BME undergrad Preethi Chidambaram crowned 2016 Homecoming Queen

The Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) would like to recognize Preethi Chidambaram, fourth-year undergraduate Biomedical Engineering student, for being elected as the 2016 homecoming queen at The Ohio State University.

Preethi grew up in Dublin, Ohio, which allowed her to be familiar with Ohio State from a young age. She enjoyed spending time on campus,
from engineering days with Girl Scouts to orchestra performances at the Wexner Center for the Arts to academic team events. “I spent so much of my childhood on campus that Ohio State became a second home, and that is due to the vast network of friends, advisors, and family around me,” Preethi explained.

This community is one of the biggest reasons why she was drawn to
attend Ohio State for her undergraduate degree. Another factor in her decision
was receiving the Eminence Fellowship. Students awarded the Eminence Scholarship are part of a select group of undergraduate Honors students that embark on a unique, four-year journey of academic rigor, service, and leadership. “I knew that with this program, Ohio State would provide me with every opportunity I could dream of,” Preethi said.

Preethi discussed her decision to study biomedical engineering: “I chose BME because I saw that it brought together so many aspects of science and medicine. I was also intrigued by the research I saw biomedical engineers doing across the country, and I thought the major would give me the tools to impact the future of the medical field.”

Preethi will be graduating in May 2017 and hopes to attend medical school. She would like to specialize in ophthalmology to bring together her experiences in engineering and public health to create sustainable solutions to blindness in low-income countries, particularly India.

Currently, Preethi is an undergraduate researcher focusing on corneal biomechanics, or how the cornea reacts to forces on it. Corneal biomechanical properties can affect pressure measurements, disease diagnosis and
progression, and surgical outcomes, all of which make the subject even more
interesting to her. For her thesis, Preethi is working under Dr. Cynthia
Roberts, professor in Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering to conduct a clinical study on how corneal biomechanical properties differ by race.

Reflecting on her experience as homecoming queen, Preethi said, “Standing on the field, hearing my name called as the Homecoming Queen, and hearing the cheers around me was absolutely unreal. I'll never forget singing Carmen on the field with the Homecoming Court, getting to visit the President's Suite, or getting a picture doing the Heisman with Archie Griffin, but the best part was definitely getting to share that weekend with my parents and friends. I am so thankful for the community and support system Ohio State has given me!”

Congratulations Preethi on being crowned the 2016 Homecoming Queen at The Ohio State University!