I ask of you the audience to envision a gift it may have a big bow on top or be
gift it may have a big bow on top or be
gift it may have a big bow on top or be pristinely wrapped the size does not
pristinely wrapped the size does not
pristinely wrapped the size does not necessarily matter it could be large or
necessarily matter it could be large or
necessarily matter it could be large or small
small
small perhaps it looks something like this or
perhaps it looks something like this or
perhaps it looks something like this or along these lines now that you have this
along these lines now that you have this
along these lines now that you have this image in your mind and on the screen
image in your mind and on the screen
image in your mind and on the screen you’re probably wondering what is inside
you’re probably wondering what is inside
you’re probably wondering what is inside of this random box but before I tell you
of this random box but before I tell you
of this random box but before I tell you what is actually inside I’m going to
what is actually inside I’m going to
what is actually inside I’m going to give you a few hints first off it’s not
give you a few hints first off it’s not
give you a few hints first off it’s not the game boy you asked for when you’re 8
the game boy you asked for when you’re 8
the game boy you asked for when you’re 8 years old and while it can’t purchase on
years old and while it can’t purchase on
years old and while it can’t purchase on Amazon so most definitely does not
Amazon so most definitely does not
Amazon so most definitely does not qualify for Amazon Prime and lastly well
qualify for Amazon Prime and lastly well
qualify for Amazon Prime and lastly well there is no return to sender option
there is no return to sender option
there is no return to sender option however it is a gift of impact it is not
however it is a gift of impact it is not
however it is a gift of impact it is not a gift I would ever expect anyone else
a gift I would ever expect anyone else
a gift I would ever expect anyone else to want in fact I didn’t want it at
to want in fact I didn’t want it at
to want in fact I didn’t want it at first either but I’ve come to love it
first either but I’ve come to love it
first either but I’ve come to love it for everything that it’s worth I call it
for everything that it’s worth I call it
for everything that it’s worth I call it my gift of impact because it has led me
my gift of impact because it has led me
my gift of impact because it has led me to some of the greatest successes and
to some of the greatest successes and
to some of the greatest successes and realizations in my career thus far
realizations in my career thus far
realizations in my career thus far successes that now act as a light at the
successes that now act as a light at the
successes that now act as a light at the end of the tunnel in my constantly
end of the tunnel in my constantly
end of the tunnel in my constantly changing life these gifts look something
changing life these gifts look something
changing life these gifts look something like this completely obliterated
like this completely obliterated
like this completely obliterated cartilage in both my hip joints much of
cartilage in both my hip joints much of
cartilage in both my hip joints much of which I don’t have anymore
which I don’t have anymore
which I don’t have anymore and this severely aunt Roberta femurs
and this severely aunt Roberta femurs
and this severely aunt Roberta femurs basically for the first 16 years of my
basically for the first 16 years of my
basically for the first 16 years of my life my lights did not sit straight in
life my lights did not sit straight in
life my lights did not sit straight in my body and this femoral acetabular
my body and this femoral acetabular
my body and this femoral acetabular impingement growths on both my hip
impingement growths on both my hip
impingement growths on both my hip joints that restricted my femurs
joints that restricted my femurs
joints that restricted my femurs removing properly my body therefore
removing properly my body therefore
removing properly my body therefore affected by gait and lastly this a
affected by gait and lastly this a
affected by gait and lastly this a genetic disorder by the name of Ahlers
genetic disorder by the name of Ahlers
genetic disorder by the name of Ahlers Danlos syndrome these gifts soon turned
Danlos syndrome these gifts soon turned
Danlos syndrome these gifts soon turned into this and this an array of pretty
into this and this an array of pretty
into this and this an array of pretty awesome scars but I didn’t always view
awesome scars but I didn’t always view
awesome scars but I didn’t always view them that way nowadays we asked research
them that way nowadays we asked research
them that way nowadays we asked research scientists and physicians about that
scientists and physicians about that
scientists and physicians about that light bulb moment when they realized
light bulb moment when they realized
light bulb moment when they realized they wanted to go into a stem career
they wanted to go into a stem career
they wanted to go into a stem career some may say well when I was in seventh
some may say well when I was in seventh
some may say well when I was in seventh grade my science teacher showed me a
grade my science teacher showed me a
grade my science teacher showed me a demonstration in class and I became a
demonstration in class and I became a
demonstration in class and I became a Me’s by the reaction that occurred but
Me’s by the reaction that occurred but
Me’s by the reaction that occurred but my story well it’s a little bit
my story well it’s a little bit
my story well it’s a little bit different you see when I was a kid
different you see when I was a kid
different you see when I was a kid I mean even more of a kid than I am now
