San Antonio's Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center celebrated National Biomechanics Day earlier this month, turning the spotlight on an often-overlooked facet of healthcare science and inspiring local high school students to consider careers in STEM. The event on April 3 marked it's third annual occurrence and drew increased attention this year, with hands-on experience in cutting-edge lab technologies.
Guided by biomechanical engineer Sarah Pesquera from the CFI’s Military Performance Lab, nine students from Robert G. Cole High School were given a primer on motion capture technology, virtual reality applications, and the intricacies of skin biomechanics interactions with prosthetics. "The goal is for high school students to come into the lab and see what we have to offer," Pesquera told Army.mil, underscoring her mission to add diversity to biomechanics and expose students to the field.
Joseph Treviño, a teacher at Cole High School, explained that professions like biomedical engineering needs more visibility. "Biomedical engineering and all of the careers associated with it aren't in the spotlight as much as other healthcare professions," Treviño stated in an interview with FOX San Antonio. He seeks to broaden his students' horizons, showing them the impact and opportunities within this specialized medical field.
The outreach wasn't limited to high schoolers. Pesquera also hosted an afternoon open house for local university representatives, BAMC staff, and other local entities involved in biomechanics, fostering a dialogue for potential collaboration. "Universities with biomechanics or biomedicine departments are the ones I reached out to," she detailed according to Army.mil. The intention is to bridge the gap between academic study and military research, potentially leading to cooperative advancements in the field.
Reflecting on the success of the day, Dr. Lee Childers, senior scientist for the Extremity Trauma & Amputation Center of Excellence at the lab, expressed pride in the team's dedication to educating future scientists. Pesquera's efforts, in particular, have been instrumental in showcasing the lab's capabilities and garnering interest among youth potentially destined to become the field's next innovators.
