Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are some of the most common and serious birth abnormalities worldwide. They often demand complex surgeries that require highly specialized training.
However, in many low-resource areas, access to hands-on surgical education is limited, making it difficult for local surgeons to acquire the skills needed to perform life-saving procedures.
To help close this gap, a team of students, Jason Schutt, Reagan Oliphant, Quinn Smith, and Christine Lannon, from Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed) launched “Hearts in Hand”, a project that uses 3D-printed silicone heart models paired with a surgical training curriculum.
Their work recently earned a $35,000 grant from Men of Distinction to advance their work. Notably, it was the only medical school project selected for funding this year.
“We chose CHDs because they’re common and often life-threatening, especially in areas with limited surgical training resources,” said Schutt. “By offering an affordable and portable tool, we aim to help surgeons in low-resource settings prepare more effectively and improve patient outcomes.”
Each heart model is paired with a curriculum designed to support surgeons before, during, and after mission-based surgeries. The framework draws from validated educational models and allows trainees to study the defect and practice repair techniques before participating in live surgeries.
“The educational framework is focused on enhancing the sustainable impact of mission trips,” said Oliphant. “The plan is for a mission-site hospital with interested cardiac surgeons to receive the 3D heart models ahead of the surgery with a curriculum to learn and practice the procedure.”
This training curriculum was adapted from a proven educational model previously implemented at another institution.
By combining this curriculum with the 3D-printed heart models, local surgeons are better equipped to take on a more active role during mission-based surgeries.
To evaluate the curriculum’s effectiveness, they are currently pursuing Institutional Review Board approval to publish data on both subjective and objective learning outcomes from their model.
The $35,000 grant from Men of Distinction will enable the team to refine the models, complete usability testing, and begin distribution efforts, a critical next step in transitioning from prototype to clinical impact. For the students, the support serves as powerful validation of their innovation.
With the momentum of the Men of Distinction grant and the ongoing support of EnMed, Hearts in Hand is poised to make a global impact, one 3D-printed heart at a time.