I mean even more of a kid than I am now
I mean even more of a kid than I am now I love science and engineering I loved
I love science and engineering I loved
I love science and engineering I loved having my hands on things but I was
having my hands on things but I was
having my hands on things but I was never able to find the motivation for
never able to find the motivation for
never able to find the motivation for the research that I found today
the research that I found today
the research that I found today everything in my childhood seemed pretty
everything in my childhood seemed pretty
everything in my childhood seemed pretty much normal despite the fact that kids
much normal despite the fact that kids
much normal despite the fact that kids at school made fun of me for the way I
at school made fun of me for the way I
at school made fun of me for the way I ran I sort of just brush that off my
ran I sort of just brush that off my
ran I sort of just brush that off my shoulder until one day when I was 13
shoulder until one day when I was 13
shoulder until one day when I was 13 years old and I was playing the game of
years old and I was playing the game of
years old and I was playing the game of lacrosse sport I’d grown up playing I
lacrosse sport I’d grown up playing I
lacrosse sport I’d grown up playing I was running straight down the field
was running straight down the field
was running straight down the field about to shoot at the top right corner
about to shoot at the top right corner
about to shoot at the top right corner of the goal when all of a sudden my hips
of the goal when all of a sudden my hips
of the goal when all of a sudden my hips locked and I immediately fell to the
locked and I immediately fell to the
locked and I immediately fell to the ground I could not get up I felt as if I
ground I could not get up I felt as if I
ground I could not get up I felt as if I needed some sort of key to unlock my
needed some sort of key to unlock my
needed some sort of key to unlock my hips a key I did not have at the time
hips a key I did not have at the time
hips a key I did not have at the time shortly after this I found myself
shortly after this I found myself
shortly after this I found myself sitting in countless doctors offices
sitting in countless doctors offices
sitting in countless doctors offices week after week being forced to look in
week after week being forced to look in
week after week being forced to look in an abundance of CT scans x-rays MRIs
an abundance of CT scans x-rays MRIs
an abundance of CT scans x-rays MRIs even ultrasound studies copious amounts
even ultrasound studies copious amounts
even ultrasound studies copious amounts of information was being thrown at me
of information was being thrown at me
of information was being thrown at me and in that moment I decided I could
and in that moment I decided I could
and in that moment I decided I could look at my situation one way or another
look at my situation one way or another
look at my situation one way or another I could either like all this confusing
I could either like all this confusing
I could either like all this confusing yet extremely interesting information go
yet extremely interesting information go
yet extremely interesting information go in one ear not the other or I can
in one ear not the other or I can
in one ear not the other or I can actually start listening and playing an
actually start listening and playing an
actually start listening and playing an active role in my health I decided to
active role in my health I decided to
active role in my health I decided to stick with option two surgeries began
stick with option two surgeries began
stick with option two surgeries began quite promptly after this realization
quite promptly after this realization
quite promptly after this realization and I found myself with a lot of free
and I found myself with a lot of free
and I found myself with a lot of free time on my hands I mean I was sitting in
time on my hands I mean I was sitting in
time on my hands I mean I was sitting in a hospital bed after all I decided to
a hospital bed after all I decided to
a hospital bed after all I decided to put this free time to what I thought was
put this free time to what I thought was
put this free time to what I thought was good use I began reading a plethora of
good use I began reading a plethora of
good use I began reading a plethora of orthopedic and biomedical engineering
orthopedic and biomedical engineering
orthopedic and biomedical engineering research journals highlighting
research journals highlighting
research journals highlighting everything I understood an orange and
everything I understood an orange and
everything I understood an orange and everything I didn’t understand it yellow
everything I didn’t understand it yellow
everything I didn’t understand it yellow turned out that most of those pages were
turned out that most of those pages were
turned out that most of those pages were covered in yellow but I didn’t let that
covered in yellow but I didn’t let that
covered in yellow but I didn’t let that discourage me I mean I had the resources
discourage me I mean I had the resources
discourage me I mean I had the resources after all I began I became that overly
after all I began I became that overly
after all I began I became that overly annoying patient who asks way too many
annoying patient who asks way too many
annoying patient who asks way too many questions but I think my doctors may
questions but I think my doctors may
questions but I think my doctors may thank me for it later early on in my
thank me for it later early on in my
thank me for it later early on in my high school career I worked on the
high school career I worked on the
high school career I worked on the development of a two-part 3-d plinth
development of a two-part 3-d plinth
