2026 Gilbreth Award Winner Dr. Michael Carter: "I wanted to solve real problems"

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Dr. Michael Carter didn’t originally plan to become a professor or even an industrial engineer.

But after discovering operations research and eventually finding his way into industrial engineering, his career became focused on one of the most complex systems imaginable: healthcare.

In this episode of Problem Solved, we speak with the recipient of the 2026 Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Award, IISE’s highest honor. Dr. Carter reflects on his decades-long career in healthcare systems engineering, how inefficiencies he observed inside hospitals sparked a lifelong passion for improvement, and why he dedicated his career to building what he calls “an army of engineers” working in healthcare.

We also discuss the future of healthcare systems, the growing role of AI and data in medicine, mentorship, and the ripple effect of influencing generations of students and practitioners.

Dr. Carter is Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto and Founding Director of the Centre for Healthcare Engineering. Over the course of his career, he has helped shape healthcare engineering in Canada and beyond through research, education, and real-world implementation.

And at the end of this episode, stay tuned for a preview of our upcoming special episode exploring the real lives and legacy of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth.

Learn more about The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)

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