When a swimmer stands on the edge of a 90-foot-tall diving board, they have two options: to hesitate or embrace the jump. Our team’s first day of the internship started with what felt like being told to stand on a diving board that tall. Looking down to see what we had to accomplish, we couldn’t help but feel intimidated and uncertain, but with a job to be done, we recognized we only had one choice: to embrace the jump.
With the Nest360 Phase 2 Launch happening in the capital city of Lilongwe the next week, MUBAS wanted to showcase the work of past and present Rice-MUBAS interns. With just 7 days, we had been tasked to quickly familiarize ourselves with a variety of coding and UI software and to apply them on the device being constructed for the launch that previous interns worked on. While some might feel the dive frustrating, our team considered the challenge uniquely refreshing. We independently learned, applied skills, and found solutions to our problems, leading to tremendous personal growth. But we weren’t entirely alone; we had each other and the support of the MUBAS TAs and our mentor Mr. Hillary. Suffice to say that the first week of this internship was defined by our preparation of medical devices for presentation at the Nest360 launch.
As mentioned, our team, comprising Paula, Ranken, Tatyana, and myself, was entrusted with continuing the work of past members of this internship. Paula and Ranken focused on a crucial project, creating a dashboard for a smart syringe pump. This device aimed to provide a low-cost alternative to automated large dose IV infusions. On the other hand, Tatyana and I took on the task of assembling the electronics and programming a drip rate monitor and controller device. We meticulously assembled the sensors, displays, and Arduino, and coded the user interface and back-end logic. Our work was a testament to our technical skills and dedication to the project.
Our devices were ready to be shown, and we were ready to present. I also brought with me to Malawi medical devices created by several student teams at Rice for needs-finding. These devices included two different diagnostic tools for Bacterial Meningitis and an Intuitive EEG Acquisition device. With the teams’ consent, I took them to Lilongwe to be presented alongside the work of MUBAS, the Malawi University of Science & Technology (MUST), and Rice360’s Malawi research office.
On the morning of Tuesday, June 11, 2024, the Vice President of Malawi, Dr Saulos Chilima, was confirmed dead in a fatal plane crash the previous day. The people of Malawi describe Dr. Chilima as a “great patriot who has served the nation selflessly.” All mourn his death, and I express my condolences to Dr. Chilima’s family and the country of Malawi. To respect Dr. Chilima’s life and impact, the celebration of Nest360’s Phase 2 Launch in Malawi was postponed.
To continue the exchange of engineering development, we students of MUBAS, MUST, and the Rice360 offices met to present our work to the leadership of Rice, MUBAS, MUST, KHUeS (Medical College), and the Rice360 advisory board. The showcase proved to be an insightful and educational dialogue, continuing the body of work for global health medical devices.
Reflecting on the week and our Lilongwe showcase, I would say I pushed my limits and accomplished more than I thought possible. As we embraced the dive, our splash was brilliant. However, with another week looming, I guess the cycle continues. Its time to drag ourselves out of the water, climb to the top, and get ready to jump again.
A photo of Ranken, Tatyana, Paula, and myself at the showcase to present the MUBAS and Rice360 devices!