海角论坛

Faculty/Staff Announcements from Campus Connection

Open All | Close All

• April 28: 海角论坛鈥檚 Faces on Design takes on healthcare challenges to improve wellbeing of patients

  Monday April 28, 2025
  

  鈥淧eople with disabilities are entirely capable of performing daily activities and tasks when they鈥檙e provided with the proper tools and support,鈥� said Jesse Lindlbauer, a 29-year-old avid biker, who is partially wheelchair-bound after a sinus infection at age 16 traveled to his brain, causing an abscess.

  Lindlbauer was one of three clients participating in University of Detroit Mercy鈥檚 (海角论坛) patient-centered student program Faces on Design this year, hoping to receive the right tools and support.

  The program paired seniors from the and higher-level Nursing students from the to enhance the lives of people like Lindlbauer by creating a unique assistive device to address their particular needs.

  鈥淚 grew up just like most people, went to public schools, played sports and hung out with my friends. In the fall of 2010, I started to get severe headaches and unbearable pain in my neck,鈥� recalled Lindlbauer

  This meant countless trips to the physician鈥檚 office over the several months 鈥� until one morning in early December, when his mother found him unconscious and breathing abnormally. Lindlbauer was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent two surgeries for a ruptured brain abscess. After the procedures, he was in a coma for several weeks, and when he finally woke, he was unable to speak, eat or even move.

  After more than 14 years of rehabilitation, Lindlbauer continues to improve every day, and some students at Detroit Mercy have provided him with a tool designed to allow him to engage in a daily activity that brings him great joy.

  Lindlbauer received a motorized lift/harness that will allow him to get in and out of his recumbent bicycle on his own. He enjoys cycling every day, but relies on the assistance of his parents to get him in and out of the bike.

  How it works

  Recent technological advances in healthcare yield better patient care and create possibilities for future innovations. By working together, nurses and engineers can generate inventive solutions to address patients’ unmet needs. These professionals share similar problem-solving approaches, which help them develop highly effective multidisciplinary teams.

  The collaboration enabled Engineering students to develop innovations from concept to completion, while Nursing students applied their expertise to augment the health-related aspects of the design.

  The two-semester course began with the team of students meeting the client, understanding their daily routines and then collaborating to identify a challenge they can help the client overcome.

  The student team then built a prototype of their design, assessing and adapting it over the second half of the course to meet the client’s specific needs.

  This year, the program had three student-client teams: Team Nancy, Team Mike and Team Jesse.

  Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor Megan Conrad said Detroit Mercy鈥檚 senior capstone experience is unique when compared to other universities.

  鈥淎t other institutions, students may work on a specific research project with a predefined outcome or maybe an industry project where they’re linked up with an industry partner,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t Detroit Mercy, students are paired with a patient/client, and we don’t tell them specifically what they should build. They work with the client to determine what type of need they can meet for that client, with a goal of providing something that can help the client be more independent at home, at work or in their community.鈥�

  The clients

  Nancy Flaharty, who contracted polio in 1952 when she was just two years old, heard about the Faces on Design project during a routine visit with her clinician.

  鈥淚鈥檝e used braces and/or crutches for most of my life to help me move around,鈥� said the 74-year-old. 鈥淏ut as I鈥檝e gotten older, I鈥檝e grown weaker,鈥� necessitating the increased use of her motorized scooter.

  鈥淲hat I really want is a magic carpet, but these Detroit Mercy kids are the next best thing. I wish I could have them on retainer,鈥� Flaharty said.

  To help Flaharty become more independent, the students designed a platform with a motorized lift to move her down the two steps from her kitchen into her garage, where she could then use her crutches to get into her vehicle.

  鈥淲hen we began this project, we had no idea what post-polio syndrome was,鈥� said Steven Monaghan, an Engineering student on Team Nancy. 鈥淭he biggest issue we aimed to tackle for Nancy was her inability to leave her house unassisted.鈥�

  鈥淲e’re excited to see her use the lift and not have to worry if her husband is home every day to help her get out, go to the grocery store, go see her sister, things like that,鈥� Monaghan continued.

  Sara Herweyer, the Nursing student on the team, said this class taught her to think more creatively.

  鈥淚 have learned that no idea is a bad idea, and each design attempt brought us one step closer to the final design,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he collaboration of two different perspectives in a setting welcoming of all ideas fostered open communication and allowed for more creativity and structure in our design.鈥�

  For Nursing student Evie Wright 鈥� who said she is passionate about caring for vulnerable populations 鈥� this class has expanded her way of thinking by encouraging her to explore what she can do to make things better for patients, rather than making existing solutions work better.

