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Initially, the alliance will develop treatment options for patients with two rare, life-threatening primary immunodeficiency diseases -- Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) and X-linked Agammaglobulinemia (XLA)

SEATTLE, WA and KING of PRUSSIA, PA, USA I June 2, 2020 I Seattle Children's Research Institute, one of the top pediatric research institutions in the world, and global biotechnology leader CSL Behring announced a strategic alliance to develop stem cell gene therapies for primary immunodeficiency diseases.

Initially, the alliance will focus on the development of treatment options for patients with two rare, life-threatening primary immunodeficiency diseases -- Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome and X-linked Agammaglobulinemia. These are two of more than 400 identified primary immunodeficiency diseases in which a part of the body's immune system is missing or functions improperly.

"CSL Behring will collaborate with Seattle Children's experts to apply our novel gene therapy technology to their research pipeline, with an aim to address unmet needs for people living with certain rare primary immunodeficiency diseases," said Bill Mezzanotte, MD, Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development for CSL Behring. "Expanding our gene therapy portfolio into an area of immunology well known to CSL exemplifies how we are strategically growing our capabilities in this strategic scientific platform and are collaborating with world class institutions to access innovation with the potential to vastly improve patients' lives."

"Stem cell gene therapies that correct the genetic abnormality driving a child's disease will transform the therapeutic options for children with Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome, X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia and other immunodeficiency diseases,"said David J. Rawlings, MD, director of the Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies and division chief of immunology at Seattle Children's, and a professor of pediatrics and immunology at the University of Washington School of Medicine."The collaboration with CSL Behring supports our longstanding research programs for pediatric immunodeficiency diseases and will accelerate this research toward clinical trials, helping get these innovations to the children who need them."

CSL Behring researchers, working with researchers from Seattle Children's Research Institute, will investigate applying the proprietary platform technologies, Select+ and Cytegrity, to several pre-clinical gene therapy programs. These technologies, which have broad applications in ex vivo stem cell gene therapy, are designed to address some of the major challenges associated with the commercialization of stem cell therapy, including the ability to manufacture consistent, high-quality products, and to improve engraftment, efficacy and tolerability.

Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) has an estimated incidence between one and 10 cases per million males worldwide, according to the National Institutes of Health. WAS patients' immune systems function abnormally, making them susceptible to infections. They also experience eczema, autoimmunity and difficulty forming blood clots, leaving them vulnerable to life threatening bleeding complications. Today the only knowncurefor WAS is a stem cell transplant, if a suitable donor can be found.

X-linked Agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is another rare primary immunodeficiency in which patients have low levels of immunoglobulins (also known as antibodies), which are key proteins made by the immune system to help fight infections. Like WAS, XLA affects males almost exclusively, although females can be genetic carriers of the condition. While no cure exists for XLA, the goal of treatment is to boost the immune system by replacing missing antibodies and preventing or aggressively treating infections that occur, according to the Immune Deficiency Foundation.

About Seattle Children's

Seattle Children's mission is to provide hope, care and cures to help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible. Together, Seattle Children's Hospital, Research Institute and Foundation deliver superior patient care, identify new discoveries and treatments through pediatric research, and raise funds to create better futures for patients.

Ranked as one of the top children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Children's serves as the pediatric and adolescent academic medical center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho the largest region of any children's hospital in the country. As one of the nation's top five pediatric research centers, Seattle Children's Research Institute is internationally recognized for its work in neurosciences, immunology, cancer, infectious disease, injury prevention and much more. Seattle Children's Hospital and Research Foundation works with the Seattle Children's Guild Association, the largest all-volunteer fundraising network for any hospital in the country, to gather community support and raise funds for uncompensated care and research. Join Seattle Children's bold initiative It Starts With Yes: The Campaign for Seattle Children's to transform children's health for generations to come.

For more information, visit seattlechildrens.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or on our On the Pulse blog.

About CSL Behring

CSL Behring is a global biotherapeutics leader driven by its promise to save lives. Focused on serving patients' needs by using the latest technologies, we develop and deliver innovative therapies that are used to treat coagulation disorders, primary immune deficiencies, hereditary angioedema, inherited respiratory disease, and neurological disorders. The company's products are also used in cardiac surgery, burn treatment and to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn. CSL Behring operates one of the world's largest plasma collection networks, CSL Plasma. The parent company, CSL Limited (ASX:CSL;USOTC:CSLLY), headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, employs more than 26,000 people, and delivers its life-saving therapies to people in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit http://www.cslbehring.com and for inspiring stories about the promise of biotechnology, visit Vita http://www.cslbehring.com/Vita.

SOURCE: CSL Behring

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Dr. Dori Borjesson

PULLMAN, Wash. Dr. Dori Borjesson, chair of the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, has been selected as the new dean of the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Borjesson was chosen following a nationwide search to replace Dr. Bryan Slinker, who had announced plans to retire before being tapped to serve as interim provost. She will assume her new responsibilities leading WSUs cutting-edge veterinary, biosciences and global health departments on July 20.

The strength of Washington State Universitys research and its potential to impact communities locally and across the globe impressed me during the interview process, as did its dynamic clinical programs and the Washington-Idaho-Montana-Utah Regional Program in Veterinary Medicine, Borjesson said.

Im looking forward to building on Dr. Slinkers tremendous tenure of leadership, she continued. The enthusiasm for WSU among the community is impressive, and I look forward to building on that momentum.

In addition to her role as a department chair and full professor at UC Davis, Borjesson works as a clinical pathologist and is actively engaged in clinical service and laboratory test development. She served as the inaugural director of the Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures from 2015 to 2019 and continues to direct the Clinical Regenerative Medicine Laboratory.

Dr. Borjesson brings an important combination of strengths and experience to make her the right leader for the college, Slinker said. Shes a long-serving, highly regarded, and very effective academic leader, and an excellent clinician/scientist, at an aspirational peer institution. This background, combined with her intellectual rigor, openness, and compassion make her a great fit to lead the college in its next phase of growth and development as one of the nations top veterinary colleges.

Borjesson said shes thrilled to meet with WSU students, staff and faculty, as well as meeting with college and university stakeholders in the near future.

Being from the Pacific Northwest, this feels like a homecoming, said Borjesson, who was raised in Portland, Ore. Increasing engagement and outreach across the state is a top priority for me upon taking up this new role. In addition to engagement and strategic planning, Im also eager to face some of the critical issues facing members of the veterinary profession, including student debt and enhancing the well-being of our faculty, students and staff.

Among her more notable research contributions is using large animal models of disease to study cell therapy for inflammatory diseases.

Borjesson holds two patents in the area of mesenchymal stem cells and immunomodulation and has contributed to more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, and in 2014 received the Zoetis Research Excellence Award. Alongside her own work, she has mentored more than three dozen veterinary residents and graduate students.

She and her colleague Dr. Aijun Wangs work with stem cells was highlighted in an extensive piece in the Los Angeles Times in 2018 about UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

Borjesson received her undergraduate education from the Colorado College in 1988, her Master in Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from UC Davis in 1995. She completed a residency at UC Davis in clinical pathology in 1999, followed by her PhD in comparative pathology at the Center for Comparative Medicine at UC Davis in 2002.

After completing her PhD, Borjesson accepted an assistant professorship at the University of Minnesota, where she worked for four years before returning to UC Davis as an associate professor in 2006. She became a full professor in 2012. She has led the Integrative Pathobiology Graduate Group at UC Davis and is actively engaged in veterinary and graduate student curriculum development, teaching and mentoring.

Established in 1899, the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine is proud of its distinguished past as one of the oldest veterinary colleges in the United States. It is equally proud of its contemporary leadership nationally in offering programs for student wellness, its Teaching Academy, which leads its commitment to advancing the state of the art in both health professions and STEM education, and its research and graduate education programs. The breadth of research to discover foundational knowledge and to conduct research targeted to improve animal and human health both domestically and around the world places it in the top 10% of veterinary colleges in receipt of competitive federal research funding.

Phil Weiler, vicepresident for marketing and communications, 5093351221, phil.weiler@wsu.edu

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Dr. Dori Borjesson named dean of the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine - WSU News

Issued on: 25/01/2020 - 01:58Modified: 25/01/2020 - 01:57

Salt Lake City (United States) (AFP)

In a world where sharing is so popular it has its own economy, women in Utah have a new item to contribute: breast milk.

The Mountain West Mothers' Milk Bank is the first of its kind in Utah, the US state with the highest birth rate and therefore great need, as well as a wealth of potential milk donors.

Since the bank began operating late last year in Salt Lake City, more than 550 local women have volunteered.

Annette Thompson began donating in March after giving birth to her third child, spending 10-15 minutes every three hours pumping.

"This is my little piece of helping someone else. My body can do it, so I will do it," she said.

Thompson had realized she was a prolific milk producer when she had her first two children -- she used to pump excess milk and save it in her freezer, before ultimately throwing it out as she ran out of space to store food.

A few years later, when her niece was in the hospital and needed milk, she learned that donating was possible.

So when she had her daughter in March, she posted on Facebook to inquire if anyone needed extra. She was connected to the milk bank and after undergoing a health screening, including a blood test, Thompson became a donor.

Nearly 10 percent of babies born in the United States are premature, and the bulk of the milk collected by the bank goes to nourish infants in neonatal intensive care.

Often when a baby is born early the mother's body is unable to produce milk, or not able to produce enough, so donor milk is sought.

Breast milk is valued above formula for newborns because it contains a range of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, immune factors, antibodies and stem cells.

"It primes the gastro-intestinal tract, so those babies get protections from infections from the get-go," said Mariana Baserga, who runs the University of Utah's neo-natal intensive care unit.

- Saving lives -

Once the Utah bank receives milk from donors, it is pooled, pasteurized and packaged in doll-sized three ounce containers to be shipped out to hospitals across Utah and neighboring Idaho.

Ken Richardson, its medical director, compares donating mothers to first responders and the military.

"That's what they are doing, saving lives," he said. "It's an act of selfless service to pump and to provide breast milk and to do it for hours and days and months.

"They do it without any payment. It's an act of pure love."

In the 1980s when the AIDS epidemic hit, it had a devastating impact on milk banks in North America and around the globe.

"They closed overnight because people were worried," says Naomi Bar-Yam, formerly on the board of directors of the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).

At the time there were between 50 and 60 milk banks in the United States and Canada, but within a very short time there were only a half dozen left. Those figures have since partially recovered -- with 26 accredited milk banks now operating nationwide.

That episode was the catalyst for the founding of HMBANA, the professional organization that sets guidelines for the safe collection and dispensing of human milk -- and whose standards are now used across the globe.

2020 AFP

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In Utah, 'saving lives' with breast milk - FRANCE 24

Many stories caught the attention of our readers this year but these were the most-read stories of 2019 online at oakbaynews.com.

Former Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen has died

The District of Oak Bay mourned the loss of a community leader this year with the death of former mayor Nils Jensen in April, after a short battle with cancer.

Jensen spent more than 15 years sitting on Oak Bay council and was elected mayor in 2011, serving two terms.

Jensen also served as chair of the Capital Regional District (CRD) board, trustee for the Greater Victoria Public Library and chair of BC Mayors Caucus. He spent 12 years as chair of the CRDs water board.

He was remembered fondly by friends, family, members of the community and other local politicians. Thousands of residents filled the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre at Oak Bay High to reflect on the legacy he left behind.

Seat belt requirement a double bogey, B.C. golf industry says

Also topping the list for 2019 is a story involving WorkSafeBC rethinking its plan to require golf courses across the province to outfit all of their motorized equipment with seat belts and rollover protection bars, after an industry outcry about cost and impracticality of the move.

