The Doctor's In

May 21, 2024

The Doctor’s In: Reliability in the Delivery Room

Six months ago, my life changed forever when I held my first child, a healthy, blue-eyed, brown-haired baby boy. The calm beauty surrounding this tender moment was a happy applause for the long and intricate performance of his delivery. While his delivery was safe and complication-free, I witnessed a real-world demonstration of the critical importance of reliable electronics.

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February 23, 2024

The Doctor’s In: What Electricity Tells Us About Our Health

One of the earliest lessons parents impart to their children is the importance of staying away from electrical outlets. In fact, it's currently at the top of my babyproofing checklist with my first child. It's a lesson grounded in our natural inclination to assume that our bodies and electricity are incompatible. However, the truth is quite the opposite. Our bodies produce electricity. Electrical impulses form the foundation of our nervous system, and electric potential literally keeps our hearts beating.

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December 14, 2023

The Doctor’s In: The Next Wave of Wearable Health Monitor Innovation

In the ever-evolving world of healthcare, wearable health monitors will likely play an increasing role. Once relegated to basic step counting and heart rate tracking, these sleek devices are now on the cusp of a technological revolution. The driving force behind this transformation? Advanced electronic hardware. In this column, I'll provide a glimpse of the new electronics that promise to drive the next wave of wearable health monitor innovation.

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August 07, 2023

The Doctor’s In: Beyond the Horizon—Exploring the Digital Future of Health

In today's fast-paced world, where technology has infiltrated almost every aspect of our lives, it is no surprise that the healthcare industry is undergoing a digital revolution. The convergence of health and technology has given rise to an era of digital health, reimagining how we approach patient care, monitoring, and even medical training. Despite a projected market value of $800 billion by 2030, and an impressive compound annual growth rate of 18%, you may feel that digital healthcare doesn’t seem to have reached your local clinic. Stay tuned. This article will walk you through how digital healthcare plans to reform every aspect of the medical landscape.

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June 07, 2023

The Doctor's In: How Health Smart Are Smartwatches?

Sure, smartwatches are state-of-the-art and snazzy, but what do they really tell us about our health? Do their growing reams of data on us impress or carry clout with actual health care professionals? What types of sensors are engineers putting into watches that might give us that extra glimpse of what’s happening under our skin, from temperature to blood flow, or even a heart issue? Let’s dive into watches, from start to future.

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April 10, 2023

The Doctor's In: Everything You Need to Know About Getting a PhD

Editor’s note: We welcome our new columnist, Henry Crandall, a doctoral student at the University of Utah and newest IPC Student Board Member. Henry plans to write about all things health engineering, graduate school, and wearable health monitors. When it comes to advanced degrees, the PhD is often a misunderstood and undervalued option. In a world where MBA programs have strong name recognition, and master's degrees can seem relatively easy to obtain, the PhD is frequently overlooked. In fact, many people couldn't even tell you what the initials stand for. (Hint: It’s Doctor of Philosophy.) As someone who has embarked on this journey, I am eager to share the insights I've gained along the way. I'll cover the value of a PhD, the requirements for earning one, and some advice for successfully completing the program.

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