  鈥淚 was able to use my knowledge of Mike鈥檚 condition to make sure that the devices designed by my fellow students are functional and practical, so that he can actually use them safely, comfortably and efficiently,鈥� she said.

  Michael Franz suffered a spinal cord injury at the age of 16 following a motor vehicle accident, which left him quadriplegic. Paralyzed from the chest down, he has no hand or triceps function, but does have good biceps strength and some wrist extension.

  Though Franz could ask his caregivers to take care of his facial shaving needs, he prefers to perform this daily task himself using a handheld manual razor. Therefore, to help him get a clean shaving experience, the students designed a shaving kit for him.

  The kit included an adaptive razor with a wider grip to fit Franz鈥檚 hand and a pivoting joint that rotates to follow the contour of his face, along with a shaving cream dispenser that sits on the countertop with a spring-loaded button that dispenses cream when pressed.

  Wright鈥檚 contribution to the design of this device focused on safety.

  鈥淏ecause we designed a razor, there was a risk of compromising his skin integrity, causing bleeding,鈥� she said. 鈥淎n engineer may not have as much knowledge of this risk.鈥�

  鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to overlook how difficult it can be for someone with a spinal cord injury to perform everyday tasks 鈥� things that many of us take for granted,鈥� said Gabriella Greenlaw, a Biology student with a minor in Biomedical Design on Team Mike.

  The design students tested various spring loads on the dispenser button to adapt it to Franz鈥檚 push strength and make it easier for him to perform this essential daily task and, hopefully, make it feel more routine.

  According to Franz, using this device for his daily shaving needs will avoid the sometimes shaky hands of caregivers.

  To help Lindlbauer be more independent with his bike riding, the students built a swiveling support arm mounted to the wall in his garage with an attached harness that will assist him with transfers to his bike. The students hoped to make this device portable so Lindlbauer can take it with him someday when he can live alone.

  鈥淛esse鈥檚 got a super positive attitude, and it’s inspiring how he approaches his disability so optimistically and still gets out and rides his bike and enjoys life as much as he can,鈥� said Chris Williams, an Engineering student on Team Jesse.

  During the design and building process, Engineering students considered such things as whether the device is safe, whether it will hold up and how manageable repairs would be should they be needed. Julia Fortino, the Nursing student on Lindlbauer鈥檚 team, believed nurses should be more involved in designing assistive devices where medical knowledge about a patient鈥檚 condition is crucial to the design and implementation of the device.

  鈥淚 was able to critically think about Jesse using the bike lift and what might go wrong for him physically, as well as limitations the design may have regarding his condition,鈥� she said.

  During this two-semester-long project, not only did students learn the importance of communication during teamwork, but they also gained some insight about this underserved community, the members of which simply seek independence to go about their daily lives.

  鈥淭here are a lot of us with disabilities who need adaptive products, though I think spinal cord injuries are relatively rare,鈥� said Franz. 鈥淚 think it’s good that more people understand the problems and complications that people like me have to deal with.鈥�

  Patrick Bone’s experience in this class opened his eyes to these obstacles.

  鈥淲herever I go, I now notice the small details, like elevators without ramps or other barriers, that make accessibility challenging for people with disabilities,鈥� said the Team Jesse Engineering student. 鈥淎s engineers, we are so focused on the build, but this class also improved our interpersonal skills, teaching us not just how to talk to a client, but a better way to communicate with them.鈥�

  Williams, one of Bone鈥檚 engineering partners on Team Jesse, empathized with the difficulties those in the disabled community face every day just to function in the world.

  鈥淓ven here in the machine shop, it’s just not set up for anybody with disabilities,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淲herever you go, there are accessibility issues, and just simple things that we take for granted are extremely difficult for Jesse.鈥�

  Gabriella Mirakaj, a Biology major with a minor in Biomedical Design, said this class has helped her focus more on the people behind the design, rather than just the process and mechanics.

  鈥淲orking with Mike has made me pay attention to little details in designing and designing for usability and has made me feel like a better engineer overall,鈥� she added.

  Conrad said design collaborations are the key to success.

  鈥淚 do believe the more perspectives we have in the design process, from both engineers and nurses, the easier it will be to mitigate some of the situations with respect to the disabled community that we might face down the road,鈥� she said.

  Students and clients met and tried their devices at a special event on April 16 in the Engineering Building鈥檚 High Bay on the McNichols Campus.

• April 28: Welcome spring with TENN on April 29

  Monday April 28, 2025
  

  Please join Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) in welcoming spring and celebrating our community with an afternoon of crafts, food and fun on Tuesday, April 29 at 3 p.m. on the Student Union Patio.