In a letter to Tourism Minister Lisa Beare, the MLAs for Revelstoke and Parksville said the requirement would cost the B.C. golf industry as much as $20 million to upgrade its equipment. The extra costs would be disastrous for B.C. tourism as prices rise and golfers can easily shift vacations to Alberta, Montana, Idaho or Washington.

WorkSafeBC is working on revisions to section 16 of its Occupational Health and Safety regulation, the part dealing with mobile equipment such as foklifts, all-terrain vehicles and golf carts, spokesman Ralph Eastman said in an email to Black Press Media. Consultation was conducted over the past year and more will be done.

Greater Victoria developer rushes to demolish historic wall before Oak Bay applies heritage permit

Controversy over historical elements in the community also caught the attention of readers.

The District of Oak Bays council conducted an emergency meeting on Oct. 17 in order to issue a Temporary Protection Order for the property at 1561 York Pl.

Starting at 7 a.m. that same morning, executive staff from Abstract Development took jackhammers, crowbars and shovels to a 122-year-old stone wall, while angry neighbours watched.

The demolition took place under a posted Stop Work Order tacked onto a nearby tree, but Abstract staff on site pointed noted the order only said the company had to cease anything which required permits, while all they were doing was landscaping.

The Stop Work Order was put in place after Oak Bay council agreed to apply a Heritage Conservation Permit (HCP) bylaw on the property, which would require property owners to seek a permit from the District before making any changes to heritage components, such as the wall. At the time the bylaw had received its third reading and was scheduled for approval at the end of the month.

Abstract commenced the work today in order to protect the companys existing rights to the property, as it is anticipated that the District of Oak Bay will be implementing a Heritage Control Period bylaw in the Prospect neighbourhood by the end of the month, said Adam Cooper, director of development for Abstract in a statement.

In a fight against cancer, Victoria mans only stem cell match was his own donation

Readers hearts went out to a Greater Victoria man battling cancer.

Jeremy Chow applied to be a stem cell donor a few years ago after watching a 30-second Canadian Blood Services commercial calling for Asian donors. The father of two young girls had no way of knowing that soon, he would be in need of new stem cells and the only donor match would be unusable because it was his own.

According to Canadian Blood Services, these life-sustaining immature blood cells are found in bone marrow, peripheral circulating blood and umbilical cord blood. They can become red or white blood cells or platelets and do incredible work for people like Chow, replacing their unhealthy cells and reducing the likelihood that the cancer will return.

Hundreds of protesters drown out anti-SOGI speakers in Oak Bay

Rounding out the top stories of 2019 is the hundreds of protestors who mobilized in Oak Bay outside the Windsor Pavillion.

They were there to protest the Erosion of Freedom event, hosted by anti-SOGI speaker Jenn Smith, who speaks against the SOGI 123 (sexual orientation and gender identity) resources taught in B.C. schools.

the event had been a source of controversy in the community both towards organizers and the District of Oak Bay, which received backlash for allowing it to go ahead in one its community spaces.

Protest movements cropped up online to counter the evenings program, including a protest created by Greater Victoria School District trustee Ryan Painter that drew hundreds to the Windsor Pavilion.

vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca

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by Tanya M. Anandan, Contributing Editor Robotic Industries Association Posted 12/16/2019

Collaborative robotics is more than one kind of robot. It often involves a human working alongside a robot, and the collaborative robot (or cobot) is usually fenceless, but not always. They can have one arm, two arms, or none at all. They can be mobile or portable, small or large. They can work alone or as a fleet. Even standard industrial robots are fair game, thanks to innovations like FreeMove.

Last month we set out to broaden your view of human-robot interaction and collaboration. Were back to do it again. Well show how robots tackle labor shortages, reduce costs and optimize floor space. How they elevate the jobs humans do while improving process efficiency.

From making floral bouquets to inspecting bumpers, and bagging this seasons hottest tech toys, cobots are transforming the human-robot paradigm and knocking down barriers on the shop floor, between entire industries, and on a global scale.

Bumper-to-Bumper CobotsTier 1 automotive supplier Flex-N-Gate Corporation puts collaborative robots to work on the assembly line inspecting bumpers and other fascia components. These camera-wielding cobots use machine vision to inspect assembled components for proper orientation and installation. The robots work alongside their human coworkers without safety cages or other hard guarding to separate man from machine.

The Urbana, Illinois-based company supplies bumpers, exterior trim, lighting, chassis assemblies, and other automotive products. At the suppliers Ionia, Michigan facility, they stamp and assemble steel bumpers for the Ford Ranger pickup truck, among other vehicle platforms. Here, cobots inspect parts in two different assembly areas.

We supply a full bumper assembly module delivered directly to assembly plants, explains Nick Wiegand, Director of Advanced Manufacturing Global Metals and Assembly Group at Flex-N-Gate. We fabricate the steel shells via a progressive stamping process. The steel shells are then either painted, or chrome plated, or in some cases powder coated. Then we have other components that have to be affixed to the bumper, including internal structural components, fasteners, air dams, fog lamps, bezels, front parking assist (FPA) sensors, rear parking assist (RPA) sensors, blind-spot warning (BSW) sensors, integrated wiring harnesses, active air dams/grille shutters, and myriad other plastic and composite finishing accessories.

The amount of electronics that go into a bumper assembly these days is mind-boggling, says Wiegand. Were utilizing camera-carrying cobots in our assembly processes to ensure we have the right color/style combinations, and that all the requisite components based on the part recipe are present and installed correctly.

In one area of the shop floor, workers load a steel bumper onto a fixture in front of a green cobot arm. The FANUC CR-7 collaborative robot outfitted with a Cognex camera and integrated lighting swoops across the part inspecting and error-proofing assembled components. While the robot does its job, the operator can be tending to other areas of the assembly module.

On the moving assembly line, inverted FANUC cobots mounted just above the line workers heads maneuver at different angles, examining parts as they advance down the line. Watch Flex-N-Gates camera-wielding cobots at work.

Our biggest challenge was programming the cobots for line tracking, says Wiegand. Flex-N-Gate was the first in the industry to attempt this feat. We worked with the robot supplier and system integrator to solve issues as they arose.

Cost SavingsAutomated inspection has evolved at Flex-N-Gate. Traditionally, error proofing was done with a bank of overhead cameras, but this approach had its limitations. Fixed cameras made it difficult to see parts at optimal angles for the vision systems to read accurately and repeatedly. Company engineers had a better idea.

Why dont we put a camera at the end of a robot arm and take the camera to the inspection instead? says Wiegand. That was phase one in our evolution.

They mounted a camera on a conventional robot arm. Now they were able to position the camera in ideal locations for inspection and view aspects of parts they couldnt see before. Now they only had one camera to maintain instead of up to a dozen fixed cameras.

Wiegand says some of these cameras can range from $10,000 to $15,000 a piece, so the savings were significant. The next phase in their evolution deploying cobots would further reduce costs.

Space SavingsFlex-N-Gate was performing vision inspection with conventional high-speed, low-payload robots for about a year. Meanwhile, collaborative power and force limiting robots were garnering more attention as their applications grew, setting the stage for the suppliers transition to inspection with collaborative robots.

We were doing this with traditional robots, which required them to be caged and guarded per the RIA safety standards, just like you would any other industrial robot, says Wiegand. Were now able to do the exact same thing with collaborative robots and eliminate all of the guarding and a majority of the safety-related hardware costs. Now an operator can actually work beside the robot in that same station, enabling human work and robotic vision inspection simultaneously.

This collaborative robot cell not only saves costs associated with guarding and required safety devices and interlocks, but it also saves the floor space often required for fenced robot cells.

Inverted collaborative robots inspect automotive components alongside assembly line workers without requiring hard safety fencing. (Courtesy FANUC America Corporation)

Safety FirstThere are different ways to achieve a collaborative robotics application, as explained in Testing Thresholds for Collaborative Robot Safety and evidenced on the bumper assembly line. Besides the inherently collaborative nature of power and force limiting robots, Flex-N-Gate uses an area laser scanner in conjunction with their cobots to further support safety while optimizing production efficiency.

In order for it to be a collaborative application, were limited to a maximum collaborative speed for safety reasons, says Wiegand. In some cases that can be problematic, because were unable to get all the work completed in time with the slower robot travel speeds. In some cases, weve used a safety scanner so that when an operator is not in the area, the robot can run at full speed. When humans come near the robot, it slows down to a safe collaborative speed. The operator can simply touch the robot and it stops.

You can physically just push them out of the way, too. When you restart the robots, they go right back to where they were and carry on with their jobs, he adds.

Wiegand says safety is number one at Flex-N-Gate.

We dot our Is and cross our Ts to ensure that we are in fact integrating these units per the RIA standards and that we are 100 percent safe, he says. We also go a step further and require third-party safety certification.

Proper training for personnel working with and around the new collaborative robots was also a priority.

Traditional robotic safety and avoidance of human-robot interaction is so engrained in our workforce, says Wiegand. Our technicians were sent for collaborative robot-specific training (provided by the robot supplier) and we did safety demonstrations with the plant personnel and operators. It was a bit of a paradigm shift, but it didnt take long for team members to become comfortable working around the collaborative robots.

Ive spent my entire career in automation and robotics, he says. Robots and people occupying the same space has always been a huge no-no. Its cool to see how getting over that hump was surprisingly easy. A lot of it boils down to physically demonstrating that it is, in fact, safe. Showing people something, versus telling them, has a different impact.

Flex-N-Gate has deployed 33 collaborative robots at different facilities throughout the U.S. and Mexico. Worldwide they have approximately 2,000 traditional robots across 62 facilities.

In the last year, weve really gone hard and heavy in the collaborative space, says Wiegand, noting that right now, they primarily use the cobots for vision inspection. As more opportunities present themselves, well continue to look at collaborative robots as a potential solution.

On the West Coast, a different manufacturer was looking to cobots as a potential solution for labor shortages. A robot integrator came to the rescue with two sets of collaborative arms.

Cobot Twins Curb Labor WoesPromotional products supplier iClick had a problem. Their popular PopSockets grips for mobile phones were flying off the shelves, but the Seattle-based company couldnt hire enough workers to keep up with demand. Kitting and bagging product was a tedious job.

Workers were manually attaching the grips to promotional cards and then feeding them one at a time to an automated bagging machine, a labor-intensive process. Even with a crew of four, the workers couldnt keep up with the bagging machine to maximize capacity. Labor continued to be difficult to find and retain.

In an effort to move workers to higher-value jobs, iClick sought out robot integrator House of Design to offer a collaborative robot solution. The FlexBagger system was born.

The robotic kitting and bagging system consists of two ABB YuMi dual-arm collaborative robots. In a carefully choreographed dance of their seven-axis arms, each robot attaches PopSockets to promotional cards and then drops them into the automated bagging machine.

Watch the cobot twins take turns bagging branded PopSockets.

Since each robot must occupy the same space as they deposit assembled items in the bagging area, the timing of the arms needs to be coordinated to avoid collisions. House of Design used ABB RobotStudio to program the robot workstation and ensure smooth movements of its kinematically redundant arms.

Flexible Kitting and BaggingChad Svedin, Project Manager for House of Design in Nampa, Idaho, says the manual bagging process was painstaking. Human workers werent able to put the product in the bags fast enough. With two dual-arm robots working in concert, they can perform the work of four people and keep the automated bagger fully stocked.

Launched in February 2018, this was iClicks first foray into robotics. It was so successful that less than a year later, they ordered another FlexBagger system.

House of Design markets the FlexBagger for other kitting and bagging applications. The YuMi cobot is equipped to grab various small items such as screws, nuts or washers and assemble them in bags. Check out this demo with different sizes and colors of interlocking toy bricks.

