Curious People, Big Ideas: Biomechanical Rehabilitation and Manufacturing, Improving the Quality of Life of Medically Underserved Populations
Hear from UNO's own Jorge Zuniga, Ph.D., who has spent his career working to lower the cost of expensive medical devices and procedures for medically underserved populations.
- date: 02/23/21
- time: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
- location: Zoom Webinar • maps
- contact: Robyn Loos - Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center • rloos@unomaha.edu

"Biomechanical Rehabilitation and Manufacturing: Improving the Quality of Life of Medically Underserved Populations
Jorge Zuniga, Ph.D., has spent his career working to lower the cost of expensive medical devices and procedures for medically underserved populations. His presentation outlines the use of additive manufacturing for the development of medical devices. Through a “User-Inspired Basic Research Approach,” Zuniga's presentation will walk you through the research, development, and deployment of 3D printed artificial limbs for children experiencing limb loss; including the development of anatomical models for surgical planning for pediatric patients. Examples of community engagement and clinical cases will also be used to reveal how advancements in research and manufacturing can impact the quality of life of children around the world.
Register Online
About the Speaker
Jorge Zuniga, Ph.D., is a UNO faculty in UNO's College of Department of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, Department of Biomechanics. He also serves as the co-director of the Biomechanical Rehabilitation and Manufacturing Initiative (BRMI). His major research interests include the development of low-cost 3D printed prostheses, 3D printed anatomical models for surgical planning, and the development of new antimicrobial materials for 3D printing. Zuniga has authored and co-authored over 80 manuscripts published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, while also developing a 3D printed prosthetic hand for children named Cyborg Beast. His active scholarly collaboration, internationally, led to his nomination as the 2018 “Runner Up” for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Science Prize for Innovation, Research, and Education (ASPIRE).
2020-2021 Series Theme
Speakers and events for the 2020-2021 Curious People Series represent UNO's Big Ideas. These highlight areas of campus strength, especially where there are opportunities to enhance scholarly, research, and creative activities at UNO.
The six themes span campus to advance student experiences and community partnerships while deepening our connections to Omaha and Nebraska. “Through the Big Ideas process, the campus community has articulated a clear set of priorities for us to invest,” says Sacha Kopp, Ph.D., Senior Vice Chancellor, UNO Office of Academic Affairs.
Date | Speaker and Topic | UNO Big Idea | Link to Event |
---|---|---|---|
October 29, 2020 | Ann Fruhling, Ph.D. --- Enhancing Patient Experiences through Technology | Transforming Wellness and Aging Through Business, Informatics and Gerontology | Learn More |
November 17, 2020 | Peggy Jones, MFA --- Tell Me a Story! | Ted Kooser Center for Health Humanities | Learn More |
February 9, 2021 | Chris Moore, Ph.D. --- Elevating Human Potential Through Lifelong Learning, UNO STEM Trail Center | STEM TRAIL Center | Learn More |
February 23, 2021 | Jorge Zuniga, Ph.D. --- Biomechanical Rehabilitation and Manufacturing: Improving the Quality of Life of Medically Underserved Populations | Biomechanical Rehabilitation and Manufacturing | Learn More |
March 9, 2021 | Gina Ligon, Ph.D. --- UNO in the Fight and Prevention of Terrorism | Security and Intelligence Studies | Learn More |
March 25, 2021 | Mark Celinscak, Ph.D. --- Samuel Bak, An Inspirational Journey | Samuel Bak Institute | Learn More |
General Series Information
Curious People Series events feature a UNO Faculty who speaks about a topic they are an expert in or have studied in their personal and academic lives.
The goal of this series is to stimulate curiosity among attendees. Curiosity has many benefits to those who ask questions, including an increase in the ability to learn and retain information, personal growth, openness to new opportunities, and overcoming stereotypes. It also increases problem-solving skills, maintains a sense of wonder that helps with innovation, and creates positive interpersonal interactions.
View all current and former speakers
Contact Us
If you are sponsoring a special or public event happening in the CEC or would like to share a news tip or story please let us know.
Robyn Loos
Special Projects Associate
Email: rloos@unomaha.edu
Phone: 402.554.2173
Unless otherwise clearly stated, any views or opinions expressed as part of events at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center (CEC) should not be viewed as endorsements by the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and do not reflect the official position of UNO or the University of Nebraska system. Please also be aware, the responsibility for any changes to events held at the CEC, including cancellation, lie solely with the event organizer and not UNO or the CEC.