Whitaker International Fellow, 2008-09

Home Institution: Illinois Institute of Technology

Host Country, Institution: Colombia, Universidad de Los Andes

Project Title: Redesigning Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) for Low-Income Communities

Project Abstract:

Biomedical O&P research currently is greatly focused on developing expensive, cutting-edge technologies which will only be available to the upper echelon of society. During the master`s degree in biomedical sciences, I will reevaluate current prosthetic devices and redesign them in a more cost-effective manner as to benefit the masses of the community. I am particularly interested in prosthetics designed to perform common professional tasks so that after an occupational injury a patient could pursue work as soon as possible and continue to provide for themselves and their family.