Schools of Medicine, Computing and Engineering to collaborate on improved treatment strategies for elbow joint trauma
KANSAS CITY, Mo. –The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and School of Computing and Engineering have made joint appointments to an endowed professorship that will conduct collaborative research on the biomechanics of the elbow and upper arm.
Akin Cil, M.D., associate professor of orthopaedic surgery; and Trent M. Guess, Ph.D., an associate professor of mechanical engineering; have been selected for the Franklin D. Dickson/Missouri Professorship in Orthopaedic Research. James Hamilton, M.D., chair and professor emeritus of orthopaedic surgery at the School of Medicine, established the endowment for the positions.
The endowed professorship combines the medical school’s clinical expertise in elbow orthopaedics with the engineering school’s computational biomechanical expertise to study the biomechanical relationships of the upper-extremity musculoskeletal system.
Specific aims of the program include the development of computational models of the human elbow to replicate the joint’s mechanical behavior and to develop treatment strategies to manage trauma to the joint and surrounding ligament reconstruction.
School of Medicine Dean Betty M. Drees, M.D., F.A.C.P, and School of Computing and Engineering Dean Kevin Z. Truman, Ph.D., announced the appointments.
“Dean Truman and I are very excited about the collaboration between our schools, which supports the University mission in translational research,” Drees said. “I believe that the use of the School of Medicine’s Dickson endowment toward this purpose provides the infrastructure for a sustainable partnership and the success of two of the University’s most promising faculty members.”
Truman added, “This collaboration is another example of UMKC’s strength in interdisciplinary research and the university’s commitment to not just develop scientific innovations through research, but also to use innovative methods of research to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Cil joined the School of Medicine’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in 2008. He previously served as a clinical fellow at the Boston Children’s Hospital-Harvard Medical School, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
Guess came to the School of Computing and Engineering in 2003 as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the School of Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
The professorship is named in honor of Franklin D. Dickson, M.D., who was one of the founders of the School of Medicine’s orthopaedic surgery department and the Dickson-Diveley Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic.
About the UMKC School of Medicine
The UMKC School of Medicine was founded in 1971 as an innovative combined degree program. From its baccalaureate/MD curriculum to a docent system that emphasizes small group learning, the school has remained a trendsetter in medical education and research. For more information about the UMKC School of Medicine, visit www.med.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
About the UMKC School of Computing and Engineering
Located in one of the nation’s largest engineering communities, the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Computing and Engineering is Kansas City’s only university with ABET-accredited engineering, computer science and information technology degree programs. SCE’s internationally-recognized faculty prepare students for today’s competitive job market by providing a curriculum that includes the latest technology and business trends, as well as a comprehensive education in each field’s theory and fundamental practice. Our classes also build bridges to the professional world by partnering with local companies, organizations and engineers. To learn more about UMKC’s School of Computing and Engineering, visit http://sce.umkc.edu/default.asp.
About the University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit http://www.umkc.edu/. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.
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