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. 2018 Jul;106(3):370-376.
doi: 10.5195/jmla.2018.321. Epub 2018 Jul 1.

Three professions come together for an interdisciplinary approach to 3D printing: occupational therapy, biomedical engineering, and medical librarianship

Joan B Wagner  1 , Laurel Scheinfeld  2 , Blanche Leeman  3 , Keith Pardini  4 , Jamie Saragossi  5 , Katie Flood  6
Affiliations

Three professions come together for an interdisciplinary approach to 3D printing: occupational therapy, biomedical engineering, and medical librarianship

Joan B Wagner et al. J Med Libr Assoc. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Although many libraries have offered 3D printing as a service or available technology, there is a lack of information on course-integrated programs for 3D printing in which the library played a primary role. Therefore, librarians at the Touro College School of Health Sciences began exploring 3D printing for inclusion in the occupational and physical therapy curriculum.

Case presentation: The goal of this project was to educate occupational and physical therapy students and faculty about the potential applications of 3D printing in health care and provide hands-on experience, while increasing collaboration between librarians and faculty. Students' tasks included designing and creating a 3D-printed assistive device as part of their course.

Conclusion: Students were able to successfully print assistive devices, demonstrating the feasibility of 3D printing in a health sciences curriculum. Librarians involved with this project reached approximately 78 students and 200 other librarians and faculty members. 3D printing at Touro College continues to evolve and expand; the trial 3D printing course is being reviewed for formal adoption into the occupational therapy curriculum, and additional funding for 3D printing technologies is currently being allocated by Touro administration.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Examples of 3D-printed assistive devices * Top left: key turner; bottom left: sponge holder; center: straw stabilizer; right: book stabilizer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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