Transitional Care in Osteogenesis Imperfecta

The Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Engineering Center at Marquette (OREC) recently co-supported a workshop on Transitional Care in Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI): Advances in Biology, Technology and Clinical Practice. Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a genetic disorder characterized by fragile bones that break easily and is also known as “brittle bone disease.” The number of Americans affected with OI is thought to be as many as 50,000 people.

The one day symposium was an opportunity for clinicians and researchers to come together and collaborate for the common goal of providing the best possible level of patient care. The workshop was held at Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago and was attended by many experts in the area of OI. Attendees from around the world included; physicians, therapists, biomedical engineers, mechanical and biological researchers, and scientists.

Gerald Harris, Ph.D., P.E., professor of biomedical engineering and OREC director, served as a workshop chairperson and was instrumental in the planning and development of the workshop and proceedings publication. His co-chairpersons were Peter Smith, M.D., adjunct faculty in biomedical engineering and Shriners Hospital for Children – Chicago, and Frank Rauch, M.D., Shriners Hospital, Montreal, Canada.

Marquette faculty, staff and students participating in the Workshop included: Carolyne Albert, Ph.D., OREC post-doctoral fellow; Prateek Grover, M.D. OREC post-doctoral fellow; Brooke Slavens, Ph.D., OREC post-doctoral fellow and Assistant Professor of Health Sciences at UW-Milwaukee; Jessica Fritz, M.S., Senior Research Technician; John Jameson, B.S., Marquette graduate student; Alyssa Paul, B.S., Marquette graduate student; and Jeff Kertis B.S., Marquette graduate student.