communicATor

This spring we are proud to celebrate the accomplishments of three remarkable graduates from the Department of Bioengineering at Anschutz Medical Campus. These students embody our values of innovation and human-centered design. Each of them have overcome significant challenges to achieve this goal and we could not be prouder of them. 

Iman Abuagina | MS in Bioengineering  

Iman exemplifies resilience and determination. She balanced her family life – including raising two small children and starting a small business – with her academic goals. She overcame doubts about her abilities in a male-dominated field. She demonstrates the power of self-discipline and the critical role of a robust support network. As a part of her graduate studies, Iman contributed to the development of a voice activated hospital bed for a quadriplegic man who wanted the ability to adjust his bed on his own. Her proactive efforts contributed to a life changing assistive technology adaptation. 

In her own words 

"I had a goal in mind. So, I stayed focused, worked on self-discipline, and told myself, 'This is it, I can't back out of this.' Over the years, my confidence has grown, my self-development has grown a lot. I told myself, 'I have to be confident, stay focused, and keep working on it.' I just had to keep practicing and understand why I was struggling. I got to a level where I was comfortable solving problems, and it felt amazing."

Rahul Patil | MS in Bioengineering 

Rahul is an exchange student from India who relied on his family back home and his community in Denver to overcome challenges and excel in his master's program. As a part of Dr. Cathy Bodine’s Assistive Technology course, Rahul created a prototype for a device that allows people who use Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to speak face-to-face with people. This exciting project is a direct result of Rahul’s dedication to improving the lives of others through innovative solutions.  

In his own words

"I did my master’s project for people who have speech impairments. An Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) device is a type of device that people who are non-verbal use to communicate. My project was to develop an accessory which was a display that would go on the back... AAC devices are usually tablets. So, let's say I have this tablet in front of me. For people who are non-verbal, their communication partners have to be behind them looking at the screen. This attachment would go on the back of the device, so they would be able to get a face-to-face feeling." 

Danielle Piper | BS in Bioengineering

Danielle collaborated with other students and faculty during her undergraduate program to design and build a posture correction device for a client at CIDE’s Assistive Technology Clinic. Danielle emphasizes the importance of flexibility and perseverance, encouraging others to embrace the journey of exploration and discovery, even if it means deviating from the initial path.

In her own words

"I think my main piece of advice would be to just go with the flow. If you don't know what you're wanting to do, it doesn't matter. You're going to find it throughout your courses, even if you try to get experience in a different realm. I've been all over the place, and I feel like that's something I didn't know was okay going into college. Building that support system with friends and having a close relationship with your teachers is very important." 

Learn More

If you are interested in earning a graduate or undergraduate degree in Bioengineering with an emphasis in Assistive Technology at CU Anschutz Medical Campus, please contact Dr. Cathy Bodine at cathy.bodine@cuanschutz.edu.