Membership Forum Luncheon - May 2017

Innovation, Technologies and Simulation in Medicine
Guest Speaker: Brion Benninger
​Professor of Medical Innovation, Technology & Research 
Western University of Health Sciences
COMP-Northwest

Dr. Brion Benninger (Inventor & Innovative Medical Educator, Sports Medicine, Clinical Anatomist and Reverse Translational Researcher) is a Professor of Medical Innovation, Technology & Research and Clinical Anatomy. He is the Executive Director of the Medical Anatomy Center, Western University of Health Sciences, Lebanon, Oregon and faculty to Samaritan Health Services, Corvallis Oregon. Dr. Benninger is known internationally as one of today’s most progressive medical educators and leading expert on medical simulation worldwide and has been recognized as a distinguished innovator with his work and integration of emerging technologies. He invented and developed the Triple Feedback Technique for patients resulting in simultaneous palpation, physical examination movement and dynamic ultrasound imaging into Google Glass. He has mentored more then 200 students with over 200 research projects presented at national/international conferences receiving several research awards. He has taught in the medical field in several countries receiving education and innovation awards, which has provided him invaluable insight and experience regarding patient care and research. He is the author and/or editor of several texts. He has a lifelong passion for challenging the working terminology between anatomists and clinicians to create a more logical language for communicating health globally. He has created a new nerve category termed Transitional nerves.
He coined the terms, Millennial Anatomy lab, Dynastatic Anatomy and Stereostructural Anatomy and has a functioning learning lab ‘Fostering Innovation in Research, Scholarship & Technology’ or FIRST.  Dr. Benninger has been developing and facilitating the use of disruptive innovation with technology for improving the education experience and techniques for Residents, Medical & Dental students, Masters and Baccalaureate students the past 20 years. Currently he is developing and teaching the use of novel ultrasound finger probes to colleagues, residents and medical & baccalaureate students as well as exploring their uses with donor cadavers. He is using 3D/4D and transcavity ultrasound probes to develop new screening methods. He is collaborating on an ultrasound certification system. He integrates the Percuvision system, a direct vision urinary catheterization scope used by medical students. The FIRST lab integrates OPUS mini Invasive Medical Skills ultrasound simulator to maintain skills after initially learning the fundamentals with clinical machines. The Sectra Visualization Table renders CT/MRI scans from donor cadavers and living patients into 3D images, which can be manipulated to enhance stereostructural anatomy. This augments the functional anatomy useful for ultrasound skills and invasive techniques.  He integrates Sectra into several courses and feels it provides appropriate transition into clinical skills. He has invented and developing the uses of miniature micro imaging endoscopes to view breast tissue, nasal cavity, larynx, ear canal and small joints. He has invented and developing a novel more efficient cardiac resuscitation technique. His work integrates technology and disruptive innovation for both mainstream and cutting edge medicine.