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This year was the first time the Social Transformation Fellowship (STF) program was offered as a course (ALA 170) where undergraduate students translate inspiration and passion to positive social impact through coursework, grant writing, project development, research, and analysis. Through ongoing coaching and mentorship from professional staff and community members, students research their project topics, connect with stakeholders, and prototype and test their ideas. Seven teams comprised of fifteen students were accepted to the course, and three successful teams were granted up to $15,000 in project funding in Winter 2024. A highlighted project,
Neonatal Asphyxia Project
Jason Lin, Rohan Patil, Mihika Rayan, Audrey Wong
Neonatal asphyxia, also known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality. This condition is due to insufficient oxygenation of the brain and other vital organs during or shortly after birth and leads to major physiological and neurological deficits. While the current standard of care requires the use of hypothermia-inducing cooling devices, many hospitals around the world are unable to afford such equipment.
The Neonatal Asphyxia Project (NAP) aims to design a device that applies hypothermia therapy to mitigate the effects of birth asphyxia in neonates born in low-resource communities. We are partnered with the Hasya Newborn Care Centre in Palanpur, Gujarat, India with Dr. Vaibhav Patel and Dr. Heena Patel to achieve this goal, working with them to create a device using the principles of socially engaged design. With the help of clinical and technical mentors, we have successfully created a low-fidelity prototype and plan to further develop a more effective and affordable prototype for the communities we work with.
Throughout this process [STF], NAP [Neonatal Asphyxia Project] has learned several valuable lessons and grown significantly. As we progressed through the school year, NAP's focus shifted from a purely technical standpoint to a more holistic development plan accounting for the importance of not only a functional prototype, but also its affordability, scalability, and sustainable methods of integration in resource-limited communities. One key learning was the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and mentorship — we have evolved as we welcomed additional members from diverse backgrounds and expertise.
NAP has made an impactful contribution to both the University of Michigan community and those outside of the university; with our active communication with our partners, we are bringing together a community of passionate and skilled professionals to tackle a global health issue.
Learn more about all three funded projects, their impact and future plans in their final reflections.
