Hi everyone!

My name is Ishika and I am current Masters of Bioengineering + Global Medical Innovation student at Rice University.  It is my second semester in the program, and I have been enjoying the opportunity to combine engineering and healthcare innovation together.

Throughout my time at Rice, I have been fortunate to engage in a variety of projects and experiences that have honed my skills and furthered my passion for global health. I am working in a biodesign team, AccuraEdge, on developing tumor tracking systems to shadow surgeons at MD Anderson, been a part of this has pushed me to think creatively about the challenges in healthcare globally.

One thing I have made that I am proud of building a portable low-cost outpatient bed for mothers after undergoing emergency c-sections. The goal of this project was to be able to create a bed to be deployed in low-income settings and implemented in rural healthcare facilities with limited resources.  It was designed to provide a safe, hygienic, and comfortable recovery space for postpartum mothers.

As for one thing I want to make in the future, I would like to create a prototype for a device that can support emergency maternal care in resource-limited settings. This device would be designed to be integrated in existing healthcare flows, with a focus on the ease of use for healthcare workers in rural clinics or field hospitals.

This semester, one thing I hope to learn in ENGI 210 is laser cutting. I’m excited to explore how laser cutting can be used to create precise designs for prototypes, incorporating accuracy and customization. Learning laser cutting will not only expand my technical skill set but also open me up to new ways for innovating ideas.

I am looking forward to the projects and challenges this semester will bring, and I can’t wait to learn and create!