  All are welcome to this FREE event.

  To RSVP and for more information, please contact tenn@udmercy.edu.

  

• April 28: Live6 to host Spring Forward event on May 3

  Monday April 28, 2025
  

  The will host a Spring Forward event on Saturday, May 3, from 12-5 p.m. at its Neighborhood HomeBase headquarters located at 7426 West McNichols Road in Detroit.

  This FREE event will feature prizes, food, giveaways and activities for the kids and our entire community. Come out and have some fun with our neighbors. For more information, please visit .

  

• April 28: 海角论坛 earns new Carnegie classification

  Monday April 28, 2025
  

  Detroit Mercy has recently earned designation as an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications. This designation highlights 海角论坛 as a model institution for fostering student success and advancing research on effective campus practices.

  The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published in April by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. This new classification evaluates how effectively institutions foster student success by assessing whether they enroll students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of their graduates compare to peers in the region.

  In 2025, 479 institutions were designated as Opportunity Colleges and Universities, which is approximately 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities included in the Student Access and Earnings Classification.

  鈥淭his new designation once again affirms Detroit Mercy鈥檚 commitment to student success and our dedication to encourage faculty and student research opportunities each year,鈥� said Donald B. Taylor, president of Detroit Mercy.

  The methodology for the new Student Access and Earnings Classification uses multidimensional groupings of the 2025 Institutional Classification to evaluate student access and earnings between similar colleges and universities.

  Updates to the Carnegie Classifications also include a redesigned Institutional Classification, formerly called the Basic Classification. Previously, this system grouped U.S. colleges and universities primarily by the highest degree awarded. The new Institutional Classification now organizes institutions using a broader set of criteria, including the range of degrees awarded, the fields of study offered and overall size of the institution.

  Under this redesigned Institutional Classification, Detroit Mercy has been designated as an institution with an award-level focus of Undergraduate/Graduate-Doctorate, recognizing its strong presence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels with a sufficient focus on doctoral programs. The University鈥檚 academic program mix is Professions-focused. This means that most degrees are awarded in fields that are classified as pre-professional or career-aligned fields. Detroit Mercy is also categorized as a medium-sized institution, enrolling between 4,000 and 20,000 students. In addition, 海角论坛 earned the Research Colleges and Universities (RCU) designation, an additional recognition separate from the Institutional Classifications that identifies institutions with significant research activity, including those with at least $2.5 million in research and development expenditures (as reported through the NSF HERD).

  This reclassification has significantly shifted the perception of Detroit Mercy, elevating it from regional recognition to inclusion in national rankings alongside other prestigious institutions.

• April 27: Video: Check out four new OTT spots for Detroit Mercy

  Sunday April 27, 2025
  

  Detroit Mercy’s Marketing & Communications Department recently unveiled new spots for use on the University’s over-the-top (OTT) marketing buys and paid social media. OTT refers to media content delivered online, bypassing traditional cable or satellite TV services.

  Check out the :

• April 24: Emerging Voices showcases student directors on April 25

  Thursday April 24, 2025
  

  All are invited to join the Detroit Mercy for an exciting performance of “Emerging Voices: Student Directing Showcase,” on Friday, April 25 at 11 a.m., presented by the Winter 2025 Fundamentals of Directing class. The event will take place inside Reno Hall, Room 164.

  This event features a dynamic array of scenes, each crafted by our talented student directors. Don鈥檛 miss this opportunity to support and be inspired by the next generation of theatrical talent.

  No tickets are needed for this free event, and seating is first come, first serve.

  For more information or any questions, please contact Sarah Rusk at hawkinsk@udmercy.edu.

  

• April 24: Last call for Student & Employee Satisfaction Survey, chance to win up to $250

  Thursday April 24, 2025
  

  As part of Detroit Mercy鈥檚 commitment to improving campus life, the University is conducting Student and Employee Satisfaction Surveys, which will run from Tuesday, March 18 through Wednesday, April 30.

  The confidential surveys will provide critical insight that will help the institution and is a chance for both students and employees to have their voices heard. Check your udmercy.edu email for your personalized link to compete the survey.

  In appreciation for completing the survey, both students and employees can win gift cards up to $250 by completing the survey! The earlier you complete your survey, the better your odds at winning higher amounts. Other gift cards prizes are $100 and $50, drawn bi-weekly. The incentives apply to all students and employees of all campuses at the University. A total of three $250 gift cards will be raffled for both students and employees.

  The survey is run through , which works with more than 1,900 campuses and nonprofits nationally.

  Learn more!