Innovation Pathway

Pathway Leaders

Hanmin Lee, MD

Professor & Chief, Division of Pediatric Surgery
Michael R. Harrison, MD, Endowed Chair in Fetal Surgery
Surgeon in Chief, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco
Director, Fetal Treatment Center
Clinical Lead, Surgical Innovations UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco

Alexander Lin MD, MBA, FACS

Professor and Director of Surgical Innovations, UCSF Plastic Surgery
Co-Director, Craniofacial Center at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals (BCH)
Co-Director, Center for Advanced 3D+ Technologies at UCSF Health

The Innovation Pathway is committed to enhancing the diversity of the surgical workforce and strives to provide a supportive and inclusive training experience. Applications from underrepresented minorities, women, and trainees with disabilities are especially encouraged. This pathway provides residents with an in-depth understanding of the technical, regulatory, and business realities involved in bringing novel medical technologies to the market while providing experiential learning in device design, animal model development, clinical trials, and startup formation.

Opportunities

Biodevice Innovation Pathway

Part of the Innovation Program, a joint collaboration between the Departments of Surgery and Bioengineering & Therapeutic Services.

UCSF-Stanford Pediatric Device Consortium 

Residents have access to open innovation meetings, advising and consulting as well as participate in pediatric device accelerator pitch competitions.

Resident Spotlight

Dr. Keith Hansen (class of 2024) and graduate of the Stanford Biodesign Innovation fellowship program, helped develop DIATIRO, a kidney pod device that helps keep transplant organs cold while being sewn into a recipient - preventing the warming injury that leads to their dysfunction and early failure. This device received the "Breakthrough Device Designation" from the FDA, setting up faster approval for clinical use. 

Along with Dr. Jay Gardner, he was awarded the UCSF Catalyst prize and received the Silver Prize at the UCSF-Stanford Pediatric Device Consortium Pitch Competition in March 2022. He received three provision patents related to the development of this product.