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International Service Learning Projects for Electrical and Computer Engineering Students Pritpal Singh Professor and Chair, ECE Department Villanova University September 15, 2012 Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting 1

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International Service Learning Background Engineers without Borders chapters Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting 2

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ECE Project Subspecialties Power and Energy Communications Control Systems Sensors, data acquisition and remote monitoring Health care/biomedical Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting 3

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Villanova International ECE Projects Tele-Health Project in Waslala, Nicaragua Microhydroelectric project in Nicaragua and the Philippines Suction Device for use in Developing Countries Solar Electric Systems for Developing Countries Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting 4

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Tele-health Project in Waslala, Nicaragua Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting 5

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Project Context Initial pilot location: Waslala - r egion of approx. 50,000 Central town surrounded by ~90 rural communities Rugged terrain Neglected by Public Health System Waslala 6

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Healthcare in Waslala Ministry of Health runs regional hospital Only 6 trained doctors serve Waslala + rural areas Catholic Parish organizes and trains community health workers (CHWs) to promote health CHWs serve their own community have limited education (as low as grade 2) are trained by parish to extend reach of medical services and health information are volunteers 7 Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting

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Immediate Healthcare Goals Provide rapid, real-time computer-assisted assessment assistance Develop infrastructure to create, store and retrieve patient records Equip, educate & train CHWs Obtain accurate baseline data Set outcome measures to match national goals e.g. prenatal visits with skilled professional 2-3 times before delivery (hospital) deliveries with skilled attendant 8 Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting

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Medical Equipment, Training 9

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Converging on a Solution Need technology to reach out to rural population Few have access to electricity; no Internet access Cell phone service widely available, although not everywhere 10 Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting

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Proposed Solution Equip CHWs with inexpensive cell phones Set up organized system for Collecting and transmitting patient information Storing and organizing electronic health records Health assessments and remote medical advice 11 Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting

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Rural Sites Remote Monitoring Center Remote Administration (Villanova) SMS Internet Router Doctor's computer Solar Chargers Solar/Battery Backup Power Medical Server Cellular Modem System-Level Block Diagram 12 Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting

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Backup Power Supply 13

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Progress-to-date Teams of ECE, Nursing and Business students and faculty have made six trips to the site thus far In-country office staff established Provided 25 CHWs with diagnostic equipment and training Provided cell phones and solar chargers to 25 health workers Installed server and backup power system in parish Simplified Spanish manuals and text training video produced Several partnerships established Doctor brought into team Some business model concepts established 14 Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting

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Acknowledgments Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty and Students Dr. Pritpal Singh, Dr. Sarvesh Kulkarni, Craig Baumer, Arpita Kothari, Brendan McCoy, Andrew Robinson, Peter Shaw, John Beyer Nursing Faculty and Students Dr. Ruth McDermott-Levy, Dr. Betty Keech, Dr. Bette Mariani, Rebecca LaMarca, Fruna Lara, Caitlin Krenek, Katie Weatherbie, Alexandra Reo, Tracey Desjadon Business Faculty and Students Dr. James Klingler, Derek Ferguson, Christina Radossi, Tyler Weinrich, Tara McHugh, Alejandro Avellana Arts and Science Student Carolina Wolnicki UNI Faculty and Students Maria Virginia Moncada and Carlos Ruiz UNAN Faculty and Students Miguel Estapinon and Yolanda, and others National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) Sustainable Vision Grant Funding Halloran Philanthropies Claro Timothy Hansell, UNPHA, Nicaragua 15 Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting

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Villanova Surgical Suction Device Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting 16

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Problem being Addressed Blood pooling on the floor during C-section operation in medical clinic in Northern Nigeria Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting 17

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Block Diagram Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting 18

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Video of Prototype Device in Operation Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting 19

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Business Plan Competition Winners Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting 20

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Benefits of International Service Learning Projects Students experience different cultures Students work on real-world projects that make an impact on peoples lives Students may work on multi-disciplinary teams Students learn how blessed they are Students learn that poverty does not equate to lack of intelligence Students move outside their comfort zones Can be a transformative experience for students Fall 2012 Mid-Atlantic ECEDHA Meeting 21