BUFFALO, N.Y. — Local teenagers created prosthetic hands for children through Western New York's STEM Hub's Hand in Hand program. During the summer months, teams of students were able to design and fabricate individualized prosthetic hands using 3D printers and tech tools.
Three children were presented with the finished prosthetics on Saturday at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
"Today's presentation is a testament to how innovation can change lives. As the students studied and worked to develop these prosthetics, they were improving the lives of their neighbors in the community," said Laura McCabe, senior director of advocacy and strategic alliance of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures of America (PhRMA). "On behalf of PhRMA, we are proud to support Hand in Hand and STEM education here in Buffalo."
Over the past three years, students in the Hand in Hand program have produced 15 prosthetics for children. In the process it has given students hands on experience to learn about basic anatomy, careers in medical technology, 3D printing and fabrication, engineering design, computer coding, disability awareness, leadership skills and service learning.