For people living in remote locations and requiring urgent ultrasounds, the best option at the moment is to travel to a major city for the diagnostic test. But a UBC researcher is looking to change that. In this episode, Carol and Jeevan speak to David Black (BASc’21), a PhD candidate in electrical and computer engineering at UBC about his groundbreaking work on remote ultrasound imaging. Learn how he’s tapping into the power of mixed reality — which enables interactions between physical and digital worlds — to bring ultrasound diagnostics directly to patients.

LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

• Contact Carol
• Contact Jeevan
• From Here Forward
• Learn more about David’s Mitacs Innovation Award
• Contact David

• (00:00) - - Introduction
• (01:34) - - David’s Academic Background & Entry into Robotics
• (02:50) - - What is Robotic Ultrasound?
• (04:07) - - Why Focus on Ultrasound Technology?
• (06:15) - - Testing & Challenges of the Prototype
• (11:30) - - Importance of Community Consultation
• (13:50) - - Personal Connection to Remote Healthcare
• (14:30) - - Real-World Impact & Potential Life-Saving Applications
• (16:33) - - How UBC Shaped David’s Research
• (17:24) - - Passion for Medical Robotics Over Other Fields
• (17:51) - - Career Aspirations Post-PhD
• (19:24) - - Winning the Mitacs Innovation Award
• (20:17) - - Balancing Research, Outdoor Adventures, and Life
• (21:33) - - Conclusion