On September 18th, the Advancing Innovation in Medicine Student Interest Group (AIMSIG) held its first meeting, group callout, and started a project – all rolled into one meeting! The group utilized the technology available in the Ruth Lilly Medical Library's 2nd floor Nexus, part of the RLML Makerspace, to collaborate with students at the Indianapolis and regional campuses and defined the project “Addressing challenges in neonatal intubation.” The indications, equipment, procedure, and complications were reviewed, in addition to the extra challenges involved with pediatric intubation. Once the problem and project were defined, the group started to brainstorm and conceptualize potential solutions via pretotyping. Pretotyping takes an “arts & craft” approach to rough out ideas and is an inexpensive, quick, and fun way to collaborate.  Pretotyping harnesses the power of multiple perspectives by increasing the number of ideas; it allows for fast failures, and it leads to more success. Students formed small groups to brainstorm, agree on a solution, create a mock-up, and develop a two minute “pitch” (like Shark Tank). Groups then presented ideas, their solution, why their idea is the best solution, and gave a demo. AIMSIG leaders then outlined the next steps for the group. 

AIMSIG officers are President Neal Patel, Vice President Damen Wilson, Project Lead Conner Earl, Clinical Liaison Ben Johnson, Outreach Director Carl Russell III, and is looking for a Treasurer. Steven Conlon, MD (neonatology) and Jonathan Merrell, MD (pediatric hospitalist) are physician advisers for this group. A “Thank You” goes to Amanda Papandreou, Makerspace Assistant for supplying the library Makerspace’s Pretotyping cart and facilitating the meeting space! Interested in the Makerspace or the Nexus meeting space? Contact: rlmltech@iu.edu