UNM Rainforest Innovations partnered with the UNM Health Sciences Center of Excellence for Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation to host a technology showcase and facility tours on October 13.
The new 50,000-square-foot center, located adjacent to the UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, is an expansion of the UNM Health Sciences’ orthopaedics and rehabilitation services and combines education, research, and clinical work. The new facility provides exam rooms, extensive research lab, cadaver lab, and two Biosafety Level 2 workstations.
The morning session included opening remarks by Lisa Kuuttila, CEO & Chief Economic Development Officer of UNM Rainforest Innovations followed by an overview of the goals and research program at the center by Hilary Hoekenga, MBA, MHA, Administrator at the UNM Health Sciences Center of Excellence for Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation.
Dustin Richter, MD, and Robert Schenck, MD, presented “Design Thinking in Orthopaedics Research & Education,” followed by Christina Salas, MS, PHD, who presented “Implementation of Biodesign & Translation to Orthopaedic Research.”
Next there were three technology presentations on new developments in the field of orthopaedics at UNM, including:
- Biometric Hip Rehabilitation Device with Guided and Controlled Resistance, presented by Elias Rosales Zaragoza
- Implantable Trapezium Prosthetic for Arthritis in the Thumb CMC Joint, presented by Dimitri Madden, Nathan Morrell
- 3D Bioprinting and Near-Field Electrospinning for Targeted Fabrication of Scaffolds for Bone-Soft Tissue Interface Engineering, presented by Christina Salas, MS, PhD
Afterwards, Jamie Silva-Steele, RN, BSN, MBA, FACHE, President and CEO of the Sandoval Regional Medical Center, gave an overview of the Health Science Center Rio Rancho and the keynote speaker was Douglas Ziedonis, MD, MPH, Executive Vice President of UNM Health Sciences and Chief.
There was a break for lunch followed by a tour of the facilities. The second segment included an Orthopaedic Innovation Champions Round Table facilitated by Nancy Lewis, MPA, MS, Director of The Canopy for Creative Collaboration at UNM Innovation Academy.
Learn more about the UNM Health Sciences Center of Excellence for Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation by visiting their website: https://unmhealth.org/locations/sandoval-regional-medical-center/center-of-excellence.html