Seven students from Mount Mercy Academy’s Health and Science Academy and Health Care Career Club had the experience of a lifetime recently. The students visited the Jacobs Institute and were able to practice with and learn about cutting-edge technology.
Aubrey Monaco, a senior from Buffalo, is planning on a career in science. “This field trip reassured me that science is the path that I will follow. It is an ever-changing area that continues to help our world grow,” Monaco remarked.
Buffalo resident Jillian Schneck, a junior, was inspired by the tour. “I thought it was impressive that they all were determined to continuously improve the Institute’s technology to then improve the treatment and care provided to the patient. The innovation, care and information that the Institute possessed were very inspiring.”
The Jacobs Institute’s mission is “to accelerate the development of next-generation technologies through collisions of physicians, engineers, entrepreneurs and industry.“ The Jacobs Institute is located in the Medical Corridor and “provides industry with access to leading neurovascular, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology and vascular surgeons and boasts the latest hands-on learning tools.”
The students received a tour of Jacobs Institute and had the opportunity to listen to and talk with a graduate student about her path to biomedical engineering. They also viewed a pre-recorded surgery. In addition, the group completed an engineering activity where they had to invent a prototype with household materials that would open a clogged artery.
Monaco enjoyed the engineering part of the trip. “On the Jacobs Institute field trip, I enjoyed getting to learn about engineering and having a deeper understanding about the fact that everything in our world was made by engineers. The engineering experiment made engineering a more realistic idea, and not something that seems exclusive to very science- and math-oriented people,” she commented.
Senior Sydney Gunner of East Aurora also enjoyed the hands-on experiment. “I really enjoyed the engineering experiment. It was really fun to collaborate with the others on the field trip and a great introduction to vascular disease,” she stated. “I also enjoyed our hands-on activity of making a device to remove plaque from arteries.”
Schneck found the trip to be helpful for her as she contemplates her future. “The most interesting thing about the Jacobs Institute was seeing some of the 3D-printed objects their Institute produced like a heart, skull and different artery formations. It was intriguing to be able to visually see what most don’t as well as the problems or complications within those printed objects that caused it to be observed by professionals,” she said.
The students were able to learn about a valuable resource that is in their own backyard. Monaco was surprised to learn that the Jacobs Institute is highly respected across the country and that it combines technology research with healthcare. Gunner discovered that the Jacobs Institute combines the research from UB students with medical engineers and physicians to create innovative procedures. She was also intrigued by the fact that they have a secret lab for medical engineers to patent their devices.
Although the students valued and appreciated the opportunity to tour the facility and speak with those involved in the medical profession, the highlight of the trip was the opportunity to see and hold the 3D-printed Vascular Flow Models and use the Advanced Patient-Specific Catherization Simulator Lab. They used both models and mannequins to practice.
Jacobs Institute hopes to improve the treatment of vascular disease in Western New York by providing hands-on experiences for engineers and physicians and to help provide support for the University at Buffalo Medical School as well as Buffalo General Hospital.