Like other power and force limiting cobots, YuMi has special characteristics to help it work collaboratively in close proximity or directly with its human coworkers. It was important to iClick to have a collaborative robot so its workforce could easily enter the robots operating space to remove defective items or replenish products when necessary. The dark gray areas on YuMis arms are padded for safety in the event of contact.

If someone juts their hand into the working system, it bumps into them and freezes in its spot, notes Svedin. A minor bump will stop it from moving.

House of Design trained iClick personnel on safety, and how to run and program the robots.

They loved that the robots looked very humanlike and that they could approach it, says Svedin. It wasnt this thing in a box away from them. They saw it as a part of their crew.

Cobots are part of the crew in unexpected places. Manufacturing isnt the only sector with labor woes. The floral industry is on the verge of a labor crisis and looking to automation for solutions.

Roses and RobotsVisitors to the Automate Show last April may have caught a glimpse of a cobot arranging small bouquets of roses, or you may have even taken home a souvenir bouquet. Some of us skipped the buds for the backstory.

FloraBot is the brainchild of Founder and CEO Alex Frost, a second-generation florist who grew up in his parents retail flower business. For the past dozen years, his Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based software company, QuickFlora, has been providing cloud-based ERP systems for floral retailers.

We work with a lot of retailers in the U.S. and Canada helping them manage their software technology frontend and backend systems. We have a front-row seat to some of their challenges. Over the last 5 to 10 years, there have been fewer and fewer people going into the flower business, so its hard to find qualified floral designers to work in flower shops.

He says you compound that with increasing minimum wage rates in many places such as California, and you have a real labor shortage in the floral industry. Its an environment he thinks is ripe for collaborative robots.

We see them flipping hamburgers, making pancakes and serving coffee. We decided last year, lets bring one of these machines in here and see what it can actually do, says Frost. Can we program it to make flower arrangements? Can we create a turnkey cell for end users?

If you think of Kroger, they have 4,000 stores across the country (marketed under different supermarket brands). Each store needs about 10 to 30 arrangements every day, he says. Those are all made by hand right now. Usually, you have 50 to100 people in a cooler set at 34 degrees. The process is very labor-intensive and you cant scale it. When Valentines Day or Mothers Day comes around and volume increases 5 or 10 times, you cant just hire 5 or 10 times the people that fast when you dont have space. Theres a labor shortage issue, a labor cost issue, and a scalability issue.

Automating Floral DesignFrost sees an emerging market, not only in North America but worldwide. In fact, most of his inquiries come from Western Europe, because labor costs are higher and the European market tends to be more receptive to adopting automation technologies. He notes the evolving niche for precision agriculture, which we examined in Cultivating Robotics and AI for Sustainable Agriculture, where startups and established companies are adapting collaborative robotics for farming.

We sort of fit into that category because were dealing with product that is very sensitive, not heavy, that requires specialized grippers, force control, and vision systems to actually make it work, says Frost. There are a lot of similarities between our technology and that technology in terms of trying to handle delicate flower stems of all shapes and sizes, and then pick and place them into specific xyz coordinates with reasonable cycle time and low defect rate.

He was skeptical himself at first. But as their research and product testing progressed over the last year, he became a believer. They decided to start with a Universal Robots collaborative robot because of their relative ease of use and ease of programming. They have a built-in ecosystem of compatible hardware makers and apps. Theyre also easily portable.

The current FloraBot system uses a UR5 cobot with a Robotiq Hand-E gripper. Previous testing was conducted with grippers from Ubiros and Soft Robotics. Frost says the gripper system has been a big part of the learning process.

What we realized is that nothing worked off the shelf. Absolutely nothing. We had to come up with our own proprietary fingers. Now were working on our own proprietary servo-electric gripper. It will give our end users more flexibility.

Check out this early iteration of the FloraBot system in action on the trade show floor.

FloraBot- The worlds first robotic floral designer by FloraVina from QuickFlora on Vimeo.

Turnkey and Travel-ReadyWhile patents are still pending, FloraBot wont release shots of the near production-ready system. They are currently pilot testing at one company in Miami. They plan to start shipping units in January 2020 right after their official launch at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Frost says the system can assemble AIFD-quality floral arrangements at 100-200 units per hour, 24/7, and with an ROI in less than a year. Right now they plan to sell the system, but eventually, he expects to move to a RaaS model. That way flower companies and growers will be able to try it without making a CapEx investment.

FloraBot supposedly excels at small arrangements about 12 cubic inches. But when you get into larger arrangements like a dozen long-stem roses in a vase, it requires a different kind of gripper. Thats where FloraBot will have to turn to proprietary grippers of their own.

Frost is envisioning a turnkey system they can ship on a 48 in. x 48 in. pallet, basically one robot cell that can do specific tasks within an assembly line. For example, to create an arrangement you may need six cells on the line. One robot that cuts the foam for the container, one that hydrates the foam, one that picks/places the foliage, then one that picks/places the flowers, one that sleeves the arrangement, and another that puts it in the box.

Right now, we see that the machines are capable of doing 75 percent of what humans do in the floral business, whether its a typical flower shop or the mass market, says Frost. Thats really the sweet spot for this technology, the mass market because they crank out high volumes (2000-3000 bouquets) of the same type of arrangements on a daily basis. There will always be a market for people that want something custom. But the reality is most retail florists make the same arrangements week in and week out.

FloraBot has been approached by companies that put flower arrangements in boxes and ship them around the world. There are a lot of new, innovative players in the flower business. Frost says most of the new upstarts are the most receptive to automation.

Weve had requests to do Hawaiian flower leis, which is a very labor-intensive process. Others want us to make different animals covered with roses, which is popular in many countries. Thats also very labor-intensive because you have to cut out a foam model of a little French poodle and then put 600 roses on it. That usually takes 4 to 8 hours. There are definitely cases where machines will take over in terms of production capability.

You might not know that it was created by a robot and you might not care, says Frost. If the customer gets a beautiful flower arrangement that has 12 to 24 stems, the color palette is wonderful and its at their price point, theyre going to be happy. At the end of the day, its about delivering the most value for the customer.

In June, FloraBot exhibited at the International Floriculture Expo (IFE) in Miami, touted as the largest B2B floral event in North America. Frost was astounded by the interest.

Everyone at the flower show, big growers and bouquet makers, came over to the booth and asked how they could use the robot to cut their payroll. No one asked or cared about the technology, or whether it worked or not. It just came down to cost and ROI. CFOs came over. I never had so many C-suite-level people engage in serious discussions at a show. That really tells us were on the right path.

FloraBot recently beat a path all the way to Boston, where they opened a new office at MassRobotics, one of the major robotics clusters. It will be interesting to see what comes next.

Five years from now there will be no humans making flower arrangements, says Frost, because when you see labor savings in the range of 50 to 75 percent, it just doesnt make economic sense anymore.

From rosebuds to electrical connectors, cobots are popping up in industries far and wide.

Mobile Production AssistantCollaborative robots also come in mobile varieties, including this mobile manipulator that integrates an autonomous mobile platform with a six-axis articulating arm. Stubli Electrical Connectors relies on the HelMo mobile robot system from Stubli Robotics to help supplement production during peak demand or during human workforce shortages due to illness or other unforeseen absences.

Once trained, HelMo can handle almost any manual job on the various assembly lines at the connector manufacturers facility in Allschwil, Switzerland. The production assistant navigates to its own workstation, decelerates or stops when human coworkers come too close, and then automatically resumes its operation when the protected workspace is clear.

As soon as HelMo arrives at its workstation, the cobot precisely positions itself within a tenth of a millimeter by referencing three permanent orientation points at the workstation. HelMo then connects itself via a multi-coupling to the fixed supply sockets for electricity and compressed air, then starts its shift.

The mobile cobot is also equipped with an automatic tool change system. One day it could be working with connector housings and contact pins. The next day might be some other stage in the assembly process, wherever its needed.

Integrated atop the mobile platform is a standard Stubli TX2-90L robot with a 15 kg payload and 1,200 mm reach. Watch the HelMo mobile robot system autonomously load rotary tables for manufacturing pneumatic couplings, and later in the footage safely navigate around human coworkers and other equipment in the production space.

The flexible production assistant monitors its environment with three integrated laser scanners. HelMo can perform its tasks automatically or in collaboration with humans.

Material Transport CobotsIn Japan, a fleet of mobile robots collaborates with humans. OMRONs FA sensor manufacturing facility in Ayabe wanted to upgrade its material transport system with a fully automated solution for transporting work-in-progress (WIP) components throughout the factory.

Ayabe is both a production facility and a development facility. In addition to producing OMRON technologies for customers, it also serves as an environment for testing and optimizing new products, including the OMRON LD mobile robot. Moving away from cumbersome conveyor belts that are difficult to rearrange, the engineering team opted for this flexible mobile solution where robots autonomously navigate their way through dynamic environments.

Each LD mobile robot gets its configuration data from the Enterprise Manager, which helps optimize traffic flow by sharing each robots position and trajectory with other robots in its vicinity. This allows each mobile robot to make path adjustments on the fly to avoid people, obstacles and other robots in its path.

The Enterprise Manager allows operators to manage map and configuration updates from a central communication point. These updates are then pushed to each mobile robot in the fleet. The Enterprise Manager also provides a queuing manager to receive job requests from call buttons and automation equipment, and then dispatch jobs to the mobile robots.

In the Ayabe factory, the mobile robots carry product containers between the assembly, final inspection and shipment stations. Since the mobile robot system is connected with the manufacturing engineering system (MES), transportation orders through the MES are conducted according to the work in progress. Watch Ayabes mobile robot fleet in action.

To make transportation more efficient, each LD mobile robot has two lifts, one on the front and one on the back, which makes it possible to carry materials to two destinations in a single trip.

We were able to automate 75 percent of all material transport tasks using these mobile robots, says OMRONs Assistant Manager Makoto Kasuya. People used to move containers in batches, but now robots can move them more frequently. As a result, the lead time needed to transport material has decreased by 80 percent on average.

The overall solution also reduces the expense and effort required for future investments, as LD mobile robots can be easily implemented in other factories without incurring new design costs.

Using its workforce for higher-value tasks instead of moving around products and materials will help Japans manufacturing sector address a growing labor shortage crisis as the countrys population continues its rapid decline. Workers at OMRONs Kusatsu factory used to manually transport up to 300 containers per day. Now the LD mobile fleet does what robots do best, enabling the people to focus on more creative work.

Creativity is still the human element. We need inspiration, ingenuity and vision, the kind that dreams up unique floral designs, innovative tech toys, and adds new functionality and value to age-old automotive components. Robots push us to be better.

RIA Members featured in this article:ABB RoboticsFANUC America CorporationOMRON AutomationStubli North America

Originally published by RIA via http://www.robotics.org on 12/16/2019

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Robotics Industry Insights - Cobots, Raising the Human... - Robotics Online - Robotics Online

Laura Dyrda and Angie Stewart - Wednesday, December 4th, 2019Print|Email

The hospitals featured on Becker's Hospital Review's 100 hospitals and health systems with great orthopedic programs list for 2019 have earned recognition for quality of care and patient satisfaction for orthopedic and spine surgery.

Many are high-volume centers where surgeons annually perform hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of total joint replacements, in addition to less complex musculoskeletal surgeries. Theseprograms highlighted have rich histories of innovation and have won grants to research musculoskeletal treatments. The centers also include robust nonoperative services and provide care to professional and elite athletes in their communities.

Our editorial team accepted nominations for this list and took several rankings and awards into consideration, includingU.S. News & World Reportrankings for adult and pediatric orthopedics. The team also considered CareChex rankings, Healthgrades awards, Leapfrog, Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center designation, The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval and hospitals' reputations for innovation in orthopedic care.

Note: Hospitals and health systems cannot pay for inclusion on this list, and organizations are listed in alphabetical order.

For questions or comments about this list, contact Laura Dyrda atldyrda@beckershealthcare.com.You can nominate a hospital or health system for the 2020 list here.

Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis). The Orthopaedic Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital includes specialists in joint replacement, spine surgery and sports medicine. The hospital's joint replacement center has a 90 percent patient satisfaction rating of good to excellent care and has earned the Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement designation from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The hospital, a member of Allina Health, ranks among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20. The hospital's surgeons perform around 4,000 orthopedic procedures annually.

Atrium Health (Charlotte, N.C.). The Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute has 10 locations systemwide and an orthopedic residency top ranked by Doximity. It is a collaboration with more than 200 physicians involved in more than 20 externally funded research trials. It is also part of the Major Extremity Trauma and Rehabilitation Consortium, with more than 7,000 patients enrolled across 18 projects. The health system, which includes 40 hospitals and 900 care sites, has had hospitals ranked among the top orthopedic programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and supports research and clinical trials for new orthopedic treatments.

Banner Health (Phoenix). Banner Health's orthopedic program spans hospitals in Phoenix, Tucson and Northern Colorado. The health system partners with Phoenix-based The CORE Institute and the Banner CORE Center for Orthopedics to streamline the continuum of care. The center includes orthopedic surgeons as well as integrated services such as inpatient and outpatient therapy. The two groups have a history together, partnering on co-management agreements and joint ventures on outpatient clinic locations.

Baptist Health Care / Andrews Institute (Pensacola, Fla.). The Gulf Breeze, Fla.-based Andrews Institute, an affiliate of Baptist Health Care, was founded by renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews, MD, who treats elite athletes. The institute has 34 physicians on staff and provides care at nine locations. The Andrews Institute is also designated a Blue Distinction Center+ for knee and hip replacement surgery from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and received an 'excellent' rating in the third year of participating in Medicare's Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement quality performance category. Many of the physicians also participate in the Andrews Research and Education Foundation, which received a $1 million grant from the state for two consecutive years to support its research into regenerative medicine.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis). The orthopedic department at Barnes-Jewish Hospital includes team physicians for the St. Louis Blues and Washington University athletics, in addition to other local teams. It supports joint replacement and preservation, spine and sports medicine as well as orthopedic concierge services. The National Institutes of Health has granted the orthopedic surgery departments research funding for its projects, which include basic science and clinical research. The hospital has earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for hip and knee joint replacement and its surgeons perform more than 1,100 procedures annually.

Baystate Medical Center (Springfield, Mass.). Baystate Medical Center's orthopedic services include the Baystate Orthopedic Surgery Center and services from New England Orthopedic Surgeons. The practice includes 18 physicians and 180 employees who focus on spine, sports medicine and joint replacements. The hospital has computer-assisted technology for orthopedic procedures.

Beaumont Hospital (Royal Oak, Mich.). Beaumont Hospital's orthopedic surgeons perform around 8,500 joints per year, typically using minimally invasive techniques. It also serves as a learning institution, and surgeons come from around the nation to its Applebaum Simulation Learning Institute for training in new techniques. U.S. News & World Report ranked Beaumont Hospital among the top 30 orthopedic hospitals in the nation. The hospital's clinicians also focus on research, including basic science studies and FDA clinical trials. Areas of interest for research include biomechanics, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and joint wear simulation.

Bethesda North Hospital (Cincinnati). Bethesda North Hospital Orthopedics, part of TriHealth, has had the Anthem Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement recognition and Aenta's Institute for Quality Orthopedic Care for Total Joint Replacement honor since 2010. TriHealth's Orthopedics & Sports Institute, which has locations at multiple system hospitals, earned the first Joint Commission Gold Seal Award for advanced hip and knee certification and its physicians serve professional athletes for the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals.

Boston Children's Hospital. Surgeons and clinicians at Boston Children's Hospital attend to more than 100,000 patient visits and perform 6,000 surgeries annually. The hospital's orthopedics department dates to 1903 and has now grown to include 13 specialty clinics and urgent care facilities throughout Massachusetts. The hospital also supports the Orthopedic Center's Research & Innovations Department, which includes a focus on spine surgery and joint preservations. The hospital is a leader in hip preservation surgery, having performed more than 1,200 periacetabular osteotomies. Its sports medicine injury clinic also includes 40,000 patient visits per year. For 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital No. 1 for pediatric orthopedic care.

Boston Medical Center. Boston Medical Center's department of orthopedic surgery is affiliated with Boston University School of Medicine and works with the specialists to provide orthopedic care and support research in the orthopedic space. The department includes 11 orthopedic and trauma surgeons that focus on joint replacements, spine and fracture care.

Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston). The department of orthopedic surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital traces its roots to 1980 and has since grown to include around 40 orthopedic surgeons who specialize in joint reconstruction, sports medicine and spine, among other subspecialties. The department is also dedicated to education and trains around 60 orthopedic residents per year. The hospital's surgeons also engage in research through the Musculoskeletal Research Center within the Brigham Research Institute for cross-collaborative projects.

Carilion Roanoke (Va.) Memorial Hospital. Carilion Clinic supports the orthopedic services at multiple locations of the Institute for Orthopaedics and Neurosciences, including at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. The academic orthopedic practice has more than 50 trained providers and pioneers minimally invasive techniques. Carilion Clinic surgeons perform more than 1,500 hip and knee replacements annually and have maintained The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for quality care award since 2007. The organization also has a robust sports medicine team that performs more than 12,000 surgical procedures per year and cares for athletes at six colleges and universities.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles). Cedars-Sinai supports the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, which includes team physicians for the Los Angeles Clippers and Rams. NRC Health voted Cedars-Sinai No. 1 for quality medicine in Los Angeles and U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital No. 3 in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20. Cedars-Sinai also focuses on medical training, and more than 600 medical students apply for its orthopedic residency program each year.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles. The Children's Orthopaedic Center at CHLA has programs in spine, hip preservation and sports medicine. The sports medicine specialists are also physicians for the L.A. Galaxy professional soccer team and have access to the John C. Wilson, Jr. Motion and Sports Analysis Laboratory. The center includes surgical and non-surgical specialists at the main hospital as well as five outpatient locations. U.S. News & World Report ranked Children's Hospital Los Angeles among the top five hospitals in the nation for pediatric orthopedics in 2019-20.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The division of orthopedics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia includes 31 orthopedic surgeons focused on specialties from spine to sports medicine and joint pain. The program has served pediatric patients into adulthood for more than 120 years and its specialists also engage in research about treating pediatric orthopedic conditions. U.S. News & World Report ranked Children's Hospital of Philadelphia among the top five hospitals in the nation for pediatric orthopedics.

Children's Medical Center Dallas - Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is dedicated to pediatric orthopedic cases as well as children with neurological disorders. The hospital includes six centers of excellence known for providing innovative solutions to spine care, limb lengthening and other disorders. The hospital is also committed to research to develop new solutions for scoliosis treatment, concussion management and other conditions. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top five in the nation for pediatric orthopedics in 2019-20.

Christ Hospital (Cincinnati). The Christ Hospital Health Network Joint & Spine Center provides care for patients with simple and complex orthopedic conditions. It has 87 private inpatient rooms, 12 outpatient rooms and space for physical and occupational therapy. The health system also offers bundled services for select spine and joint replacement procedures through its centers of excellence program. Individuals and employers can pay one fixed cost for procedures that include the episode of care as well as postoperative therapy. The health system also has three outpatient surgery centers focused on orthopedic and spine procedures, with the most recent having opened in January 2018.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. The division of orthopedics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital focuses on patients with fractures, scoliosis, neuromuscular conditions and more. The division has 14 orthopedic surgeons who are also involved in research as a core tenet of their professional mission. The research includes microbiology and biomechanics as well as improvements to clinical care. U.S. News & World Report named Cincinnati Children's Hospital among the top five hospitals in the nation for pediatric orthopedics in 2019-20.

Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic's orthopedic surgeons focus on simple and complex joint procedures. They perform more than 7,000 hip, knee, shoulder, ankle, elbow, wrist and finger replacements per year. Cleveland Clinic also has among the highest volume of patients in the nation for severe osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as trauma. Cleveland Clinic's Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Institute has around 168 clinicians, including physicians. U.S. News & World Report ranked two Cleveland Clinic hospitals among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

Duke University Hospital (Durham, N.C.). Duke University Hospital's department of orthopedic surgery includes 83 orthopedic faculty and 40 orthopedic residents. The academic medical center also has 17 orthopedic clinical fellows and 29 research trainees. The orthopedic department treated 175,824 patients in 2017, the last data available, and performed 16,440 procedures. U.S. News & World Report ranked Duke University Hospital among the top 25 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

Emory University Hospital (Atlanta). Emory Orthopaedics & Spine Center is the official sports medicine provider for the Atlanta Hawks, Braves, Falcons and Harlem Globetrotters. The hospital broke ground in October on the new Emory Musculoskeletal Institute in Brookhaven, Ga., a 180,000-square-foot, LEED-certified building designed for orthopedic and spine cases. The new building is expected to open in 2021 and provide more environmentally friendly care.

Erlanger Health System (Chattanooga, Tenn.). Erlanger Orthopaedic Institute's surgeons are on the faculty of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and participate in clinical trials for joint replacement and fracture care. The health system also has a Bone Health Clinic and Ortho Symposium. The Joint Commission granted Erlanger Orthopaedic Institute its Gold Seal of Approval as a Certified Center of Excellence for Primary Hip and Knee Replacements.

Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center. The Orthopedic Institute at Hackensack University Medical Center has more than 50 physicians and healthcare professionals on staff. The institute's Center for Joint Replacement offers tailored care plans for patients, and 96 percent of patients are able to stand or walk on the same night as their procedure. The health system boasts a 1.9 percent 30-day readmission rates for orthopedic patients, and 80 percent of them are discharged home. U.S. News & World Report named Hackensack University Hospital among the high performing hospitals for knee and hip replacement in 2019-20. Healthgrades also rated it among America's 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery and Joint Replacement.

Hoag Orthopedic Institute (Irvine, Calif.). Hoag Orthopedic Institute was developed through a partnership between Orange County physicians and Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. The hospital has 70 beds and nine operating rooms dedicated to orthopedics. HOI also has more than 300 specialty physicians, including 93 orthopedic surgeons. In 2018, the hospital reported 5,509 orthopedic surgeries while HOI's ASC performed 12,454. The hospital participates in bundled payments for orthopedics and reports a 1.4 percent complication rate for total hip and knee replacements, well below the 2.5 percent national average.

Hospital for Special Surgery (New York City). Hospital for Special Surgery has been ranked the top hospital in the nation for orthopedic surgery by U.S. News & World Report for the past 10 years, most recently in 2019-20. Founded in 1863, the hospital focuses on orthopedics and rheumatology, and its surgeons perform more than 32,000 procedures per year. It is also the highest volume hip and knee replacement hospital in the nation. The hospital also focuses on innovation, opening the HSS Research Institute, which comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members dedicated to musculoskeletal health. HSS physicians hold faculty appointments at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, instructing residents in musculoskeletal health.

Houston Methodist Hospital. Surgeons at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine perform more than 20,000 orthopedic procedures per year. The staff have more than 100 years of experience in orthopedics, including minimally invasive techniques. The health system's sports medicine physicians are the official healthcare providers for the Houston Texans and Houston Astros. U.S. News & World Report named Houston Methodist Hospital among the top 15 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

Huntington Hospital (Pasadena, Calif.). Huntington Orthopedics Institute participates in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model from CMS. It has been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. U.S. News & World Report also recognized the hospital in 2019-20 for musculoskeletal care, ranking it among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics.

Indiana University Medical Center (Indianapolis). The IU School of Medicine's department of orthopedic surgery was established in 1948 and has grown into a full academic department with a research arm that receives $5.4 million in funding, with another $3.5 million pending. NIH recently provided a $1.8 million grant to the department to study mobile compression devices that would prevent deep vein thrombosis after knee replacement surgery. The orthopedic department includes 32 full-time faculty as well as 29 graduate students and 50 supporting staff.

Inova Mount Vernon Hospital (Alexandria, Va.). Patients from across the U.S. travel to Inova Mount Vernon Hospital for orthopedic care. The hospital's surgeons perform more than 2,000 hip, knee, shoulder and ankle replacements annually. The Inova Joint Replacement Center earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for outstanding care in joint replacement and is a UnitedHealthcare Center of Excellence for Joint Replacement.

Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore). Founded in 1900, the Johns Hopkins department of orthopedic surgery has evolved to include joint replacements, spine, trauma and sports medicine. The specialists are also focused on research and participate in clinical trials as well as basic and translational research. U.S. News & World Report named Johns Hopkins Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

John Muir Health (Walnut Creek, Calif.). Quality and transparency are important aspects of the orthopedics program at John Muir Health. It participates in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement program, a five-year bundled payment program making it responsible for the quality and cost of care. It also offers voluntary participation in the California Joint Replacement Registry, which tracks results for total hip and knee surgeries to provide better care to patients in the future. The health system is designated as Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its Walnut Creek (Calif.) Medical Center is ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

Keck Hospital of USC (Los Angeles). The department of orthopedic surgery at Keck Hospital of USC has a mission to provide quality care and educate the next generation of orthopedic surgeons. Its orthopedic surgeons are also focused on research, including investigations into stem cell therapy for cartilage repair and biomechanical research. The Epstein Family Foundation also donated $10 million to name the USC Epstein Family Center for Sports Medicine in 2018; the center serves athletes in the community and physicians at the center serve as official doctors for USC Trojan athletes.

Lahey Hospital and Medical Center (Burlington, Mass.). Lahey Hospital and Medical Center has collected data on total joint replacement patients since 1988 and conducts academic reviews of the data to improve the care delivery process. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has designated the hospital a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement and serves as the teaching hospital for Boston University's Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Training Program. Orthopedic surgeons from its sports medicine center treat professional and amateur athletes.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown, Pa.). The Centers for Orthopedic Medicine at Lehigh Valley Health Network includes fellowship-trained joint replacement and sports medicine surgeons. The physicians lead a team of 400 experts across specialties and sports performance. It has earned the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Blue Distinction Center+ for hip and knee replacements and Aetna's Institute of Quality in orthopedics. U.S. News & World Report also ranked Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

Loyola Medicine (Maywood, Ill.). Loyola Medicine takes a multidisciplinary approach to orthopedic care. The health system reports around 85 percent to 90 percent of knee replacement surgeries performed there are successful for 10 years or more. The system also has a robust sports medicine department with team consultants for major associations, including the U.S. Soccer Federation and U.S.A. Hockey.

Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston). Surgeons in the department of orthopedic surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital treat the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions, seeing more than 80,000 patients each year. Spine, trauma and joint replacement specialists treat patients at Massachusetts General, which also has a robust sports medicine department that is home to the team physicians for the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots and Boston Bruins. U.S. News & World Report ranked Massachusetts General Hospital among the top 10 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

Mayo Clinic Health System (Rochester, Minn.). Mayo Clinic is a national leader in orthopedics, with more than 80 orthopedic surgeons spanning its locations in Rochester, Phoenix, and Jacksonville, Fla. The W. Hall Wendel Jr. Musculoskeletal Center at Mayo Clinic's flagship campus in Rochester opened in 2007 and includes 57 exam rooms as well as an outpatient surgical center and ancillary services. Its surgeons also have a mission for education, traveling internationally to train surgeons as well as working with residents and fellows. U.S. News & World Report ranked Mayo's locations in Rochester and Phoenix among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

MedStar (Columbia, Md.). MedStar Orthopaedic Institute has more than 80 physicians and 20 locations across the health system's coverage area. Its specialists focus on minimally invasive treatments and have earned The Joint commission's advanced certification in hip, knee and spine surgery. U.S. News & World Report also ranks two MedStar hospitals as high performing in knee replacement. The health system has a robust sports medicine program and serves as the official medical providers for the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards and Baltimore Orioles.

Memorial Hermann (Houston). Memorial Hermann's orthopedic services include the Memorial Hermann Joint Centers, offered at eight locations across the system, as well as the Ironman Sport Medicine Institute at four locations focusing on athletic training, biomechanics and sports injuries. The Joint Center physicians perform around 3,000 hip and knee replacements annually. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has also designated Memorial Hermann Southwest a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. The health system also includes the Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital, which has 64 patient rooms and 10 surgical suites. The Center for Advanced Orthopedics at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center is a 90,000-square-foot facility where surgeons perform more than 4,100 orthopedic surgeries per year.

MemorialCare (Orange and Los Angeles Counties, Calif.). MemorialCare has a broad orthopedic program across its health system, with the MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Calif., earning a spot on the U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for orthopedics in the U.S. for 2019-20. Saddleback reports a 98 percent success rate for orthopedics and earned the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association designation for joint replacements. Beyond offering innovative clinical care, the health system offers research and clinical trials for orthopedic patients and earned the Aetna Institutes of Quality for total Joint Replacement distinction.

Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute at Baptist Hospital of Miami. Baptist Health South Florida's Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute cares for the Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins and Florida Panthers. Established at Doctors Hospital, Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute is a 281-bed acute care facility that also sees adult and pediatric trauma patients. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

Morristown (N.J.) Medical Center. Atlantic Health System's Morrison Medical Center is known for innovative orthopedic procedures and equipment. The hospital's surgeons perform more than 4,000 joint replacements each year at the Atlantic Orthopedic Institute, using robotics and gender-specific technology. The system also partners with Atlantic Health System Children's Health and Goryeb Children's Hospital to provide pediatric orthopedic care. The health system is also the official healthcare partner of the New York Jets. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report named Morristown Medical Center among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery.

Mount Sinai Hospital (New York City). Mount Sinai Health System's orthopedic services are spread across locations throughout the metropolitan New York City area. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 20 hospitals for orthopedics in 2019-20. It also earned The Joint Commission's Advanced Certification in total hip and knee replacement. Mount Sinai is also recognized for its sports medicine expertise, having served as the official medical service provider for the U.S. Open for seven consecutive years. Mount Sinai is home to a center dedicated to serving former NFL players and providing joint replacement to the players.

MUSC Health University Medical Center (Charleston, S.C.). MUSC Health Sports Medicine offers medical coverage or consultation services to several elite athletes and athletic teams including the Charleston Battery, a Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and the Women's Tennis Association Volvo Car Open. The hospital is also designated a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery and Hip and Knee Replacement. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Children's Hospital among the top hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery.

New England Baptist Hospital (Boston). New England Baptist Hospital has spent the past 30 years as the official hospital of the Boston Celtics, providing orthopedic care and other services for the players and their families. It also has a history of innovation, as one of the first hospitals in the country for surgeons to perform total joint replacement. NEBH has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification for total hip and total knee replacement.

NewYork-Presbyterian (New York City). NewYork-Presbyterian Orthopedics provides a full range of surgical services as well as pioneering spinal procedures at The Spine Hospital. The orthopedics department has more than 150 years of history and has grown to include a surgical volume of 10,900 procedures as of 2016, including 3,475 hip and knee procedures and 3,509 spine procedures. It is also a level 1 adult advanced trauma center and serves as the official hospital and orthopedic physicians for the New York Yankees and New York City FC. The health system's orthopedics department is also busy with research; the National Institutes of Health provided grants to Columbia Orthopedics, a partner of NewYork-Presbyterian, totaling more than $3.3 million.

NorthShore University Hospitals (Evanston, Ill.). The Orthopaedic & Spine Institute at NorthShore University Hospitals includes more than 100 specialty trained physicians who are dedicated to practicing innovative care. The health system includes computer-aided technology for surgical procedures and utilizes regenerative medicine in the NorthShore Orthopaedic & Spine Institute to treat patients. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 15 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20.

Northwell Health (New Hyde Park, N.Y.). Northwell Health Orthopaedic Institute focuses on minimally invasive techniques for procedures, including joint replacements and has robotic technology for knee and hip procedures. Several of its hospitals have earned The Joint Commission's disease-specific certification for joint replacements and U.S. News & World Report recognition. In 2017, the health system partnered with Philadelphia-based Rothman Institute to provide additional orthopedic coverage, and 10 Rothman surgeons currently practice at Phelps Hospital Northwell Health.

Northwestern Medicine (Chicago). Northwestern Medicine has a robust orthopedics program that includes joint replacement, spine surgery and sports medicine. U.S. News & World Report ranked two of the system's hospitals Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20. At the system's flagship hospital, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, physicians perform more than 7,000 orthopedic surgeries per year.

NYU Langone Health (New York City). The NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital provides both inpatient and outpatient surgery for adult and pediatric patients. The hospital's surgeons have provided more than 1,500 outpatient total joint replacements and earned a spot on the U.S. News & World Report top 10 hospitals for orthopedics and rheumatology in 2019-20. NYU Health's Winthrop Hospital was also ranked in the top 50 hospitals for orthopedics by U.S. News for the past year. The health system's department of orthopedic surgery is also focused on research and innovation, offering physicians and scientists to opportunity to collaborate on improving outcomes for the more than 20,000 orthopedic procedures performed by the system's specialists each year.

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus). The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is on the forefront of minimally invasive orthopedic procedures and provides comprehensive care for patients. Its specialists are involved in clinical trials examining injury outcomes, ACL tear treatment and bone tumors. The hospital is a level 1 trauma center and includes robotic technology for knee and hip surgery procedures.

OHSU (Portland, Ore.). OHSU orthopedic specialists focus on minimally invasive procedures and rely on innovative research and technology to differentiate from other joint replacement programs in the region. The health system includes three joint replacement surgeons as well as sports medicine, spine and trauma physicians. OHSU's Orthopedics and Rehabilitation department also focuses on research into topics such as stem cells, tissue engineering and spinal fusion enhancements. OHSU is a level 1 trauma center and is ranked as high performing in orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20.

OrthoIndy Hospital (Indianapolis). OrthoIndy Hospital is a physician-owned hospital with three locations focused on orthopedic surgery. The hospital has earned five-star recognition from Healthgrades for joint replacement excellence, spinal fusion surgery and total hip and knee replacement in 2020. Press Ganey Associates also honored the hospital as a Guardian of Excellence Award winner for achieving the 95th percentile of performance from 2009 to 2019. OrthoIndy serves as the official orthopedics providers for the Indiana Pacers as well as Butler University and other local athletic teams.

OrthoNebraska Hospital (Omaha). OrthoNebraska Hospital is a physician-owned hospital with 21 physician owners. The hospital has created raving fans among those it treats; in a survey of Medicare patients, 92 percent said they would recommend OrthoNebraska Hospital, compared with 72 percent at the national average. The hospital takes a customized approach to joint replacements and earned recognition as a Nebraska Center of Excellence for knee and hip replacements by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska. The hospital's physicians and specialists also cover athletic events throughout the state.

Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin (Glendale). Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin is a member of Ascension Wisconsin and serves patients from across the state. Since being established in 2001 as a joint venture between a group of orthopedic surgeons and Columbia St. Mary's Ascension, the hospital has added services and expanded into a larger location. More recently, it ranked in the top 1 percent of hospitals for overall patient satisfaction, as measured by Press Ganey, and earned the Top 100 Workplaces award from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel from 2013 to 2019. The physician-owned hospital participates in Medicare's value-based purchasing program and provides physical therapy and athletic training for UW Milwaukee.

