Today was another business casual day at the Bilbao School of Engineering. We listened to our Basque professor, Saioa, present about her ongoing research in the biomedical engineering field: the Oreak-Balance Project. She explained how her team was creating a diagnosis and rehabilitation/training device that would examine the user’s balance through different angles and configurations. The device is the culmination of over seven years of research and patience, and Saioa and her team still have a way to go in clinically testing the device. Currently, trials are taking place at the Hospital Gorliz, which we will visit tomorrow and see the instrument in use. The diagnostic and rehab components of the device really interested me, as it could help stroke patients and others suffering from illnesses or conditions that affect their mobility regain their balance. As a bioengineering major, medical devices excite me because I want to research and design things like Saioa’s project in the future to help patients in their recovery. The process of actually turning research into a product is a long and difficult one, but ultimately extremely rewarding, and I can’t wait until I can see the devices I have a part in studying and designing in action, helping others!
Right after Saioa’s presentation, Dr. Borovetz gave a presentation on the University of Pittsburgh, the differences in healthcare in the US and Spain, and mechanical circulatory support for failing hearts in adults and children. He discussed all the amazing parts about Pitt and our engineering and nursing programs, transitioning into how Spain saw fewer deaths from things like heart disease due to their focus on primary and preventative care. Dr. Borovetz explained to us how heart failure could be addressed through artificial organs, mechanical devices that manually help the diseased heart pump blood, and finally, total heart replacement surgeries. According to him, research into how to care for patients with heart problems is largely centered around adults, not children. He then delved into his own research path, PediaFlow. With lots of passion, he explained to us how children with heart defects/diseases deserved the utmost care through compact and effective medical devices that are attached to the heart, before ultimately receiving a heart transplant. His presentation was immensely interesting, as he discussed the design and purpose of medical devices as related to bioengineering, which I hoped to pursue in my future career. Listening to Dr. Borovetz made me wish to hold with me the same amount of passion for my work as he does.
After another big and delicious lunch, we walked around Bilbao, wandering through a gorgeous park with a peacock and many fountains. I took lots of pictures and enjoyed being out in nature. We walked along the river to the Guggenheim Museum. I am not usually a museum fan, but there were a lot of surprising pieces of art that I thoroughly enjoyed. There was a moving lights display that utilized red and blue light contrast and words to create a very cool-looking artwork. My favorite section of the museum was “Masterpieces on Paper from Budapest.” All the pieces in this section were hand-drawn with pencils, pens, paints, and/or other mediums. The detail in some of the works was incredible, down to the last minute brushstroke or pencil mark. Another exhibit that I liked was the Infinity Mirrored Room. Inspired by the artist’s hallucinations and obsession with depth and infinity, the room is filled with light and mirrors that reflect in every which way, creating a beautiful effect. Overall, I admired the art within the museum and had a lot of fun exploring and becoming an amateur art critic.
A short walk home in the rain later leads me to the final parts of my day. Pintxos and lots of fun lie ahead for the rest of today! I can’t wait to see Saioa’s project in use at the hospital tomorrow. Until next time!