Prospective Students
Overview
The mission of the Medical Technology Innovation Masters Program is to create innovative device solutions to focused clinical problems through a cross-disciplinary collaboration. The program intends to directly effect improvement in patient care and outcomes while promoting a unique education in both clinical care and bioengineering design.
The program begins on July 8th, and lasts until the end of May of the following year.
The program begins with 8 weeks of guided clinical observations in the operating room or other clinical settings. The summer includes extensive workshops focusing on human factors, observational skills, market research, ethnography and design guide the process of needs finding, followed by idea generation, thickening and project selection. Students also experience skill enhancing workshops in utilizing Solidworks for drawing and 3D printing prototypes, machining and utilization of standard equipment such as lathes and mills, and electronic fabrication including soldering techniques. In addition, we visit companies throughout the summer such as Welch Allyn, Tessy Plastics, LSI Solutions and Corning to better appreciate all of the different opportunities within the medical device industry.
Clinical focus areas include specialties such as:
- Cardiology, electrophysiology, and vascular surgery
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Ophthalmology
- Plastic surgery and wound healing
- Anesthesiology
- Neurosurgery
- Colorectal surgery
During the academic year, students take graduate engineering and biology courses along with specialized coursework in medical innovation covering entrepreneurship, regulatory processes and intellectual property pathways. Following a guided process for project selection, students select one clinical need for brainstorming, design and prototyping during the academic year. Integration with the undergraduate design programs also offers experience in project management and supervision. This program offers exposure to the clinical environment and specialized knowledge and design experience critical to the medical device industry.
Program Options
Let's tailor your academic journey together.
Full - Time
Students complete the the program in 1 calendar year. Student will begin the program in the summer to complete the 0-credit (but mandatory) surgical immersion in July. Then they will complete their coursework in the Fall and Spring semester. Throughout their time in the program, they will work with their team to create a Medical Device solution for their identified clinical need.
Full - Time
Extend your education over three academic semesters. The student will complete 10 credits of coursework in the Spring semester. After that is complete, they will join the incoming cohort in the 0 - credit (but mandatory) surgical immersion in July. Then they will complete the remainder of their coursework in the Fall and Spring semester. Throughout their time in the program, they will work with their team to create a Medical Device solution for their identified clinical need.
Part - TimE
Exclusive to URMC residents, our flexible program adapts to your schedule, allowing completion within 2.5 to 5 years. Contact our program administrator to explore this personalized pathway designed for the demands and ambitions of medical professionals like you. Throughout their time in the program, they will work with their team to create a Medical Device solution for their identified clinical need.
Objectives
The objectives of the full-time, one-year program are to provide a unique opportunity for the design fellow to:
- Identify specific areas of clinical needs in regards to both invasive and non-invasive diagnosis and treatments
- Formulate focused device solutions to these needs
- Assess the feasibility and effectiveness of potential solutions
- Plan and design device solution after vetting process
- Conduct preliminary testing and prototyping of device solution
- Consider options for further development of intellectual property for device, technique, and/or concept