The Distinction in Medical Innovation is awarded to residents who take the initiative to learn, integrate, apply, and promote the use of medical innovation in their healthcare practice. Specifically, the components of the distinction curriculum focus on the discovery and development of medical innovation to improve the health of individuals, populations, or healthcare systems in the areas of diagnostics, therapeutics, devices, mobile health, and healthcare information technology. Residents address healthcare problems and clinical questions through collaboration with Georgia Tech, leading a team of students who translate resident proposals for innovations into real-world solutions. The program ensures that each resident achieves tailored competencies in healthcare innovation, development and scholarship, and/or research in medical innovation with the potential to positively impact patient care and/or healthcare systems.
2023-2024
Device Projects (clinical innovation & mentoring)
Spring 2024
Lilas Dagher, MD (PGY-3)Maya Patel, MD (PGY-3)
- “Gut Gurus.” Improving IBS Symptoms Through Neuromodulation. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2024
- “Pushing Polyps.” Pickin' Up Polyps: Increasing Colon Polyp Retrieval Efficiency. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2024
- “Puff Pastries.” Training Tool and Assessment Aid for Simulating Inhaler Use to Improve User Technique. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2024
- “VitaLVAD.” Blood pressure monitoring for LVAD patients. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2024
- “Vitals Untethered.” Vitals Untethered: Less Restrictive Vital Sign Monitoring for Hospital Inpatients. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2024
Computer Science Junior Capstone App DevelopmentÂ
Fall 2023-Spring 2024
Rebecca Steinberg, MD (PGY-2)
- “Hemodynamic Calculator App”
Device Projects (clinical innovation & mentoring)
Fall 2023
Lilas Dagher, MD (PGY-3)- “BreathBuddy.” A Solution for Remote Detection of Acute Lung Disease. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2023
- “The Tap Titans.” Implementing Guided Thoracentesis. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2023
- “PACMasters.” Advancement of hemodynamic monitoring through a novel Swan-Ganz pulmonary catheter adaptation. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2023
- “FastFlo.” A Rapid Infuser for Crystalloid Solutions
- “SecureTap.” Secure Tap Spinal Tap Positioning
- “Pumped Up.” Novel rapid intravenous fluid pump
- “Big Vein Theory.” Creating safe, stable, ergonomic venipuncture needle for improved efficiency and patient comfort
2022-2023
Device Projects (clinical innovation & mentoring)
Spring 2023
Alix Youngblood, MD (PGY-2)
- “GERD Guard.” An Endoscopic Solution to Treating Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2023
Lilas Dagher, MD (PGY-2)
- “ElectroTrach.” A Step Toward Safer Intubation. ElectroTrach provides an accurate time-efficient solution for endotracheal tube positioning during intubation, eliminating radioactive imaging. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2023
Kaveeta Kaw, MD/Ph.D. (PGY-1)
- “AnchorCath.” Flexible, flat catheter with optimized grip and surface to reduce dislodgement. . Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2023
Kristina Bortman, MD (PGY-2)
- “DIUR-EZ.” Automating Heart Failure Patients’ Urine Output Measurements. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2023
Computer Science Junior Capstone App development
Fall 2022-Spring 2023
Michael Andrew Vavuranakis, MD (PGY-2)
- “Melanomore.” Healthcare app that helps recognize abnormal skin lesions utilizing machine learning. Presented at GT Computer Science Junior Capstone Spring 2023
Alix Youngblood, MD (PGY-2)
- “Hypnosis Health.” Healthcare app to links physicians to connect their gastrointestinal patients to therapeutic hypnosis audios. Presented at GT Computer Science Junior Capstone Spring 2023
Device Projects (clinical innovation & mentoring)
Fall 2022
Tyler Kristoff, MD (PGY-2)
- “Cathet-HugHER”: A paracentesis hands-free retention accessory. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2022
Agreen Hadadi, MD (PGY-3)
- “Under Pressure”: A noninvasive approach to diagnose compartment syndrome. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2022
Lilas Dagher, MD (PGY-2)
- “Trinity Sleeping Monitor”: Integrating sleep into vital monitoring. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2022
Other
JT Menchaca, MD (PGY-1)
-
Use of ChatGPT 3.5 to diagnose clinical cases
2021-2022
Device Projects (clinical innovation & mentoring)
Spring 2022
Lilas Dagher, MD (PGY-1)
- “REsTrAIN” Medical Line Retainers for Restraint Prevention. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2022
- “The Streamline.” Automatic Urine Flow Monitor. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2022
