By Concordia Connection Staff Writer
Jessie Robertson is on a remarkable journey with a promising career path ahead of her. Jessie is a Mechanical Engineer pursuing her Master’s in biomedical engineering under the direction of Dr. Christiaan Righolt, the Director of Clinical Research at Concordia.
She is currently interning at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands. She will study abroad at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, for the upcoming semester.
Her study area is next-generation orthopedic imaging techniques, which aim to improve implant safety through responsible innovation. As part of her role, we expect Jessie to assume the significant responsibility of General Manager of the RSA Network. This network, consisting of three academic centers in Canada specializing in RSA, plays a crucial role in advancing orthopedic research and improving patient outcomes.
about RSA https://canadianrsanetwork.com/about-rsa/
Rachel Bartel, a science student at CMU, has rejoined our team. She worked with us as a summer student and part-time during the school year. Rachel has recently completed her MCAT exams and plans to apply to the U of M med school. This process typically takes 6-8 months, and she will complete her degree at CMU. She is aiming to secure an interview with the admissions department. The U of M has increased its medical school trainee spots from 125 to 175 this year, focusing on training new doctors in MB. We are all rooting for Rachel and her determination to pursue a career in medicine.
Alec Ulyanov is a Science Major at the University of Manitoba. He is joining us for a second summer term. In 2023, he conducted an in-depth medical chart review and data collection project, earning him a spot on a paper Dr. Christiaan Righolt submitted to a medical journal.
Alec continues with data processing activities while spearheading an AI-driven gait lab study in 2024-2025. This study, conducted in collaboration with Queen’s University, utilizes advanced AI technology to collect and analyze walking patterns of hip and knee patients before and after surgery. The insights from this study could significantly improve our understanding of how surgery corrects gait imbalance.
Colton Poitras holds a Master’s in Statistics from the University of Winnipeg and recently joined us. The Concordia Foundation sponsors his work as a data analyst. He will focus on conducting in-depth studies using data from the Canadian Joint Replacement Registry, a valuable but underutilized data repository. These studies aim to address significant questions in the field of arthroplasty and could potentially lead to important advancements in joint replacement surgery.
Jan Ziv, a high school student at Maples Collegiate, has demonstrated remarkable passion and dedication. She emerged victorious in a science competition, outshining 2000 students, with her project on biomaterials in joint replacement, a project that was at the level of a Master’s degree. Jan is currently collaborating with Jacob Stevens, our R&D Engineer, on a new project to design a bone graft made of 3D-printed resorbable plastic with mixed antibiotics. Her enthusiasm and drive were palpable when she observed a rare reverse hip replacement procedure performed by Dr. Tom Turgeon. Throughout the procedure, she was continuously asking questions and taking notes. Her passion and dedication are truly inspiring.
Audrelyn Tongohan is a student at the University of Manitoba working with Dr. Christian Righolt. She joined us for the summer of 2024 as a Research Clerk and will return to the U of M in the fall to complete her Master’s degree while continuing to work with us part-time.
Sophia Matricardi, a McGill Student, just completed her undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering. She joined the research team in August and has shown a determination to work with Concordia and OIC because of the reputation that is building in the industry. Her determination and persistence to work with us are only part of our attraction to her.
Sophia will lead three significant projects that are groundbreaking, impactful, and crucial to our team’s progress.