development of a two-part 3-d plinth printed implant to treat internal
printed implant to treat internal
printed implant to treat internal snapping hip syndrome and he bought the
snapping hip syndrome and he bought the
snapping hip syndrome and he bought the lessons now that sounds like a mouthful
lessons now that sounds like a mouthful
lessons now that sounds like a mouthful but I’ll break it down for you basically
but I’ll break it down for you basically
but I’ll break it down for you basically I focused my study on female lessons not
I focused my study on female lessons not
I focused my study on female lessons not only because I was one myself but
only because I was one myself but
only because I was one myself but because one I was told
because one I was told
because one I was told phase in my life where I thought that
phase in my life where I thought that
phase in my life where I thought that being able to create an audible staff on
being able to create an audible staff on
being able to create an audible staff on command with my hips was something worth
command with my hips was something worth
command with my hips was something worth wanting to all of my friends and doctors
wanting to all of my friends and doctors
wanting to all of my friends and doctors but more importantly research had found
but more importantly research had found
but more importantly research had found that when female adolescents are going
that when female adolescents are going
that when female adolescents are going through puberty their hips grow faster
through puberty their hips grow faster
through puberty their hips grow faster than the rest of their body and then
than the rest of their body and then
than the rest of their body and then this iliopsoas our hip flexor tendon
this iliopsoas our hip flexor tendon
this iliopsoas our hip flexor tendon which sits right about here on my cup
which sits right about here on my cup
which sits right about here on my cup joy is then forced to span a greater
joy is then forced to span a greater
joy is then forced to span a greater surface area and becomes tight inflamed
surface area and becomes tight inflamed
surface area and becomes tight inflamed and then snaps I realized that if I
and then snaps I realized that if I
and then snaps I realized that if I could find a way to relieve the stress
could find a way to relieve the stress
could find a way to relieve the stress of this iliopsoas off of those eminences
of this iliopsoas off of those eminences
of this iliopsoas off of those eminences then I could ideally prevent the
then I could ideally prevent the
then I could ideally prevent the snapping my research is actually quite
snapping my research is actually quite
snapping my research is actually quite successful I computationally designed
successful I computationally designed
successful I computationally designed tested and 3d printed a two-part implant
tested and 3d printed a two-part implant
tested and 3d printed a two-part implant one located at the pelvis and one
one located at the pelvis and one
one located at the pelvis and one located right below the greater
located right below the greater
located right below the greater trochanter on my hip joint now like many
trochanter on my hip joint now like many
trochanter on my hip joint now like many gifts mine always seems to keep on
gifts mine always seems to keep on
gifts mine always seems to keep on giving after three years of treatment
giving after three years of treatment
giving after three years of treatment quite close to home my doctors decided
quite close to home my doctors decided
quite close to home my doctors decided that Sofie Adil’s see in the mystery
that Sofie Adil’s see in the mystery
that Sofie Adil’s see in the mystery case was truly a mystery and there was
case was truly a mystery and there was
case was truly a mystery and there was not much more they could do for me but
not much more they could do for me but
not much more they could do for me but there was one place they had in mind and
there was one place they had in mind and
there was one place they had in mind and it goes by the name of Boston Children’s
it goes by the name of Boston Children’s
it goes by the name of Boston Children’s Hospital at the time I felt confused and
Hospital at the time I felt confused and
Hospital at the time I felt confused and terrified and quite frankly abandoned I
terrified and quite frankly abandoned I
terrified and quite frankly abandoned I mean I had never been given treatment
mean I had never been given treatment
mean I had never been given treatment out of the Yale Network before but I
out of the Yale Network before but I
out of the Yale Network before but I came to learn that Boston Children’s
came to learn that Boston Children’s
came to learn that Boston Children’s Hospital was probably the best thing
Hospital was probably the best thing
Hospital was probably the best thing that would ever happen to me I was
that would ever happen to me I was
that would ever happen to me I was getting the health care I needed and I
getting the health care I needed and I
getting the health care I needed and I was getting this amazing support system
was getting this amazing support system
was getting this amazing support system in terms of research mentorship being
in terms of research mentorship being
in terms of research mentorship being the science minded kid I was I had to do
the science minded kid I was I had to do
the science minded kid I was I had to do all of my research I looked into the new
all of my research I looked into the new
all of my research I looked into the new doctors new environment and just about
doctors new environment and just about
doctors new environment and just about everything I was getting myself into
everything I was getting myself into
everything I was getting myself into even if I generally didn’t know at those
even if I generally didn’t know at those
