M2 student Hannah Bass has dedicated her Innovation Project (IP) to something that fell close to home. Bass, along with her innovation group, have spent the last year inventing a hand glove to help people who have lost the ability to move their hands regain function so that they can complete normal day-to-day tasks. Although the project has spanned over her time at EnMed, Bass has continued to accomplish every goal she has set her mind to; but the question is, where did her legacy begin?
Bass was heavily inspired after her grandmother suffered from a stroke. “She could not move one of her hands at all and she never regained that function,” Bass said. The team’s ultimate goal was to create a glove that would help people who would never again regain functionality within their hands. In the midst of this creation, the ideal opportunity to further the project fell right into her lap.
Bass was connected to a mother who was a Texas A&M alum. Her son has a rare muscular condition that limits movement in his hand, and she was intrigued on how EnMed could help. Bass detected synergies between her current IP and the needs of
the child and connected with them immediately. The past year has been spent trying to perfect the creation so it can help not only this child, but many more years from now. She is focused on one day being able to patent a final product. This is not the only passion for Bass—she is striving to make an imprint on health care every day in many other ways.
Although she has not officially decided on her specialty, she has a passion for OB/GYN. “I know that’s not quite related to my project, but I found a passion in this field and a need to innovate in the future,” Bass said. Her degree in biomedical engineering has brought many experiences and different opportunities. Bass was not sure of the career path of being a physician, but it always toddled in her mind. After traveling abroad and having some medical experience, she came back to focus on engineering. She returned to working in Austin as a business consultant and soon realized that she ultimately wanted to pursue medicine.
Bass explained, “At the end of the day I wanted a job where I felt good about what I was doing.” This is proven as Bass has contributed most of her time here at EnMed as a class officer to create a better sense of community within students and faculty. “I am really proud of the community I have helped foster,” Bass said.
Bass has recently started a new endeavor as well that she prides herself on as she knows it will be beneficial. “Two other students and I have put together a post-partum education program along with one of Houston Methodist attendees…it’s a great way for EnMed students to help patients in need in our community,” Bass explained.
After shadowing in a maternity ward in Uganda for a month, she found the importance of global health. “One of my favorite quotes that guides my endeavors is: “Go into the world and do well, more importantly go into the world and do good,” Bass said, “And that is something I plan to live by.” Her goal is to apply her medical education and engineering experience back abroad and in rural areas to create something to help people who face many medical adversities.
