Rebecca Irwin

I am a PhD student studying biomedical engineering at Cornell University, and from June through July of 2016 I was fortunate enough to be paired with Dr. Kennedy as part of Cornell’s summer immersion program. During the summer I was able to observe and engage in the clinical setting while also joining Dr. Kennedy’s highly motivated and collaborative research team. During my time at HSS I witnessed firsthand the shortcomings of current medical technologies, showing the need for collaborations between engineers and clinicians. I also observed the implementation of cutting edge cartilage repair techniques, and conducted a retrospective clinical study investigating the occurrence of co-existing osteochondral lesions on the distal tibia and talar dome. The results of this study will be presented at a national conference and are currently being prepared for publication. Following my time at HSS, Dr. Kennedy has continued to act as a mentor, and we are planning a collaboration to investigate the effects of tribosupplementation on osteochondral lesion healing in a rabbit model. These experiences have helped shape the aims of my dissertation, my career goals, and have emphasized the importance of collaborations between clinicians and engineers. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Dr. Kennedy and for his continued mentorship as I continue my studies. Largely due to my experiences with D. Kennedy and his research team, I have the resources to pursue clinically relevant research during my time at Cornell and I am excited to continue this work throughout my career.