even if I generally didn’t know at those points in time during my excessive
points in time during my excessive
points in time during my excessive research I came across an article in The
research I came across an article in The
research I came across an article in The New York Times titled doctors experiment
New York Times titled doctors experiment
New York Times titled doctors experiment with new ways of fixing the ACL in my
with new ways of fixing the ACL in my
with new ways of fixing the ACL in my mind I thought orthopedic score but it
mind I thought orthopedic score but it
mind I thought orthopedic score but it was even better when I came to realize
was even better when I came to realize
was even better when I came to realize that my own doctors were the ones behind
that my own doctors were the ones behind
that my own doctors were the ones behind this new treatment the team that Boston
this new treatment the team that Boston
this new treatment the team that Boston Children’s Hospital had identified that
Children’s Hospital had identified that
Children’s Hospital had identified that the ACL in the knee does not heal
the ACL in the knee does not heal
the ACL in the knee does not heal naturally due to a lack of blood supply
naturally due to a lack of blood supply
naturally due to a lack of blood supply in the area that would inevitably send
in the area that would inevitably send
in the area that would inevitably send signals throughout the rest of the body
signals throughout the rest of the body
signals throughout the rest of the body to initiate regeneration however if you
to initiate regeneration however if you
to initiate regeneration however if you can find a way stabilize the blood in
can find a way stabilize the blood in
can find a way stabilize the blood in the area then a clot forms and those
the area then a clot forms and those
the area then a clot forms and those signals can be sent
signals can be sent
signals can be sent therefore encouraging her generation I
therefore encouraging her generation I
therefore encouraging her generation I recognize that the same thing happens
recognize that the same thing happens
recognize that the same thing happens with yah sevate labrum in the hip joint
with yah sevate labrum in the hip joint
with yah sevate labrum in the hip joint so if I could develop a scaffold with
so if I could develop a scaffold with
so if I could develop a scaffold with similar properties to that in the bridge
similar properties to that in the bridge
similar properties to that in the bridge in hand Stacy Elton I and many others
in hand Stacy Elton I and many others
in hand Stacy Elton I and many others could avoid the countless favorite
could avoid the countless favorite
could avoid the countless favorite repair surgeries and allow our bodies do
repair surgeries and allow our bodies do
repair surgeries and allow our bodies do what they do best which is of course
what they do best which is of course
what they do best which is of course heal you see we have blood which is this
heal you see we have blood which is this
heal you see we have blood which is this great stimulant for healing which comes
great stimulant for healing which comes
great stimulant for healing which comes straight from the patient’s body and
straight from the patient’s body and
straight from the patient’s body and this scaffold that I worked on in the
this scaffold that I worked on in the
this scaffold that I worked on in the lab which has the ability to hold the
lab which has the ability to hold the
lab which has the ability to hold the blood in the wound site therefore
blood in the wound site therefore
blood in the wound site therefore activating the platelets and then those
activating the platelets and then those
activating the platelets and then those two things together form a stable clot
two things together form a stable clot
two things together form a stable clot that solidifies which has the ability to
that solidifies which has the ability to
that solidifies which has the ability to encourage cell engross proliferation and
encourage cell engross proliferation and
encourage cell engross proliferation and even tissue we feel like now my research
even tissue we feel like now my research
even tissue we feel like now my research adds that presented here sounds pretty
adds that presented here sounds pretty
adds that presented here sounds pretty much perfect
much perfect
much perfect but I can assure you that it was far
but I can assure you that it was far
but I can assure you that it was far from that I met a multitude of
from that I met a multitude of
from that I met a multitude of roadblocks along the way and there were
roadblocks along the way and there were
roadblocks along the way and there were many times when I wanted to give up just
many times when I wanted to give up just
many times when I wanted to give up just like many scientists would but I had
like many scientists would but I had
like many scientists would but I had this false idea in my mind that if I
this false idea in my mind that if I
this false idea in my mind that if I gave up well then it was fair game for
gave up well then it was fair game for
gave up well then it was fair game for my doctors to give up on me something I
my doctors to give up on me something I
my doctors to give up on me something I had always feared but that is not my
had always feared but that is not my
had always feared but that is not my point here my point is that I do not
point here my point is that I do not
point here my point is that I do not rate my success on the awards I’ve won
rate my success on the awards I’ve won
rate my success on the awards I’ve won international science competitions for
international science competitions for
international science competitions for this research I just described or even
this research I just described or even
