From Classroom to Operating Room: DCU Students Gain First-Hand Surgical Exposure
Students studying Biomedical Engineering at DCU, alongside students from the School of Health and Human Performance, viewed the live streaming of a surgical procedure from the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic (SSC) to the new state-of -the-art Biomedical Engineering Lab in the Polaris building at CU.
Prof Brian Devitt, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in the UPMC SSC, led this surgery. Prof Devitt is the Chair of Orthopaedics and Surgical Biomechanics in DCU in partnership with the SSC, a joint position between the School of Health and Human Performance, School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, and Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics.
"At UPMC SSC we are delighted to be able to offer the opportunity for Students to experience live surgery through video link. The interactive communication brings the surgical theatre to the lecture theatre, which we hope provides a unique and educational experience!"
Prof Brian Devitt, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic
The students watched a surgery in action, and could talk to the surgeons and medical teams during the procedure. This provided a great opportunity for our students to gain valuable clinical exposure in an immersive and engaging way, providing valuable insight into the clinical environment.
The event was organised by Dr Tanya Levingstone, Dr Owen Clarkin and Keith Hickey from the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at DCU, and Dr Sinead O’Keefe from the School of Health and Human Performance at DCU.
"Today's live-streamed surgery event allowed our engineering students to experience a surgical procedure in real-time, providing invaluable insights into the clinical environment, and the design requirements and challenges relating to surgical device design. We hope that by providing opportunities for clinical engagement, we will inspire the next generation of engineers to develop cutting-edge healthcare solutions. We were delighted to host students from the School of Health and Human Performance in our new state-of-the-art engineering labs in the Polaris building for this event. Thank you to Prof. Devitt and his team for facilitating the event."
Dr Tanya Levingstone, Associate Professor, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering DCU
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with Prof Brian Devitt and the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering to live-stream surgical procedures, providing an unparalleled learning experience for athletic therapy and engineering students. This innovative initiative bridges medicine, technology, and education together, offering real-time insights into surgical techniques, biomechanics, and medical device applications. By leveraging state-of-the-art technology, we can enhance student engagement, foster interdisciplinary learning, and prepare future professionals with a deeper understanding of surgical procedures. This partnership underscores our commitment to advancing education through innovation, ensuring students gain first-hand exposure to medical practices that directly impact patient care, rehabilitation, and technological advancements in healthcare.”
Dr Sinéad O’Keeffe, Assistant Professor, School of Health and Human Performance, DCU