Bluegrass Biodesign : Empowering a New Generation of Health Care Innovation
by SHRUTI WADHWA , MOHAMMAD Z . HAQ , NITA NAIR , LOGAN DAVIS & KATELYN RICE
solutions that will make a vital difference in health care .
The development of the Rapid Exchange b a l l o o n angioplasty / stenting system and the Smart Needle by Dr . Paul Yock revolutionized cardiac and vascular care by offering a better treatment for cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis , which can lead to stroke , heart disease and death . His work embodies the principles of the Stanford Biodesign Program founded by him , where practical solutions to real-world medical challenges are nurtured and brought to fruition , ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life . By providing a platform for interdisciplinary collaboration between engineers , clinicians and entrepreneurs , Dr . Yock ’ s project not only saved countless lives but also set a precedent for how biodesign can drive transformative change in health care . From commercializing hundreds of new medical devices such as the Rapid Exchange balloon angioplasty / stenting system to training thousands of medical innovators , Dr . Yock revolutionized a new generation of health care innovators willing to create cost-effective
This inspired the creation of Bluegrass Biodesign , a student initiative to bring this same innovative mindset to the University of Louisville School of Medicine ( ULSOM ). Ankur Gupta , a second-year medical student at the time , pitched the idea to Dr . In Kim and Dr . Beth Spurlin : a biodesign innovation program for medical students , by medical students . Gupta believed that there was a need for a younger , fresher perspective in medical innovation . He envisioned a program that would bring together medical ( ULSOM ) and engineering ( J . B . Speed School of Engineering ) students to develop practical solutions for health care challenges . As a completely student-governed program , Bluegrass Biodesign is an intensive nine-month program meticulously designed to foster innovation and address critical health care needs while prioritizing health equity .
Through a structured three-stage process – needs-finding , screening and refining , and prototype development – students not only gain hands-on experience , but also acquire essential insights into the complex world of health care innovation . Students are divided into seven teams based on specialty : adult cardiology / cardiothoracic surgery , pediatric cardiology , critical care and pulmonology , neurosurgery , urology , radiology and otolaryngology . Medical students initially shadow physicians to come up with ideas , then they begin to design their products with engineering students , and finally they present their creations to a group of medical faculty , engineering faculty and other students .
The teams simultaneously attend didactics and workshops facilitated by industry experts in biodesign , business and engineering , with health equity woven throughout the curriculum . In customer discovery lectures , we underscore the fundamental role of equity within the biodesign framework , guiding students to meticulously
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