Medical Modeling

Improving Patient Outcomes through surgical planning and simulation

Overview

I worked at the intersection of design and healthcare to develop tools and workflows for surgical planning, simulation, and patient-specific modeling. Partnering closely with surgeons, I helped translate complex clinical challenges into precise, usable systems that improved decision-making and patient outcomes.

As the first full-time designer at a reconstructive medicine institute, I supported hundreds of patient cases while shaping how digital tools could be applied in real clinical settings.

My work spanned surgical planning, physical modeling, and training systems. Focused on making complex procedures clearer, safer, and more predictable.

Impact

Supported hundreds of patient cases across surgical planning and reconstruction
Co-authored textbook chapter on digital technologies in maxillofacial rehabilitation
Published research on 3D modeling and surgical simulation
Invited speaker and workshop instructor across North America and Europe
Top 40 Under 40 Recipient from Avenue Edmonton (now Edify)

Digital Cranioplasty Workflow

Reducing risk. Improving fit. Accelerating care.

Problem

A cranioplasty procedure is required when a portion of the skull is lost due to trauma or disease, leaving the brain unprotected.

Traditionally, this required an additional surgery to take a physical impression of the defect- introducing risk, delaying treatment, and often resulting in imprecise implant fit.

Approach

I worked with surgeons, and technicians to develop a digital workflow that replaced this process. Using patient CT data, we created accurate 3D models of the skull, designed a custom implant digitally, and translated it into a manufacturable form for surgical use.

It shifted reconstruction from reactive, manual methods to a proactive, design-driven approach.

Outcome

This eliminated the need for a separate impression procedure, reducing patient risk while significantly shortening the time to treatment.

Precision

Beyond efficiency, the workflow improved precision. Surgeons were able to plan and evaluate the reconstruction in advance, leading to better-fitting implants and fewer intraoperative adjustments.

Systems Design

This work helped establish a repeatable approach to digital surgical planning - turning what was once a complex, multi-step process into a more streamlined and predictable system.

Making complex tools accessible

Building on this work, I designed and led hands-on training to help surgeons adopt these tools in practice.

Through 3D Modeling for Medical Applications workshops, I translated complex digital workflows into clear, usable steps - making advanced tools accessible to both residents and experienced clinicians.

The focus wasn’t on rigid instruction, but on enabling exploration, giving surgeons the confidence to adapt these methods to their own research and patient care.

Surgical Simulation & Training

Making complex procedures teachable

Problem

Complex head and neck procedures are difficult to teach through observation alone.

Critical steps happen quickly, vary case to case, and are often too high-risk to learn in real time.

Approach

I worked with surgeons, and my colleague Andrew Grosvenor, to design physical simulation models that replicate key aspects of these procedures - allowing clinicians to practice techniques in a controlled, repeatable environment.

These models were not just anatomical replicas. They were designed for usability and learning: enabling disassembly, clear orientation, and realistic interaction with materials to better reflect the constraints of surgery.

Through hands-on workshops, surgeons could rehearse procedures, test approaches, and build confidence before entering the operating room - shifting training from passive observation to active participation.

This work helped create a more structured, simulation-based approach to surgical education - supporting skill development through repetition, feedback, and measurable progress.

Better
Outcomes

This work helped shift surgical training from observation to active, simulation-based learning. Improving confidence, consistency, and ultimately, patient outcomes.

Facial Reconstruction

Moving beyond estimation to precision

Problem

Facial reconstruction often relies on surgical expertise and estimation.

In one case, we worked with a patient who had lost their nose due to trauma. Rather than relying solely on surgical intuition (which is crazy impressive), we used pre-injury photographs to reconstruct a digital model of the original anatomy.

Approach

These images were brought into a 3D environment, aligned, and used as a reference to guide the reconstruction. A physical model was then produced, enabling both surgical planning and clearer communication with the patient.

Outcome

A final cutting guide was produced based on the patient's current and projected outcome.

This approach improved accuracy while giving both the surgical team and the patient greater confidence in the outcome - shifting reconstruction from approximation toward a more precise, collaborative process.