Co-op students accelerate boundary-breaking research at SickKids

With robotics, 3D technology, AI and more, Waterloo students are advancing the future of health care in Canada

By Darren Mcalmont

University Relations

Waterloo students have made significant contributions to various industries, including healthcare, through co-op opportunities. Many breakthroughs occur at SickKids, one of Waterloo’s top co-op employers. Students have worked on innovative projects like developing image detection tools, 3D neurovascular models, and surgical robot simulators.

Dr. Thomas Looi of SickKids highlights how students rapidly prototype solutions, such as 3D printing techniques for neurovascular models and a surgical robot simulator. Dr. Richard Wintle, who has hired around 100 co-op students, praises their enthusiasm and problem-solving skills. Students in the genome centre analyze human genomes to understand disease.

Alumni like Wayne Lee appreciate how students tackle complex projects, like creating a human-assisted algorithm to improve MRI image analysis. Ella Walsh, a biomedical engineering graduate, led projects on pressure sensors for clubfoot and a DaVinci robot simulator for fetal surgery. Her work led to the founding of a company, OrthoFlexion.

Waterloo’s co-op program, the largest at a research-intensive university, helps students develop work-ready skills, making a global impact through partnerships with over 8,000 employers.

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