MEET OUR TEAM
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OUR TEAM
Dr. Dale Podolsky - Lead
OUR TEAM
Dr. Dale Podolsky - Lead
Dr. Podolsky is a craniofacial surgeon at The Hospital for Sick Children. He completed his undergraduate studies at Western University completing concurrent degrees in both mechanical engineering and physics prior to entering medical school at The University of Toronto.
He completed residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at The University of Toronto while enrolled in the surgeon scientist training program completing a PhD in biomedical engineering.
Following residency training, Dr. Podolsky completed fellowship training in craniofacial surgery at The University of Washington in Seattle. During Dr. Podolsky’s PhD he developed a novel robotic instrument for cleft palate repair using a high fidelity cleft palate simulator. The simulator was commercialized as part of a company Dr. Podolsky founded. The company was later sold and the simulator has been utilized in over 60 countries.
OUR TEAM
Dr. Thomas Looi - Project Director of the PCIGITI
Dr. Thomas Looi, PhD, MBA, PEng is the Posluns Innovator and Project Director of the Wilfred and Joyce Poslun’s Centre for Image-Guided Innovation and Therapeutic Intervention (PCIGITI) at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). He received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the Institute for Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto and a MBA from the Rotman School of Business. He is also an Assistant Professor (Status-Only) in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto.
His research interests are in the area of minimally invasive surgical robotics and medical devices with a focus on millimetre sized continuum-based mechanisms and computer assisted surgery with virtual fixtures. Current projects include a bimanual minimally invasive neurosurgical robot using concentric tubes and magnetic actuation, continuum-based daVinci tools for fetal surgery and cleft palate repair, computer assisted ultrasonic endoscopic bone cutting tools for craniosynostosis. He has also developed MR-compatible robotic systems for bone biopsy and soft tissue biopsy.
In addition, he has worked on numerous surgical training models and simulators for neuro-endoscopy, urology, general surgery, otolaryngology and neurovascular intervention. These models are developed using innovative 3D printing and silicone casting techniques. The simulators are dynamic hardware simulators that recreate the patient vital information and the physical behaviour such as blood flow, breathing and etc.
Our team
Dr. Thomas Looi - Project Director of the PCIGITI
OUR TEAM
Emma Stickley – Research Engineer
OUR TEAM
Emma Stickley – Research Engineer
Emma is a Technologist with the ICCI at the Hospital for Sick Children. She recently graduated from Queen’s University, where she earned a BASc in Applied Mathematics with a specialization in Mechanical Engineering.
Emma aims to combine her engineering background and keen passion for human-centered design to develop innovative biomedical technologies that improve quality of life.
Her role at the ICCI involves assisting in the development of novel tools for surgical robots, with the goal of optimizing craniofacial surgeries
OUR TEAM
Anais Lupu - Technologist
Anais is a Technologist with the ICCI at the Hospital for Sick Children. She recently earned an MSc in Biomedical Communications from an accredited medical visualization program offered through the Institute of Medical Science in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
With an undergraduate background in Neuroscience and Animal Physiology from the University of Toronto, Anais has a strong foundation in biological sciences. Her training has provided her with both the scientific knowledge and technical skills required to create precise and effective scientific media for diverse audiences.
In her role, Anais specializes in the development of high-fidelity anatomical models and cleft palate surgical simulators, using her expertise to design tools that enhance both medical education and clinical practice.
Our team
Anais Lupu - Technologist
OUR TEAM
Glenn Maguire – Research Associate
Glenn Maguire obtained his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees from the department of mechanical and industrial engineering at the University of Toronto.
His undergraduate studies focused on mechanical engineering and mechatronics, and his doctoral studies dealt with the development of autonomous multi-agent systems, with application to robotic wilderness search and rescue.
Glenn also went on to complete a master of science in robotics at the University of Pennsylvania, where he ventured into research in the area of novel aerial-vehicle technology development. Glenn’s most recent work has involved research in AI for robotics, where he addressed the challenging problem of safe and robust, online decision-making for lifelong learning agents in emergency situations.
He is currently a research associate at The Center for Cleft and Craniofacial Innovation at the Hospital for Sick Children, where his work focuses on the development of robotic surgery tools for infant cleft palate surgery. Glenn maintains a strong interest in mechanical and mechatronic device and system design, as well as AI and ML for autonomous robotic systems, for applications in challenging, real-world environments.
Our team
Glenn Maguire – Research Associate
Our team - Graduate students
Jones Law – PhD Candidate
OUR TEAM - Graduate students
Jones Law – PhD Candidate
Jones research interests include robotics, autonomous systems, and medical devices with a focus on surgical robotics.
He has five years of industry experience working on medical/industrial robot development at companies and research institutes.
Prior to this, he received his Master of Engineering degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Sheffield in 2016.
OUR TEAM - Graduate students
Ethan Tang – Master’s Candidate
Ethan is interested in investigating robotic manipulability in surgical contexts and is currently working on a port placement procedure for robotic cleft palate repair.
He has experience with robotic kinematics and path planning. Ethan is currently pursuing an MASc in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and holds a BASc in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto, specializing in robotics.
OUR TEAM - Graduate students
Ethan Tang – Master’s Candidate
Alumni
Pegi Kaimi – Dental Student
Clara Wong – Summer Engineering Student
Jerry Shen – Research Engineer
William Do – Waterloo Engineering Co-op student
Cecillia Tran – Medical Student
Charlotte Lanser – Medical Student
Willemijn Vermeulen – Medical Student