American College of Medical Informatics elects Vignesh Subbian to 2025 class of fellows
The appointments recognize University of Arizona faculty Vignesh Subbian, Justin Starren, and Jose Fernando Florez-Arango for their work in biomedical informatics.
Vignesh Subbian is interim director of the BIO5 Institute and associate professor of biomedical engineering, systems and industrial engineering.
Vignesh Subbian, associate professor of biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering, and Jose Fernando Florez-Arango, associate professor of practice in the Zuckerman College of Public Health, were elected to the American College of Medical Informatics’ 2025 class of fellows – one of the nation’s highest honors in the field.
In addition, Justin Starren, director of the Center for Biomedical Informatics and Biostatistics, was recognized as a distinguished fellow.
“This recognition underscores the University of Arizona’s growing leadership in biomedical informatics and health data science,” said Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, senior vice president for research and partnerships at the U of A. “These three outstanding faculty members exemplify the innovation and dedication that are advancing research and education in this critical field.”
The American College of Medical Informatics is an honorific college of elected fellows who have made significant and sustained contributions to the field of biomedical informatics. Election as a distinguished fellow recognizes extraordinary, long-term impact.
Scholar, director, mentor
Subbian, who has a joint appointment in the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering, leverages systems engineering, human factors and computational methods to address sociotechnical issues and opportunities in biomedicine and learning health systems.
He is also a dedicated educator and educational researcher with a passion for research training. He serves as a program co-director for three training programs, including the National Library of Medicine-supported Placed-based Health Informatics Research Education program. In addition to his role as interim director of the BIO5 Institute, he serves as associate director for the Center for Biomedical Informatics and Biostatistics, where he leads researcher engagement and informatics service cores for multiple large-scale National Institutes of Health initiatives in Arizona.
Subbian established the eCAMINOS program in fall 2024 to help students identify with engineering and recognize what they bring to the table. Funded with nearly $2.5 million from the National Science Foundation, eCAMINOS provides scholarships and research to undergraduates over a period of five to six years.
"Sometimes, students are challenged to visualize themselves in engineering," he said. "This model helps them realize what they're bringing to a sphere that initially feels alien."
