Future health care engineers compete in SJHS Robotics Challenge final

Nineteen student teams in grades 3-8 will compete in the final event of the 2019 Saint Joseph Health System (SJHS) Robotics Challenge, Saturday, April 13. The winning team earns naming rights to the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System at Plymouth Medical Center and the chance to be honorary “doctors-for-the-day.”

“Keeping the young minds of our community interested in the fields of science, math engineering and technology is so important for the future of health care,” said Dr. Matthew Folstein, medical director of robotic surgery at SJHS. “Robotics is widely used in hospitals today and will only continue to grow.”

Launched in January, the challenge series was created through a partnership between SJHS and Granger Exploration and Robotics Studio (GEARS). GEARS is a non-profit organization designed to help kids explore and learn about science, math and technology through robotics. Each challenge offers a chance for teams to compete with their robots, and learn about the use of robots in health care.

The first of the four challenges, hosted at Plymouth Medical Center, gave students a glimpse of the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. This system is used for a variety of procedures such as colon resections, hernia repairs and endometriosis treatment. Dr. Brian Piazza of Marshall County Surgery Associates introduced the technology to the students and guided them through a hands-on experience.

The second event, hosted at Mishawaka Medical Center, featured the robotic system used in knee surgeries, the MAKO Surgical RIO™ Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic Systems. Kids got another hands-on experience practicing knee surgery on a saw bone. Orthopedic surgeons Dr. James Sieradzki and Dr. Brian Ratigan, and obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Sara Baumgartner, were on hand to guide students.

At the third challenge, students and coaches got the chance learn about how a surgery team supports robots used in surgery with Connie Nichols, SJHS Surgical Services director. She described how her career in health care began, as well as how her team assists the surgeon using the robot.

“Robotic competitions are held all around the world,” said Scott Chase, owner of GEARS. “But giving our students a chance to see how robots are used in hospitals today is invaluable and hopefully inspiring.”

The challenge finale will be held at the South Bend Mini Maker Faire, where winners will be announced. Competing students, as well as faire-goers, will have the chance to encounter a hands-on experience guided by orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Deepak Reddy, on SJHS’ newest surgical robot used for minimally invasive spine surgery, the Globus Medical ExcelsiusGPS® robotic navigation system. It made its debut earlier this month at Mishawaka Medical Center.

The winning team will be invited to an exclusive tour of the Plymouth Medical Center OR guided by Piazza and the surgical team. The name the students selected also will be unveiled at a special naming ceremony. Second- and third-place teams will receive robotic equipment for future competitions.