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Engineering and Nursing Collaboration
Yields Significant Social Impact and
Marketable Product Designs
Darrell Kleinke and Molly McClelland
University of Detroit Mercy
College of Engineering & College of Health Professions

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“Every block of stone has a statue
inside it, and it is the task of the
sculptor to discover it."
Michelangelo (1475-1574) Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect, poet and engineer.

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Introduction
Successful Collaboration Yields Results
After four years of operating a collaborative capstone course,
a successful track record has been established for
developing custom designed devices for use by individuals
with disabilities.
This presentation describes the types of products developed
and how those products have immediate social impact and
the potential for much broader social impact on society.

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The following slides show
how our products are having
social impact - immediately

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Social Impact on a Personal Level
Unique Devices Aid Disabled Individuals

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Social Impact on a Personal Level
Unique Devices Aid Disabled Individuals

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Social Impact on a Personal Level
Unique Devices Aid Disabled Individuals

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Social Impact on a Personal Level
Unique Devices Aid Disabled Individuals

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Our products are starting to
have broader social impact

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Social Impact on a Broad Scale
Raising Society’s Awareness
of the Needs of the Disabled

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Social Impact on a Broad Scale
Raising Society’s Awareness
of the Needs of the Disabled

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Social Impact on a Broad Scale
Raising Society’s Awareness
of the Needs of the Disabled
The UDM
nursing / engineering
collaboration work was
acknowledged in recent
speech by Michelle Obama.

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Social Impact on a Broad Scale
Raising Society’s Awareness
of the Needs of the Disabled

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We are pushing these
products in an effort to have
VERY broad impact

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Commercialization Roadblocks Stand in the
Way of Very Broad Impact
• Organization Incompatibility
• Curriculum Fit (lack of)
• Student & Faculty Involvement
• Funding

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Our Commercialization Strategy
• Organization: Control of the Product Portfolio
• Curriculum: Courses Fill the Product Pipeline
• Involvement: Student Chapter of C.E.O.
• Funding: Self-funded via Grant Applications

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Organization: The Commercialization
Board Membership
College of Engineering & Science
Law School
Currently Populated by: Business School
College of Health Professions
Local Business Executive(s)

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Organization: Activities and Advising by
the Commercialization Board
Provide advice to student teams
Decide funding allocations per project
Duties / Activities: Promote student projects
Review / comment on grant applications
Oversee commercialization portfolio

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Curriculum Fit: Commercialization
Activities are Publicized to Classes
Course projects become “real,” purposeful
No change to existing Business acumen can be incorporated
curriculum, BUT: Students can see personal value
Students have a means to “learn more”

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Involvement: C.E.O. club becomes the
means for multi-disciplined collaboration
Recruit and retain students
CEO Activities: Practice business acumen in competitions
Help students establish business / product plans
Point students to potential funding sources

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Funding: Provide Bridge Funding Sources
Until Teams are Sustainable
1. University resources are open to teams
2. Start-up funding (Comm. Board)
Funding Steps: 3. Grant applications by teams
4. IP costs covered through University
5. If revenues, use to replenish reserves

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Our Commercialization Strategy
Status: March 19, 2013
• Organization: Board in Place (Volunteers)
• Curriculum: Capstone filling pipeline, plus
collaborating with Baylor/Villanova
• Involvement: Student Chapter of C.E.O. up and
running. 10+ active members.
• Funding: Active Grant NCIIA.
One E-team phase I team active.

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Engineering and Nursing Collaboration
Yields Significant Social Impact and
Marketable Product Designs
For More Information, or if you would like to
participate, please contact:
Darrell Kleinke and/or Molly McClelland
kleinked@udmercy.edu mcclelml@udmercy.edu