Lucie Calderon MD (PGY-3) & Adam Spandorfer, MD (PGY-1)
- “Loco Moco” Locomotive Video Capsule Endoscopy. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2022
Michael Andrew Vavuranakis, MD (PGY-1)
- “VeriFeed” Simplifying Nasogastric (NG) Tube Feed Positioning/Verification. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2022
Krishan Patel, MD (PGY-2)
- “Breathe Easy” Preventing burns from home oxygen therapy. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2022
Omid Behbahani-Nejad, MD (PGY-2)
- “IceCap” Immediate Cardiac Emergency, Compression Assistive Pump. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2022
- “CAPESKIN” Convenient auto pressure stockings. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2022
Device Projects (clinical innovation & mentoring)
Fall 2021
Lilas Dagher, MD (PGY-1)
- “The Notorious J.V.P,” Device-Based Measurement of Jugular Venous Pressure in Patients with Volume Overload poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2021
Ronnie Funk, MD, PhD. (PGY-2)
- “CryoBalloon,” A Cryotherapy Flow Device to Prevent Oral Mucositis, a Side Effect of Chemotherapy poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2021
Sarah Kamal, MD (PGY-2)
- “CathEase,” Redesigned Central Line Catheter Insertion Device to Minimize Cannulation Attempts and Improve Patient Care. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2021
Krishan Patel, MD (PGY-2)
- “SafeCentesis,” Preventing Broken Hearts During Pericardiocentesis. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2021
Omid Behbahani-Nejad, MD (PGY-2)
- “JVPrs,” Revitalizing How We Evaluate Jugular Venous Pressure. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2021
Sophie Vitter, MD (PGY-2)
- “youRN Good Hands,” Urine Output Measurement for Congestive Heart Failure Patients. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2021
“Edema of the State,” Standardized Metric for Measuring Lower Extremity Edema. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2021
Provisional Patent/Patents/Copyright/Trademarks
Matthew T. Brown, MD (PGY-3)
- Patent: AusculBand “A Cost Effective Telemedicine Tool for Heart, Lung, and Abdomen Auscultation,” 2022
2020-2021
Device Projects (clinical innovation & mentoring)
Sarah Kamal, MD (PGY-1)
- “Visco Tech Plasma Viscometer.” Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2020
Lucie Calderon, MD (PGY-2) & Kevin Shah, MD (PGY-2)
- “Esophageal Contractile Ring,” (restoring swallowing in Achalasia patients through magnetic contraction). Poster presented at t GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2021
Nishant Vatsa, MD (PGY-2)
- “TriGuide…” (a device for differentiating between vasculature during central line placement). Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2021
Matthew T. Brown, MD (PGY-3)
- “A Cost Effective Telemedicine Tool for Heart, Lung, and Abdomen Auscultation,” Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2021
- NIH/NIBIB/VentureWell Sponsored DEBUT (Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams) Challenge and took home the $15,000 Venture prize
Kevin Shah (PGY-3)
- “Blue Blood Scanning Box” (Distinguishing between Upper and Lower GI Bleeds via external process Is It Really Melena? at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2021
Provisional Patent/Patents/Copyright/Trademarks
Nathan Skoller, MD (PGY-3)
- Patent: “Safe IV” 2021
2019-2020
Device Projects (clinical innovation & mentoring)
Kevin Shah, MD (PGY-1)
- “Chill Pill” Medication Non-adherence. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2019
Kevin Shah, MD (PGY-1)
- “Gastrik” Nasogastric Tube Placement Validation. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2019
Matt T. Brown, MD & Alex Vakilli, MD (PGY-2s)
- “Aprons of Shield” Adaptive Radiation Shielding for Fluoroscopic Procedures. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2019
Matt J. Brown, MD (PGY-2)
- “StethoSOAP” Stethoscope Sanitation Technology. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2019
Vlad Lamm, MD (PGY-3)
- “Parakit” Improved Paracentesis Kit for Liver Disease Patients. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2019
Nathan Skoller, MD (PGY-3 Med/Psych)
- “Safe (IV)2” Safe IV Fluid Administration Technique for Psychiatric Patients. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Fall 2019
FHIR Projects (clinical mentoring)
Matthew T. Brown, MD (PGY-2)
- “Revolutionizing the Patient Portal.” Presentation at CS 6440 Fall Semester 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTTH3XBIYss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXlcI2tIECc&feature=youtu.be
Publications
Greg Damhorst, MD (PGY-2)
- Diagnosis of acute serious illness: the role of point-of care technologies. Gregory L. Damhorst, Erika A. Tyburski, Oliver Brand, Greg S. Martin and Wilbur A. Lam. Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering 2019;11:22–34.
