Interns from the College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS) Department of Physical Therapy, namely, Russell Serranillo, Ashley Li, and Mike Uy, had the privilege of attending the University of British Columbia – Vancouver Summer Program (UBC-VSP) in July.
This was a four-week summer program in BC, Canada, endorsed by the UST Office of International Relations and Programs and the CRS. All three students took the 鈥淎dvanced Injury Biomechanics: From mechanisms, simulations to clinical application鈥� package, which complemented the topic of their thesis. This package covered topics beneficial to student researchers interested in the biomedical design process, mechanisms of musculoskeletal injuries, and collaborative innovation among clinicians, researchers, and biomedical engineers.
The course on the biomedical design process provided them with a systematic approach to product development, emphasizing the importance of addressing the end-user’s needs through careful design specification setting and implementing controls such as verification and validation processes. The program also reinforced their understanding of musculoskeletal injury mechanisms; this guided their approach to problem identification and needs assessment for their product design.
The interns gained valuable insights into the role of biomedical engineers who specialize in creating medical devices that aim to improve patient outcomes. Before the program, they were unfamiliar with this field, but they now appreciate how vital their work is in connecting engineering and healthcare. The program also includes a component of shadowing medical professionals, allowing the engineers to immerse themselves in the clinical environment and identify real-world challenges that need innovative solutions.
They also had practical experience with wearable sensors, which are increasingly used in the medical industry to enhance patient outcomes by monitoring and analyzing patient biomechanics. They analyzed kinematic data gathered from wearable sensors attached to subjects during activities such as walking, standing up, and quiet standing to assess postural sway.
The field trips were equally interesting, offering them a firsthand glimpse at the Canadian healthcare system and some of the hospitals in Vancouver. They were impressed by the completeness of the hospital鈥檚 resources and the strong emphasis on accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs). They also observed advanced technologies like the Ekso GT and Lokomat, both used for gait training in individuals with paraplegia. Other notable innovations included the split-belt treadmill, designed to study and rehabilitate asymmetric gait patterns, and the Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (FNIRS) cap, which monitors brain activity during rehabilitation exercises.
The interns described UBC鈥檚 Vancouver Summer Program as a well-rounded learning opportunity, saying it was 鈥渁 transformative experience that extended beyond the confines of traditional education.鈥�
