Virtual model helps families better understand difficult diagnosis
For maternal-fetal medicine physician, Dr. Hiba Mustafa, patient and family education is a top priority. "Me and the whole team at [Riley Hospital for Children's fetal care center] are really passionate about counseling our patients... and we can see the satisfaction in their eyes when they can see and understand a diagnosis," said Dr. Mustafa, who recently collaborated with her surgical colleagues and IU Health's 3D innovations lab. They worked to create a virtual model that will help families better understand the difficult diagnosis of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. "We worked with the artists here with lots of different ideas. We went back and forth... so that we could make it look as realistic as possible," said Dr. Brian Gray, a Riley Children's health pediatric surgeon. "It's really invaluable to be able to use the technology that's all around us to be able to specifically design something that allows us to completely tailor it... so we can help these families better understand what's going on."