Duke Flags Lowered: Craig Henriquez, biomedical engineer and associate vice provost for faculty advancement, dies at age 64

Craig Henriquez spent more than three decades as a member of the Duke community.
Craig Henriquez spent more than three decades as a member of the Duke community.

Craig Henriquez, associate vice provost for faculty advancement and professor of biomedical engineering at Duke, died Thursday, Aug. 24. He was 64 years old.

Over his 35-year career, Henriquez contributed to the Duke community both as a scholar and through university service. He held several leadership positions, serving as chair of Duke’s Academic Council, chair of the Engineering Faculty Council, and chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering from 2011 to 2014.

In a message Friday to the Pratt community, Dean Jerome Lynch and Abbas Benmamoun, vice provost for faculty advancement, praised Henriquez’s “dedication to his students, unparalleled expertise in the use of large-scale computational models in the development of new devices and cell-based therapies, and warm collegiality will be deeply missed.”

“He has left an indelible mark on countless students and colleagues, always going above and beyond to inspire and mentor the next generation of engineers.”

Henriquez first came to Duke’s campus as an undergraduate, earning dual bachelor’s degrees in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering in 1981. He then completed his PhD in biomedical engineering at Duke in 1988 under advisor Robert Plonsey.

After earning his doctorate, Henriquez immediately joined the faculty of Duke’s biomedical engineering department.

Henriquez was widely recognized as a skilled and dedicated professor, going above and beyond to inspire the next generation of biomedical engineers. He taught undergraduate and graduate courses and received a Bass Professorship, given to Duke faculty members who have achieved “true excellence in both research and teaching, and are good university citizens” in both 2001 and 2013. He also received the Klein Family Distinguished Teaching Award from Duke Engineering, given to faculty who inspire students to learn and apply knowledge, engage students in the classroom, and share their love of engineering, in 2009.

Outside of the impact he had in the classroom, Craig was also a prolific and innovative scientist and engineer. His research involved the development and use of large-scale computational models to study the flow of electrical current in excitable tissues, like the heart and brain, to support the development of new devices and cell-based therapies.

He regularly served on university committees and as a member on the Academic Council. As council chair from 2009-11, colleagues praised him for his collegiality and his thoughtful and balanced approach to contentious issues. During those years, he ensured faculty opinion was heard as the university rebuilt its financial position following the 2008 crash and took the first steps toward creating a campus in Kunshan, China.

In service to the greater Duke community, Henriquez joined the Office for Faculty Advancement as associate vice provost, where he drew from his experience to develop programs to support faculty and leadership development.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in memory of Dr. Craig S. Henriquez to Duke University. On-line contributions can be made at https://giving.duke.edu/  and designated to The Craig S. Henriquez Fund which will be used to support the Emerti Faculty Initiative which he led in his role as associate vice provost for faculty advancement and as a professor of biomedical engineering.

Checks should be made payable to Duke University, referencing “The Craig S. Henriquez Fund” on the memo line, then mailed to Duke University, Alumni & Development Records, Box 90581, Durham, NC 27708.  To make a gift by credit card, call 919-684-2338.

For additional assistance please contact gifts2duke@duke.edu(mailto:gifts2duke@duke.edu)