this research I just described or even the fact that I’m standing talking to
the fact that I’m standing talking to
the fact that I’m standing talking to all of you right now I rate my success
all of you right now I rate my success
all of you right now I rate my success on the feeling of walking out of the lab
on the feeling of walking out of the lab
on the feeling of walking out of the lab at the end of a long tiring and
at the end of a long tiring and
at the end of a long tiring and confusing day and knowing that there are
confusing day and knowing that there are
confusing day and knowing that there are research scientists in positions across
research scientists in positions across
research scientists in positions across the globe working on similar things as I
the globe working on similar things as I
the globe working on similar things as I am to better my life and the life of
am to better my life and the life of
am to better my life and the life of many others if I can help out too then
many others if I can help out too then
many others if I can help out too then why not I’ve come to realize that
why not I’ve come to realize that
why not I’ve come to realize that there’s a very very close tie between my
there’s a very very close tie between my
there’s a very very close tie between my research and my health challenges I know
research and my health challenges I know
research and my health challenges I know I will not be better tomorrow or next
I will not be better tomorrow or next
I will not be better tomorrow or next month or maybe even next year but when
month or maybe even next year but when
month or maybe even next year but when is there a day we walk into the lab and
is there a day we walk into the lab and
is there a day we walk into the lab and sit down at the bench and say today I am
sit down at the bench and say today I am
sit down at the bench and say today I am going to cure a colon cancer we don’t
going to cure a colon cancer we don’t
going to cure a colon cancer we don’t it is simply impractical and irrational
it is simply impractical and irrational
it is simply impractical and irrational we have been working on a cure for colon
we have been working on a cure for colon
we have been working on a cure for colon cancer for the last 10 to 15 years and
cancer for the last 10 to 15 years and
cancer for the last 10 to 15 years and still have not found it but there will
still have not found it but there will
still have not found it but there will be a day we do find it just like there
be a day we do find it just like there
be a day we do find it just like there will be a day where I will be able to
will be a day where I will be able to
will be a day where I will be able to walk up a single fly
walk up a single fly
walk up a single fly Aires and not feel as if my legs are
Aires and not feel as if my legs are
Aires and not feel as if my legs are going to collapse from underneath me it
going to collapse from underneath me it
going to collapse from underneath me it is research that will make that possible
is research that will make that possible
is research that will make that possible it is research that has allowed me to
it is research that has allowed me to
it is research that has allowed me to stand on the stage for the last 10
stand on the stage for the last 10
stand on the stage for the last 10 minutes talking all of you without
minutes talking all of you without
minutes talking all of you without eating my cane it is research that
eating my cane it is research that
eating my cane it is research that brought tears to my eyes at the sight of
brought tears to my eyes at the sight of
brought tears to my eyes at the sight of two straight legs for the first time in
two straight legs for the first time in
two straight legs for the first time in my life it is research that has allowed
my life it is research that has allowed
my life it is research that has allowed me to learn how to walk again and it is
me to learn how to walk again and it is
me to learn how to walk again and it is research that has acted as that light at
research that has acted as that light at
research that has acted as that light at the end of the tunnel you do not have to
the end of the tunnel you do not have to
the end of the tunnel you do not have to be a math or science genius to play an
be a math or science genius to play an
be a math or science genius to play an active role in your health but if you
active role in your health but if you
active role in your health but if you find something you are confident about
find something you are confident about
find something you are confident about it’ll act as the force behind you
it’ll act as the force behind you
it’ll act as the force behind you towards your success whether that be in
towards your success whether that be in
towards your success whether that be in developing a more positive or optimistic
developing a more positive or optimistic
developing a more positive or optimistic attitude these gifts are not supposed to
attitude these gifts are not supposed to
attitude these gifts are not supposed to break you down they’re supposed to build
break you down they’re supposed to build
break you down they’re supposed to build you up as cliche as that sounds these
you up as cliche as that sounds these
you up as cliche as that sounds these gifts help me realize that I love
gifts help me realize that I love
gifts help me realize that I love science and I love engineering and I
science and I love engineering and I
science and I love engineering and I love helping people at least that’s how
love helping people at least that’s how
love helping people at least that’s how I’ve managed to see it thank you very
I’ve managed to see it thank you very
I’ve managed to see it thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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