Congratulations to Matthew Hickey for completing the PhD Rotation Program with SBME. The PhD Rotation Program is designed for students who are interested in exploring working at different labs before selecting their final placement and research topic. This program allows incoming students to work in three different labs under the supervision of three different investigators, maximizing the chances of finding the best fit between the student and the lab. Matthew’s experience with the PhD Rotation Program led him to pursue research on total knee replacement (TKR).
Can you please share a couple highlights from your time in SBME? Notable achievements?
During my time at SBME, I was awarded the Friedman Award for Scholars in Health, which allowed me to complete a year-long fellowship at a research institution anywhere in the world. I travelled to Glasgow, United Kingdom where I completed my fellowship at Golden Jubilee National Hospital and the University of Strathclyde. I collaborated with academic and clinical leaders in the field of surgical technology. I also took the opportunity to fully explore the UK with my fiancé and dog, where we fell in love with the rugged landscape of Northwestern Scotland.
Another highlight that sticks out to me is that, over several years, I designed workshops for Science World’s annual Girls in STEAM symposium, representing the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering by showcasing displays on biomedical robotics in addition to 3D printing and modelling. There is one picture from that event that was published in the Vancouver Sun which featured a young person absolutely in awe of a 3D printer in action, printing a tiny elephant they had just seen on the computer. I remember that photo being taken, and the joy and wonder that student felt was contagious.
Can you please share a bit about what attracted you to the PhD Rotation Program? Any highlights from the program?
The PhD Rotation Program was transformative. I didn’t know exactly the direction I wanted to go and this program pushed me outside of my comfort zone and gave me the opportunity to work on a diverse set of projects and with a multitude of inspiring researchers. Each lab and supervisor introduced me to new approaches to both clinical and translational research, broadening my understanding, interests, and skills within the field of biomedical engineering. Even though those rotations occurred in my first year of my PhD, I take the lessons I learned during that time and constantly apply them to my research work today.
Tell us a bit about your research?
My research centred on total knee replacement (TKR), a procedure that treats knee arthritis by replacing damaged cartilage with synthetic components. Although TKRs typically last a long time, some need to be replaced due to issues such as loosening from the bone. My work illustrated that conventional study designs are inefficient for studying component loosening in TKR and I proposed alternative study designs that could be more efficient. With yearly TKR cases rising, my research illustrates a plausible pathway for studying loosening, hopefully spurring new innovations that can extend the lifetime of implanted components.
What was the most fascinating project you got to be a part of or piece of knowledge that you learned in SBME?
The most fascinating project I worked on was a device for scaphoid fracture fixation surgery. For surgeries like these, which are delicate and require high precision, high-tech surgical navigation and robotics are generally the go-to pathway for innovating on traditional manual procedures. However, this project showed me that sometimes it’s the simple and elegant solutions that can have the biggest impact on device performance and on economic/clinical outcomes. This is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned during my time at SBME.
What do you find so exciting about biomedical engineering?
Before I started working in biomedical engineering, I worked as a researcher on projects in the aviation and defense industries. I didn’t find a strong sense of fulfillment in these fields; I wanted my work to directly make a difference in people’s day-to-day lives. In contrast, I feel there are a handful of fields that both innovate and have direct, positive impact on people’s quality of life. Biomedical engineering is one of those special fields.
What are your plans for the future or next steps?
I’ve just begun my career in the medical technology industry, and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve been spending ample time with family and friends while finding additional time to become more involved in my local community.