Penn Medicine (Philadelphia). Penn Medicine's orthopedic department is devoted to research, innovation and patient care. The department's surgeons have access to the McKay Orthopaedic Research Laboratory to collaborate on projects; it has more than 100 research personnel and six principle investigators focusing on musculoskeletal tissue engineering, bone metabolism and cancer-associated bone disease and mesenchymal stem cell maintenance. The health system is also home to the current president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Kristy Weber, MD, who serves as the chief of the system's sarcoma program. In 2019-20, U.S. News & World Report ranked Penn Medicine Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics.

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (Hershey, Pa.). Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center includes the Center for Orthopaedic Research and Translational Science as well as the Bone and Joint Institute and Spine Center. The hospital has 40 orthopedic surgeons focused on a variety of specialties and dedicated to research that advances the field. The faculty's research spans the bone and cartilage cell biology, computational biomechanics and orthopedic implant function and failure. In 2019-20, the hospital earned a spot among U.S. News & World Report's top 50 hospitals for orthopedic surgery.

Porter Adventist Hospital (Denver). Surgeons at The Porter Center for Joint Replacement perform around 2,000 knee and hip replacements each year and recorded a 99 percent patient satisfaction rating from an independent study. The hospital's specialists have published more than 700 journal articles and chapters and earned recognition for hip and knee replacement clinical quality by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and United Healthcare. The hospital remodeled its six dedicated orthopedic operating suites in 2007 for joint replacements and now hosts international fellowship training in hip, knee and shoulder surgery techniques.

Rothman Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital (Bensalem, Pa.). Rothman Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital is a 65,000-square-foot facility with six operating rooms equipped for joint replacement and other orthopedic procedures. More than 30 physicians and surgeons bring operative and non-operative cases to the hospital. The hospital's team of orthopedic and spine surgeons perform more than 3,000 spine surgeries and nonoperative treatments per year. The hospital earned the Outstanding Patient Excellence Award, Patient Safety Excellence Award and Excellence Awards for total knee, hip and joint replacement from Healthgrades.

Rush University Medical Center (Chicago). Rush University Medical Center orthopedic surgeons perform around 3,800 hip and knee replacements per year. They serve as the team physicians for the Chicago Bulls, White Sox, and Fire soccer team as well as other local athletic organizations. Rush publishes its own annual journal focused on orthopedics and was ranked No. 7 in the nation for orthopedic surgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. Rush also conducts research, with physicians and scientists participating in clinical trials about conservative treatment for arthritic knee pain and stem cell treatments for rotator cuff conditions.

Saint Francis Hospital Memphis (Tenn.). The Saint Francis Joint and Spine Center includes 23 specialty orthopedic and spine beds within the 479-bed Saint Francis Hospital Memphis. Surgeons performed around 921 spine and joint replacements at the hospital for the first half of 2019, and more than 1,900 in 2018. It was also the first hospital in Memphis to offer robotic total knee replacements, and now its surgeons have completed more than 1,000 partial and total knee replacements with the technology. The Saint Francis Joint and Spine Center is home to a spine surgical robot, which the team has used for more than 500 procedures. The hospital has earned The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval as a certified hip and knee replacement program.

Santa Monica (Calif.)-UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital. The UCLA Health and Orthopedic Hospital has built a comprehensive orthopedic program joining surgical and non-surgical specialists, academic medicine and scientific research. The health system's location in Santa Monica has earned the Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement designation from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. In terms of research, the health system's orthopedic program is connected to The J. Vernon Luck, Sr., M.D. Orthopaedic Research Center on the UCLA campus, and its faculty ranks among the top 10 in the nation for National Institutes of Health medical-research funding.

Scripps La Jolla (Calif.) Hospitals. The orthopedic surgeons at Scripps perform more than 3,000 hip and knee replacements per year, and the hospital includes robotic technology for increased precision in orthopedic procedures. The system's hospitals have received the Blue Distinction Center designation for orthopedic care from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and Scripps La Jolla Hospitals was rated in the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report. The health system also has a robust research program through the Scripps Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education with ongoing projects focused on areas such as allograft transplantations for cartilage repair, joint implant design, joint implant wear testing and orthopedic stem cell research and genomics.

Sentara Leigh Hospital (Norfolk, Va.). The Orthopedic Hospital at Sentara Leigh is an orthopedic specialty hospital offering the full continuum of care. The hospital's joint replacement program includes robotic technology for partial knee replacements, and was home to the 1,000th surgery performed on the Navio robotic system. The 48-bed hospital also includes the Sentara OrthoJoint Center Express Track, which allows patients to leave the hospital one day after joint replacement surgery.

Spectrum Health (Grand Rapids, Mich.). Spectrum Health has a robust orthopedic surgery and joint replacement program, with as many as 95 percent of joint replacement patients reporting high or very high satisfaction ratings after surgery. In 2019, the hospital also earned recognition among America's 100 Best Joint Replacement hospitals from Healthgrades. The health system has around 56 orthopedic surgeons and more than 100 dedicated orthopedic beds. In addition to providing patient care, the orthopedic department also focuses on research and has received around $600,000 in external funding.

St. Luke's Regional Medical Center (Boise, Idaho). In 2018, St. Luke's Health System opened a new 230,000 square-foot orthopedic specialty facility in Boise with 12 operating rooms and 30 beds. The facility can accommodate 20,000 visits and 7,000 surgeries per year. The health system opened a separate orthopedics location after realizing that its community was expanding, with a 10 percent projected increase in demand for orthopedic services from 2017 to 2020. The health system also has a sports medicine and training program with affiliations that span the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, U.S. Soccer Federation and Ultimate Fighting Championship.

St. Peter's Health Partners (Albany, N.Y.). St. Peter's Hospital Joint Replacement Center surgeons perform 2,500 total hip and knee replacements per year, ranking it among the highest volume hospitals in New York. The hospital also aims to discharge patients to their home, reporting 94 percent of joint replacement patients were discharged home between January 2017 and March 2018, exceeding the national average of 85 percent to 88 percent. The average length of stay for joint replacement patients is also around a half-day shorter at St. Peter's Hospital. In 2018, Women's Choice Award honored the hospital among America's Best Hospitals for Orthopedics and it also earned high performance designation in hip and knee replacement from U.S. News & World Report.

Stanford (Calif.) Health Care-Stanford Hospital. Stanford Hospital's orthopedic team includes around 55 physicians who span joint replacement, spine, sports medicine and extremities care. The hospital includes both inpatient care and an outpatient center in Redwood City, Calif., focused on orthopedics and sports medicine. The hospital's orthopedics department is also focused on research and is currently participating in 17 clinical trials, including studies on pediatric bone tumors and treatment for chronic back pain. U.S. News & World Report ranked Stanford Hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for 2019-20.

Stony Brook (N.Y.) University Hospital. The clinical practice of Stony Brook Medicine includes Stony Brook Orthopaedic Associates, which reports more than 68,000 annual office visits. The hospital's orthopedics team also performs more than 5,600 surgeries each year across both routine and complex specialties. Stony Brook is the only level 1 trauma center in Suffolk County, and has the specialists available to treat orthopedic traumatic injuries. U.S. News & World Report ranked Stony Brook among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital. Tampa General Hospital has a skilled, high-volume orthopedic team, reporting low readmission rates, postoperative complications and revision procedures. The hospital reported 600 knee replacement procedures in 2018 and includes robotic technology for more precise, minimally invasive procedures. Tampa General also participates in the CMS Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model. Newsweek honored the hospital in 2019 as one of the World's Best Hospitals for orthopedics based on patient satisfaction, clinician recommendations and key performance indicators. U.S. News & World Report also ranked Tampa General among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

Texas Health Presbyterian Plano. As Texas Health Presbyterian Plano aims to grow its orthopedics program, the hospital recently completed a $25.4 million expansion project that added five designated orthopedic operating rooms to its campus. The new rooms include advanced technology for complex joint and spine procedures. The hospital also has a robust sports medicine program, which includes physical therapy, concussion management, athletic training and sports nutrition. U.S. News & World Report distinguished Texas Health Presbyterian Plano as high performing in orthopedics in 2019-20.

Texas Orthopedic Hospital (Houston). Texas Orthopedic Hospital opened in 1995 and is a joint venture between physicians and Fondren Orthopedic Group. It is affiliated with HCA Houston Healthcare and earlier this year earned a spot on the Top Workplaces 2019 list by the Houston Chronicle. The hospital has also ranked consistently in the top 5 percent nationwide by HCAHPS and earned Healthgrades' 5-star recognition for total knee and hip replacements for the past 12 years. In May, Texas Orthopedic affiliated with Texas Southern University and became the official sponsor of its athletic programs.

Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (Philadelphia). Jefferson Health's department of orthopaedic surgery includes specialists from Rothman Orthopaedics at Jefferson Health, 3B Orthopaedics and Abington Orthopedic & Spine Institute - Jefferson Health. The system's team performs more than 61,000 surgical orthopedic procedures per year and ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. More than 60 board-certified physicians make up the department, focused on clinical care and research focused on vertebral disc disease and osteoarthritis.

Torrance (Calif.) Memorial Medical Center. The Lundquist Orthopedic Institute at Torrance Memorial Medical Center has earned recognition as a Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for knee and hip replacement surgery as well as spine surgery. It is the fifth largest private orthopedic hospital in Los Angeles County and earned recognition from U.S. News & World Report as one of the top hospitals for orthopedic surgery in 2019-20. Its specialists take a team approach to treating orthopedic patients and support more than 2,100 orthopedic procedures each year.

UC Davis Medical Center (Sacramento). UC Davis Health launched its orthopedics department in 1969, and it has grown into an internationally known orthopedics program. The health system includes the UC Davis Trauma Center, among the three busiest level 1 trauma centers in the country, as well as an adult reconstruction center and sports medicine program. The health system's flagship hospital, UC Davis Medical Center, earned recognition as one of the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report in 2019-20. U.S. News also ranked the health system's Shriner's Hospitals for Children - Northern California among the top hospitals for pediatric orthopedics in the nation this year.

UC San Diego Health-Jacobs Medical Center (La Jolla, Calif.). More than 20 orthopedists make up the team at UC San Diego Health's orthopedic center. The system is the official healthcare provider for the San Diego Padres as well as UC San Diego Athletics. In addition to providing orthopedic care, the health system's specialists participate in clinical trials and have research interest in biologic treatments for injured and diseased tissue, intraoperative tools to assist surgeons during procedures and outcomes for experimental interventions.

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (Aurora). The orthopedics team at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital performs more than 4,000 orthopedic surgeries per year. The orthopedics department specializes in joint replacement and preservation, spine and sports medicine, taking an interdisciplinary approach to patient care. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20. Beyond practicing medicine, the hospital's physicians collaborate with researchers to investigate new techniques and treatments.

UChicago Medicine. The orthopedic surgeons at UChicago Medicine focus on innovating in orthopedic and spine care for more personalized treatments. The health system established the nation's first full-time orthopedic surgery faculty in 1930 and that has grown to include 31 surgical and non-surgical physician specialists. The orthopedics team is also focused on clinical research for musculoskeletal diseases, cartilage regeneration, orthotic techniques and more. U.S. News & World Report distinguished University of Chicago Medical Center as high performing in orthopedics in 2019-20.

UCSF Health (San Francisco). The specialists at the UCSF Arthritis and Joint Replacement Center perform more than 800 hip and knee procedures per year. The health system also has a robust sports medicine program, which includes a sports concussion program and the Sports Medicine Center for Young Athletes, which supports more than 13,000 patient visits and performs around 1,000 surgeries per year for young athletes at all levels, including U.S. Olympians. Finally, the health system treats around 10,000 spine patients per year. U.S. News & World Report ranked UCSF Medical Center among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

UMass Memorial Medical Center (Worcester, Mass.). More than 100 experts in orthopedics and rheumatology provide care at UMass Memorial Medical Center. The hospital's joint replacement program earned Blue Distinction Center+ for Knee and Hip surgery from Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and earned the five-star rating from Healthgrades for total knee replacements for three consecutive years, most recently in 2018. The hospital's researches have received $19 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health as well as $1.7 million from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Skin Disease to improve outcomes after total knee replacement surgery.

University Hospital (Augusta, Ga.). To deliver specialized patient care, University Hospital has devoted its ninth floor to a $9 million Orthopaedic & Spine Center with 45 private patient rooms, a dedicated rehabilitation gym and expansive workspace for physicians and nurses. Anchoring University Health Care System, the 812-bed University Hospital is the only facility in its region to receive designation from Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center+ for knee and hip replacement and spine surgery. It is also the region's only facility recognized as an Aetna Institute of Quality for joint replacement and spine surgery.

University Hospitals (Cleveland). With nine specialty divisions, University Hospitals' orthopedics department takes pride in its multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to care. Physicians at the 1,032-bed hospital are also enlisted as full-time faculty members at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, a Cleveland institution known for heavy investment in research over the past two decades. Through its sports medicine division, UH serves as the official medical provider for the Cleveland Ballet and the Cleveland Browns.

University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (Iowa City). The orthopedics and rehabilitation department at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has 48 beds across its system, which includes 10 outpatient clinics and a specialty radiology unit. The department's physicians see around 280 patients per day and around 70,000 patients per year. The orthopedic surgical team performs 7,000 procedures annually. In addition to clinical care, University of Iowa's orthopedic specialists are involved in research for the prevention of osteoarthritis after joint injuries, concussion treatment, sports-related treatment protocol and other innovative projects. U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics in 2019-20.

University of Kansas Hospital (Kansas City, Kan.). The University of Kansas Hospital is home to The University of Kansas Health System's orthopedics department, which includes more than 30 providers. The system is the official healthcare provider for The Kansas City Chiefs and The Kansas City Royals and provides athletic training and sports medicine services at multiple school districts. For 2019-20, University of Kansas Hospital was ranked in the top 10 percent of hospitals for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report.

University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital (Lexington). As a university-affiliated program, the orthopedics department at Albert B. Chandler Hospital strives to provide cutting-edge care. The 569-bed hospital opened in 1962 and employs fellowship-trained orthopedic trauma surgeons at its level 1 trauma center, which is the only one in central and eastern Kentucky. UK Chandler Hospital features multiple hospital-based clinics, including one entirely devoted to orthopedic surgery.

University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center (Towson). Each year, more than 25,000 patients come to the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center to see specialists at The Orthopaedic Institute, which is known for excellence in pain management and rapid rehabilitation after joint replacement. The 218-bed hospital partners with Towson Orthopaedic Associates to deliver 1,600 joint replacements a year and offers comprehensive rehabilitation services in conjunction with Towson Sports Medicine. St. Joseph Medical Center's 50-bed orthopedic unit features 32 private patient rooms and a rehabilitation facility.

University of Minnesota Medical Center (Minneapolis). University of Minnesota Medical Center's 50-plus orthopedic providers are nationally and internationally recognized for expertise in sports medicine, physical medicine, family medicine and rheumatology, among other fields. With a physical medicine and rehabilitation program that has been around for more than 50 years and a walk-in clinic for orthopedic and sports medicine services, University of Minnesota Medical Center operates under the belief that muscle, bone and joint pain shouldn't prevent patients from doing the things they enjoy. This approach has helped the hospital obtain Blue Cross Blue Shield's Blue Distinction Centers+ designation for efficiency and expertise in knee and hip surgery.

University of Tennessee Medical Center (Knoxville). With a team of eight orthopedic trauma surgeons, the 685-bed University of Tennessee Medical Center operates East Tennessee's only level 1 trauma center verified by the American College of Surgeons. In October, the hospital unveiled plans to open a freestanding orthopedic surgery center in partnership with Knoxville-based OrthoTennessee and University Orthopedic Surgeons. University of Tennessee Medical Center was the first in the state to receive The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification for total hip and total knee replacement.

University of Virginia Medical Center (Charlottesville). With more than 84,000 patients visiting its clinics, UVA Orthopedics recorded 1,189 hip and knee surgeries from mid-2018 to mid-2019, while beating the national average length of stay for hip fracture patients. University of Virginia Medical Center also beat the national average on surgical infection rates for hip replacement for 2018. University of Virginia Medical Center was also the state's first hospital to receive premier certification from the International Geriatric Fracture Society and earned recognition from Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center for knee and hip replacement.

University Hospital-Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor). Under the leadership of former chair James E. Carpenter, MD, who stepped down in May, Michigan Medicine's orthopedic surgery department has grown to include several dozen faculty members and nearly 400 staff members. In addition, the system accommodates over 300,000 outpatient visits annually at its Comprehensive Musculoskeletal Center. The center now employs 250-plus physicians across 22 facilities, including the 550-bed University Hospital which earned recognition among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

University of Utah Hospital (Salt Lake City). University of Utah Hospital's Center for Hip & Knee Reconstruction leverages resources from the University Orthopaedic Center and University of Utah Health to diagnose and treat patients. The system's orthopedic surgery department received $12.4 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2018, earning a No. 1 ranking from The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. Designated as a Blue Distinction Center for knee and hip replacement, University of Utah Hospital is home to the Center for Hip & Knee Reconstruction, a charter member of the American Joint Replacement Registry.

UPMC (Pittsburgh). Encompassing 13 research laboratories with funding from the National Institutes of Health and other institutions, UPMC's orthopedic surgery department helps shape the field's future through evidence-based studies and clinical trials. The organization's sports medicine division is the official medical provider of the Pittsburgh Steelers and over 60 high school, college and regional teams and events, providing specialized treatment for athletes at two full-service sports complexes. With high marks in advanced technologies, patient services, nurse staffing and patient volumes, UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside was ranked among the top 50 hospitals in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report for 2019-20.

UR Medicine (Rochester, N.Y.). UR Medicine supports robust orthopedic services across its seven hospitals. The Evarts Joint Center at Highland Hospital earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for knee and hip replacements, and the Aetna Institutes of Quality also distinguished the center for excellence in orthopedics. UR Medicine's orthopedic surgeons are also involved in research and are among the top in the nation for National Institutes of Health orthopedics research funding. The system's Center for Musculoskeletal Research includes 75 scientists that work alongside principal investigators and researchers to improve bone health.

UT Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas). With a team of 28 orthopedic specialists, UT Southwestern Medical Center offers a multidisciplinary approach to care across six locations. Surgeons at the academic medical center pioneered minimally invasive percutaneous surgery and were the first in North Texas to use a female-specific prosthetic for knee replacement. Led by professor and chair Dane Wukich, MD, the hospital's orthopedic surgery department has researchers currently involved in more than four dozen clinical studies.

The rest is here:
100 hospitals and health systems with great orthopedic programs | 2019 - Becker's Hospital Review

Am I a Candidate for Stem Cell Injections?

It is important to note that stem cell therapy is not for everyone. The orthopedic specialist at Shoulder Clinic of Idaho can discuss the role of stem cell injections for patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis, and for tendon injuries that have not responded to other conservative treatments. Older patients are sometimes offered alternative treatments because as the body ages, the ability to regenerate tissue from its own stem cells diminishes. After age 60, autologous (the bodys own) stem cell therapy typically fails to provide regeneration because there are not enough stem cells in the bone marrow. Patients in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and the surrounding communities of the Treasure Valley will learn, in great detail, of about stem cell injection options from their orthopedic specialist at The Shoulder Clinic of Idaho.

Once a bone marrow sample is collected, and the white blood cells, platelets and adult stem cells are harvested, these three healing agents are combined and can be injected directly into a patients damaged shoulder joint. These special cells are thought to work together to promote regeneration of the shoulder and to decrease pain.

Stem cell therapy for arthritis uses a patients own pluripotent adult stem cells instead of more controversial embryonic or fetal stem cells. Autologous cells replicate the healing benefits of embryonic stem cells without ethical concerns. Stem cell therapy may provide an alternative treatment option for patients suffering from various forms of arthritis, including osteoarthritis. Moreover, stem cells may lessen symptoms of early arthritis, potentially delaying the need of joint replacement surgery.

The rotator cuff is a critical structure within the shoulder that provides stability and strength to the joint. When one of the muscle-tendon units that compose the rotator cuff experiences a tear, treatment is often necessary.In cases of a partially torn rotator cuff, a patients own bone marrow can be extracted from the hip area. The sample of bone marrow is then spun in a special machine in order to separate the platelets, white blood cells and adult stem cells from the red blood cells. Once the three healing agents are separated, they are combined again, and the physician can inject the stem cells directly into the injured rotator cuff region to help regenerate tissue and accelerate healing.

Relatively speaking, stem cell injections are relatively new and not commonly used in the shoulder, although the discovery of stem cell treatment dates back to 1981. The most well-established and widely used stem cell treatment is the transplantation of blood stem cells to treat diseases and conditions of the blood and immune system; or to restore the blood system after treatments for specific types of cancers. The US National Marrow Donor Program has a full list of diseases treatable by blood stem cell transplant. Wellover one million patients worldwide have been treated with adult stem cells and have experienced improved health.

Stem cell research arose from the need to explore new therapeutic possibilities for intractable and lethal diseases. For the shoulder, there are diseases which current treatment modalities do not offer satisfactory, efficient or durable results. These diseases have been targets of stem cell treatment. Stem cell injections continue to gain popularity as a safe and effective regenerative medicine technique designed to accelerate healing and regeneration following a shoulder injury.

To learn more about stem cell injections for the shoulder, and other biologic treatments as an alternative to shoulder surgery, please contact the orthopedic shoulder specialists at The Shoulder Clinic of Idaho, serving patients in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and the surrounding communities of the Treasure Valley.

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Stem Cell Injections Shoulder | Cost of Stem Cell Therapy ...

