In high school, Dr. Larry Fennigkoh ’74, ’86 already knew he was destined to attend MSOE, but it wasn’t until his sophomore year of college when he discovered his true passion to pursue a career in biomedical engineering.

“I distinctly remember being in the front row in the S-341 classroom during an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers meeting and feeling like I had been hit by lightning,” said Fennigkoh. “Having already a strong and growing interest in both medicine and engineering, this new field felt like a perfect fit. I felt a renewed purpose, focus and a passion that has never left.”
In 1974, Fennigkoh graduated from MSOE and spent the next 23 years developing that passion by working in three different health care systems doing hospital biomedical engineering work.

“The depth, rigor and what I’ve come to refer to as the incessant ‘mental push-ups,’ not only prepared and set me on an extremely rewarding and fulfilling career path, but it also developed and fortified a lasting emotional grit—giving me a confidence and belief in myself that I could now do almost anything.”

After receiving his Ph.D. in Engineering in 1995 from UW-Milwaukee, he answered another calling: teaching students studying biomedical engineering. He called it a “no-brainer” when he was welcomed back to MSOE with an opportunity to join the biomedical engineering program as a full-time faculty member in 1998.

“Teaching has always been a second veritable calling for me. Although I’m not a parent, I’ve always thought of my students as my surrogate kids, and investing in their future is why I continue to support MSOE.”

In 2023, Fennigkoh established a planned gift to support the biomedical engineering department. Although he officially retired from full-time teaching at MSOE in 2019, he maintains an adjunct and emeritus appointment with the university teaching and presenting on campus as needed. 

He says one of the most rewarding parts of teaching is running into his former students and hearing about their accomplishments. He says being around bright, committed young people keeps him hopeful and invested in MSOE’s future. 
“Anything that can be done to nurture, care for and develop our students is reward enough for me. Seeing them graduate with an MSOE degree is a gift I know will serve them for life. It is also in these special moments that I’m reminded that my time of service to MSOE mattered most.”