The Second Annual H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) Chair’s Donor Appreciation Luncheon, held on March 28, 2024, was a celebration of our donor's investment in nurturing the next generation of industrial engineering leaders.  

The luncheon, hosted by Edwin Romeijn, Ph.D., the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair and Professor, featured distinguished speakers who provided insights into various aspects of industrial engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and its influence on society.  

Featured Speakers: 

Mitali Bidkar, fourth-year undergraduate student:  

Life as an ISyE Student 

• As the President of GTIISE, Bidkar brought a fresh perspective to the luncheon. She highlighted the experiences of ISyE students, and also underscored the role of donors in shaping educational opportunities and empowering future leaders in the field. 

Amaya K McNealy, second-year graduate student:  

Healthcare and Social Systems Challenges Using Data Science/Statistics and Interpretable Machine Learning 

• McNealy's research in healthcare and data science exemplified the interdisciplinary nature of industrial engineering. She spoke about how the race-blind calculator still disadvantages Black patients. Her dedication to addressing societal challenges, especially in racial disparities in healthcare, reflected the ethos of ISyE in creating solutions that have a tangible impact on people's lives. 

• “I hope to detect and explain when bias occurs and mitigate any algorithmic bias that is present, not only leading to improved fairness within care but also improving optimality.” 

Lauren N. Steimle, assistant professor, and Harold R. and Mary Anne Nash Early Career Professor: 

Towards the Three “Rights” and Three “Es”:  Industrial Engineering to Improve Healthcare Delivery 

• Steimle spoke on the three “rights” of healthcare delivery: getting the right care, to the right people, at the right time in a way that considers the three Es: effectiveness, efficiency, and equity. This included infectious disease outbreak prevention and control, healthcare access, treatments and screenings. 

• “Examples of getting the right care to the right people at the right time include decisions about managing chronic diseases and deciding when a patient should begin taking blood pressure medication; or maternal health and deciding in what way a patient should deliver a baby to best serve the health of the mother and child.” 

Jim Hall, senior associate vice president, Georgia Tech Office of Development:  

Transforming Tomorrow Campaign Update 

• Hall joined the Georgia Tech Athletics Association in 1998, and in 2023, was named the Senior Associate Vice President for Development. With his extensive experience in fundraising and development, Hall provides valuable insights into the Transforming Tomorrow Campaign.  

• Hall’s update, that $84.22 M has been raised towards the $100 M ISyE goal, highlights the collective efforts to advance ISyE's mission and reinforces the importance of continued support from donors. 

As attendees enjoyed delicious food and engaging conversations, each interaction represented our collective efforts to shape a brighter future for ISyE and beyond.  

Author: Nat M. Esparza