles which could be applied, as one example, to determine how much force a dancer generates onstage when jumping and landing. I did that for several years, and it was a very fun course.”

Recipients of this award embody the highest standards of professional excellence, serving as inspiring role models for current and future generations of engineers. Borovetz will be honored with this award at a reception at Carnegie Mellon on April 3, 2025.