“Innovation Day” Celebrates, Highlights New Collaborations for UICOMP
Introduction
Faculty, learners and community partners gathered May 1 at Discovery Lab in downtown Peoria for UICOMP “Innovation Day,” an event to celebrate the collaboration among the Peoria regional campus, Distillery Lab, and University of Illinois Chicago Innovation.
Attendees heard from John Vozenilek, MD, Duane and Mary Cullinan Endowed Professor for Simulation Outcomes, who talked in “Innovation in Healthcare.” Vozenilek discussed how innovation fueled by data-driven understanding and emerging technologies can improve access and transform patient outcomes.
Three faculty members showcased their respective innovation projects. Matthew Bramlet, MD, talked about his work developing a 4D virtual reality tool which provides a real-time visual representation of a beating heart. The 4D model is developed in virtual reality (4D) using cardiac CT images and provides a tool for surgeons to use during pre-surgical planning.
Girish Deshpande, MD, discussed his path to the design and development of an improved endotracheal tube.
Jonathan Fisher, PhD, talked about the development and creation of an app called HistoLogic, which is free study resource developed to help medical students trying to learn tissue microscopy/histology. The app is currently available for free from the major app stores.
Charles Frisbie of the UIC Innovation Center led a panel discussion, and guests visited displays showcasing a variety of innovation stations.
Regional Dean Meenakshy Aiyer, MD, shared, “Today we’re excited to showcase how innovation is coming to life at UICOMP, how it touches teaching and learning, and how it improves patient care. Innovation boils down to problem-solving. At its very core, innovation is about making life better. It is exciting and inspiring to offer the best and brightest faculty and learners additional tools and resources to bring ideas to life, to solve problems, and to make lives better.”