Future health care engineers in the making at SJHS 2019 Robotics Challenge

Saint Joseph Health System (SJHS) and Granger Exploration and Robotics Studio (GEARS) have teamed up for the second year in a row to grow the next generation of robotic health care engineers with the SJHS 2019 Robotics Challenge.

“Encouraging these young minds to be a part of the world of health care is so important in helping to create the community that we are a part of and care for,” said Connie Nichols, director of SJHS surgical services. “We are privileged to be able to show these students how technology impacts our care today, and the impact their efforts could have in the future.”

Dr. Brian Piazza of SJHS Marshall County Surgery Associates uses a robotic surgical system as part of the care he provides at SJHS Plymouth Medical Center. He will be encouraging students at the first robotic competition to consider careers as healthcare engineers. “Robotic surgical techniques have enhanced the way we are able to provide care,” said Piazza. “At our direction, the robotic surgical system enables us to be extremely precise and make smaller incisions. For our patients that means dramatically reduced recovery times and getting back to their lives sooner.”

The SJHS Robotics Challenge is a four-event competition for students in grades 3-8. Teams will accumulate points at each event by creating robots based on a real-world problem. SJHS staff will host sessions at its locations to teach students about the use of robots in health care.

Winners of the competition will earn the right to name the da Vinci Robotic System that was just introduced at SJHS Plymouth Medical Center. Last year winning team Holy LEGOs gave the name “Halos 7” to the da Vinci Xi® surgical system, and second place team, Washing MISHines, named the MAKO Surgical Rio™ Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System, “Miracle MISHine.”

“We hope this partnership will make an impression on our students that the fields of science and math so important and worth pursuing,” added Scott Chase, owner of GEARS. “It is the skills that they are learning today that will shape their future careers – including health care engineers.”

SJHS Robotic Challenge Events:

• Event 1: Feb. 9, 2019, SJHS Plymouth Medical Center
• Event 2: March 2, 2019, SJHS Mishawaka Medical Center
• Event 3: March 23, 2019, St. Paul’s Life Plan Community
• Event 4: April 13, 2019, Challenge Final, South Bend Makers Faire, Success Academy

Teams or students interested in joining the robotics challenge can register by contacting Scott at GEARS via email, scott@gears.org.in. Additional information is available at gears.org.in. Any student in grade 3-8 is encouraged to participate.