Ingeborg Hochmair, a pioneering electrical engineer and medical-device executive, emphasizes the power of perseverance, curiosity, and vision in shaping the future. Addressing graduates at the Crisler Center, she highlighted the impact of technology on improving lives. As CEO and CTO of MED-EL, Hochmair led the development of the groundbreaking cochlear implant, enabling the deaf to hear. On May 2, she will receive an honorary Doctor of Engineering from U-M.
“You are the architects of the future world. Your ambitions and your ability to realize your visions will influence the fate of this world and shape it,” she said.
Hochmair’s journey began at 22 when she collaborated with Erwin Hochmair on creating a cochlear implant to stimulate the auditory nerve. This partnership, which led to marriage, eventually resulted in the first multichannel microelectronic cochlear implant, implanted in Vienna in 1977. Despite initial skepticism, their persistence paid off, leading to the widespread adoption of cochlear implants, benefiting hundreds of thousands globally. MED-EL now employs 3,100 people worldwide.
Stay the course
Sharing her story, Hochmair advised graduates to seize opportunities and embrace uncertainty while remaining resilient. She emphasized the importance of collaborative research in advancing cochlear implant technology. “What cochlear implants can do today seems like a miracle to many, but it is not. It is the result of trustful, dedicated, hard collaborative translational research work over many, many years — cooperation across disciplines,” she said.
Don’t be afraid to take risks
U-M President Domenico Grasso also addressed graduates, recalling a memorable moment when a fellow student boldly asked for an autograph from honorary degree recipient Gene Kelly during the ceremony. Grasso encouraged graduates to seize opportunities and outlined the value of a U-M degree as a testament to their readiness for future challenges.
“Michigan alumni are not passive observers. They are innovators, humanists, and leaders, known worldwide for their ideas and impact. We expect nothing less from you,” Grasso said.
View failure as an opportunity to learn
Rackham Graduate School Dean Michael Solomon encouraged graduates to embrace their achievements despite setbacks. He shared his experience of having a paper rejected, which taught him resilience. Solomon noted that this graduation marks 150 years since U-M awarded its first Ph.D.s, emphasizing the university’s long-standing commitment to graduate study.
Speakers also included Provost Laurie McCauley, Faculty Senate Chair Derek Peterson, and graduating students Onyinye Gift Nwankwo and Lorena Rivera Rincón.
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