Provisional Patent/Patents/Copyright/Trademarks
Vlad Lamm, MD (PGY-3)
- Provisional patent “Motor powered syringe pump for large volume paracentesis procedures”
2018-2019
Device Projects (clinical innovation & mentoring)
Nathan Skoller (PGY-2 Med/Psych)
- “NextIV. A Safe IV Solution for Psychiatric Wards” Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2019
Matt T. Brown, MD (PGY-1)
- “Redesign of Overbed Hospital Tables.” Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2019
FHIR Projects (clinical mentoring)
David Qian, MD, Ph.D (PGY-1 Prelim)
- “A FHIR-Enabled Documentation of symptoms during cancer treatment and seamless upload to the electronic medical record.” Presentation CS 6440 Spring Semester 2019
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nCh2sBA6pOCs1e2Gv91LxR80HDvWyBiB/view?usp=sharing
Greg Damhurst, MD, Ph.D (PGY-1)
- “A FHIR-Enabled Customizable daily rounding report for inpatient management.” Presentation CS 6440 Spring Semester 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDtmID8l4IM&feature=youtu.be
Jordan Dubique, MD (PGY-2)
- “A FHIR-Enabled AKI toolkit.” Presentation CS 6440 Spring Semester 2019
Provisional Patent/Patents/Copyright/Trademarks
Alan Noll, MD (PGY-2), Vlad Lamm, MD (PGY-2), Neil Kapil, MD (PGY-2)
- Patent “Isopropyl Alcohol Inhalation Mask aka ‘Eme-Sate Mask’” , “19018 Emory OTT. Isopropyl Alcohol Inhalation Mask for Alleviating Patients’ Nausea
2017-2018
Device Projects (clinical innovation & mentoring)
David Goese, MD (PGY-3 year)
- “Voice –Activated Nurse Call System.” Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2018
Ian Wong, MD, Ph.D (PGY-2)
- “Supraglottic Suction.” Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2018
FHIR Projects (clinical mentoring)
Marc Engels, MD, PhD. (PGY-2)
- “A FHIR-Enabled Streaming Sepsis Prediction System for Emergency Departments.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4mkBx_TY_Y&feature=youtu.be
Sidney Law, MD (PGY-3)
- “A FHIR-enabled automated daily newsletter for families of in-hospital patients.”
Provisional Patent/Patents/Copyright/Trademarks
Ian Wong, MD, Ph.D (PGY-2)
- Provisional patent application: BIPAP/CPAP communicator, Spring 2017
- Patent: Systems and methods for communicating through a hard plastic mask, final patent filed June 8, 2020, approved March 22, 2022
2016-2017
Device Projects (clinical innovation & mentoring)
Nino Isakadze, MD (PGY-2)
- “Development and Evaluation of a Novel Algorithm for Diagnosing Atrial Fibrillation Using Wristband Technology.” Poster presented at AHA
David Goese, MD (PGY-2)
- “A Pilot Test of an In-Home Minimally Intrusive Sensor Kit for Nocturia.”
Ian Wong, MD, Ph.D (PGY-2)
- “CPAPillon F.T.S.” Freedom to speak communicator. Poster presented at GT/Emory BME Senior Capstone Spring 2017