Registration Open for U of I Kids Summer Drama Camp

Posted Thu, 16 May 2019 10:37:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho May 16, 2019 Registration is open for the University of Idaho Department of Theatre Arts three-week summer drama camp. The camp is for kids ages 7-16 and takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, July 15 through Aug. 2. Participants will learn about acting and movement as well as work with sets, props and costumes, all while learning about language arts with a focus on William Shakespeare. The camp will culminate in a free public performance of The Tempest on Saturday, Aug. 3, on the U of I campus. Read more

Posted Wed, 15 May 2019 11:28:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho May 15, 2019 Reproducible scientific results are not always true and true scientific results are not always reproducible, according to a mathematical model produced by University of Idaho researchers. Their study, which simulates the search for that scientific truth, was published today, May 15, in the journal PLOS ONE. Independent confirmation of scientific results known as reproducibility lends credibility to a researchers conclusion. But researchers have found the results of many well-known science experiments cannot be reproduced, an issue referred to as a replication crisis. Read more

Posted Tue, 14 May 2019 10:10:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho May 14, 2019 A statewide network of Idahos educational institutions, led by the University of Idaho, received a five-year, $17 million award to build Idahos growing biomedical workforce and strengthen research infrastructure. The funds, received through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, will continue research on advances in areas including new antibiotics, brain trauma, safety issues with e-cigarettes, cancer therapeutics and improvements for wound healing. Read more

Posted Fri, 10 May 2019 12:34:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho May 10, 2019 Idaho high school students enrolled in dual-credit courses through the University of Idaho now know without a doubt they are getting the same high-quality program as is delivered on campus. Read more

Posted Thu, 09 May 2019 16:06:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho May 9, 2019 The University of Idaho College of Law will recognize Boise Mayor David H. Bieter 86 with its 2019 Award of Legal Merit. Bieter will receive the award at a dinner today, May 9, as part of U of Is Moscow commencement ceremonies. The Award of Legal Merit recognizes the outstanding contribution of an Idaho law graduate whose career exemplifies the best in the legal profession. This annual award is determined by a vote of the law faculty and is based on demonstrated standards of integrity, competence, service and leadership through work as a legal practitioner, service to the legal profession, service to the community or service to business/state/national interests. Read more

Posted Wed, 01 May 2019 09:19:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 30, 2019 A total of 1,502 University of Idaho students statewide are eligible for graduation this spring, earning a combined 1,562 degrees. U of I students have applied for 1,153 bachelors degrees, 91 law degrees, 37 doctoral degrees, 13 specialist degrees and 268 masters degrees. Some students will have earned multiple degrees. This year's commencement brings the university's all-time total to 121,973 graduates and 130,421 degrees. Read more

Posted Fri, 26 Apr 2019 11:46:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 26, 2019 University of Idaho architecture students designed alternative concepts for the expansion of Moscows Palouse Ice Rink in a competition that encourages the use of Idaho wood in a sustainable and innovative way. Winning designs will be unveiled during the seventh annual Best Use of Idaho Wood awards ceremony, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 29, in the Clearwater/Whitewater rooms of the Idaho Commons on the U of I campus. Read more

Posted Fri, 26 Apr 2019 10:24:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 26, 2019 Platinum recording group AJR will headline the University of Idahos Finals Fest 2019 on Saturday, May 4, in Moscow. AJR is an American indie pop band made up of three brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met. The group writes, produces and mixes its own material in the living room of the brothers New York City apartment. AJR has had platinum hits like Weak and Im Ready. The band is coming off its sold-out tour, The Click Part 1 and 2, and the groups next album, Neotheater, drops today, April 26. AJRs world tour starts this fall. Read more

Posted Wed, 24 Apr 2019 10:55:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 24, 2019 An emotional and graphic dramatization, On the Way to the Sawmill (A Hikikomoris Space), which focuses on adolescent alienation, will be staged May 3-4 by the University of Idaho Department of Theatre Arts and Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. Read more

Posted Mon, 22 Apr 2019 13:55:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 22, 2019 Gesture-controlled robotics, 3D printing using living cells and virtual reality featuring evolving aliens are just a few of the 50-plus research projects on display during the University of Idahos 2019 Engineering Design EXPO. Read more

Posted Thu, 18 Apr 2019 14:25:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 18, 2019 Athena, the University of Idaho association of staff and faculty committed to promoting an inclusive and equitable climate for women, celebrates the work of faculty and staff members each April who have demonstrated clear and sustained dedication to professional enhancement of women. Read more

Posted Wed, 17 Apr 2019 13:09:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 17, 2019 Idahos three universities are teaming up to provide Idaho scientists and engineers the opportunity to learn firsthand about policymaking through a yearlong fellowship. The Idaho Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (ISTPF) is a nonpartisan professional development program led by the James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research at the University of Idaho. The ISTPF is committed to connecting doctoral-level scientists and engineers to the development and implementation of relevant state policies. Graduate and professional students, postdoctoral fellows and assistant professors at U of I, Boise State University and Idaho State University will be invited to participate in various aspects of the fellowship. Including future leaders will help Idaho develop a trained workforce in science and technology policy. Read more

Posted Mon, 15 Apr 2019 14:52:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 15, 2019 Mark Bathrick, manager of the U.S. Department of Interiors Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program, will speak at 2 p.m. Friday, April 26, in the Vandal Ballroom of the Bruce M. Pitman Center on the University of Idahos Moscow campus. His speech is free and open to the public as part of the U of I College of Engineerings Engineering Design EXPO. Read more

Posted Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:11:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 15, 2019 The boisterous pirate comedy, The Three Keys of Captain Hellfire makes its world premiere April 19-27 at the University of Idaho. Presented by the Department of Theatre Arts, Hellfire dives into a world of sea-going rogues where everyone has a secret and wants to strike it rich. With swordfights, assorted scallywags and buried treasure, Hellfire packs action and song into a visually stunning production featuring alumni and students from U of Is College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. Read more

Posted Mon, 15 Apr 2019 09:10:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 15, 2019 Steven Ghan, an atmospheric climate scientist who recently retired from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, will address national bipartisan climate change legislation during a talk this week on the University of Idaho campus. Ghan will speak at 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, in Room 111 of Renfrew Hall in Moscow. His speech is organized by the U of I Sustainability Center and the Palouse chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby as part of the lobbys annual conference. Read more

Posted Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:03:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 12, 2019 The University of Idaho is pleased to announce that Ben Hunter has been named as the next dean of University of Idaho Libraries, effective April 21, 2019. Hunter is currently the interim dean and has worked in U of I Libraries since 2006, serving as an associate dean since 2014. Read more

Posted Thu, 11 Apr 2019 13:31:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 10, 2019 Ali Noorani, a leading voice on immigration in the U.S. and executive director of the National Immigration Forum, will speak Thursday, April 18, on the University of Idaho campus as part of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Speaker Series.. Read more

Posted Thu, 11 Apr 2019 10:30:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 11, 2019 The University of Idaho is proud to welcome C. Scott Green as the 19th president of the university. The Vandal alumnus and international business leader will take office Monday, July 1, 2019. His appointment comes after a unanimous vote of the Idaho State Board of Education today. Read more

Posted Wed, 10 Apr 2019 13:16:00 -0700

BOISE, Idaho April 10, 2019 About 240 Vallivue students will explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities led by University of Idaho faculty during U of Is STEM Days, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, April 16-17, at the Idaho Water Center in Boise. Read more

Posted Mon, 08 Apr 2019 13:57:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho April 8, 2019 The Prichard Art Gallery will feature work from University of Idaho Master of Fine Arts candidates in the MFA Exhibit Asterisk, beginning Friday, April 12. The exhibit, which will run through Saturday, May 11, includes work from three graduating masters students from the College of Art and Architecture Logan Clancy, Jonathan Matteson and Ashley Vaughn. The students mediums include abstract digital videos, sound art, multimedia and watercolor relief prints. Read more

Posted Fri, 29 Mar 2019 11:29:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho March 28, 2019 University of Idaho students will spotlight the comedy of small-town life with their performance of Benjamin Brittens classic opera Albert Herring at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, and Saturday, April 6, in the Administration Building Auditorium at Moscow. Read more

Posted Wed, 27 Mar 2019 08:30:00 -0700

KETCHUM, Idaho March 27, 2019 Food and agriculture in the Wood River Valley will be the subject of the University of Idahos Policy Pub, The Future of Food, from 5-6 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at the Sawtooth Brewery Public House and Tap Room, 631 Warm Springs Road, Ketchum. Read more

Posted Thu, 14 Mar 2019 16:11:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho March 14, 2019 The Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) today unanimously approved the University of Idahos request to proceed with the bidding and construction phase of the signature 4,200-capacity Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) Arena project, contingent upon approval by the SBOE executive director after consultation with the new president for the University of Idaho, once named by the board. Read more

Posted Thu, 14 Mar 2019 13:23:00 -0700

MOSCOW, Idaho March 14, 2019 More Idaho medical students with financial need will receive scholarship support because of a recent gift from the Durward and Susan Huckabay Foundation. The $1.5 million gift to the Idaho WWAMI Medical Education Program at the University of Idaho will support medical students in completing their studies and graduating with less debt. Read more

Posted Thu, 07 Mar 2019 13:39:00 -0800

The College of Graduate Studies will host the eighth annual Innovation Showcase at 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 18, on the fourth floor of the Idaho Commons. The Innovation Showcase spotlights undergraduate and graduate students achievements at the University of Idaho. Students compete in three categories to win up to $500 in prizes. Read more

Posted Fri, 01 Mar 2019 14:24:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho March 1, 2019 Five finalists for the presidency of the University of Idaho will visit Moscow and meet with community members March 4-8, 2019. Community input is important as the Idaho State Board of Education approaches the hiring of the 19th president of the university. Read more

Posted Wed, 27 Feb 2019 13:28:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Feb. 27, 2019 The University of Idaho Prichard Art Gallerys annual exhibit of work from faculty in the College of Art and Architecture opens Friday, March 1, with varied work that celebrates faculty members creative activity and scholarly research including multi-material sculptures from Stacy Isenbarger and microscopic images of fungi from David Griffith. Read more

Posted Mon, 25 Feb 2019 14:34:00 -0800

(Note: This Event Has Been Canceled.)MOSCOW, Idaho Feb. 25, 2019 A leading media literacy expert will visit the University of Idaho Monday, March 4. Mickey Huff, director of Project Censored, will speak at 3:30 p.m. in the Whitewater Room of the Idaho Commons, 875 Line St., Moscow. Read more

Posted Tue, 19 Feb 2019 12:14:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Feb. 19, 2019 Year-to-year climate variability is increasing in Idaho, and these shifts are complicating long-term planning schedules and influencing soil and plant health. U of I agricultural researchers are hurrying to document the status of soils, plant diseases, and water resources in Idaho and to prepare for the effects of future changes in climate. Read more

Posted Tue, 19 Feb 2019 10:29:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Feb. 15, 2019 Map of My Kingdom, a play written for farm families deciding who should inherit their land, will take the stage Thursday, Feb. 28, in Colfax, and Friday, March 1, in Moscow. Read more

Posted Tue, 19 Feb 2019 10:12:00 -0800

BOISE, Idaho Feb. 19, 2019 The level of civility in law and government has seen a sea change in recent years, an issue Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady will address during the University of Idaho College of Laws sixth annual Denton Darrington Lecture on Law and Government Wednesday, Feb. 27, in Boise. Read more

Posted Thu, 14 Feb 2019 14:00:00 -0800

The Presidential Review Committee has met and reviewed the applications of candidates for the president of the University of Idaho. The applicants bring strong skills and genuine interest in the future of the university. The committee is looking forward to learning more about these candidates in the first round of interviews in the coming week. Five finalists will be named at the end of these interviews, but at present, the search process and candidate names remain confidential. Read more

Posted Thu, 14 Feb 2019 09:00:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Feb. 14, 2019 The lighthearted British farce Present Laughter, which focuses on a self-obsessed actor in the midst of a midlife crisis as he juggles a fawning ingnue, a crazed playwright, his ex-wife and the personal lives of his eccentric friends, will be staged March 1-10 by the University of Idaho Department of Theatre Arts. Read more

Posted Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:01:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Feb. 13, 2019 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) member Jim Bull will join the University of Idaho faculty in fall 2019. He will be the first NAS member affiliated with an educational institution in Idaho, according to NAS. The academy is a nonprofit and private society of scholars charged by Congress to provide the nation objective and independent council on scientific and technological matters; Bull was elected to NAS in 2016. Read more

Posted Mon, 11 Feb 2019 14:27:00 -0800

The EPA began enforcing a new rule that affects how the university must accumulate hazardous waste in laboratories, shops and any other location where hazardous waste is generated. Idaho DEQ started enforcing this rule in 2018. This new EPA rule is generally referred to as the Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule. Read more

Posted Mon, 11 Feb 2019 10:37:00 -0800

BOISE, Idaho Feb. 11, 2019 How to make life more meaningful and how to immerse into daily living to make it more profound will be the subject of "Embedding Profundity into Learning and Living" during the next University of Idaho Vandal Voices on Thursday, Feb. 21, in Boise. Read more

Posted Mon, 11 Feb 2019 10:26:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Feb. 11, 2019 Three parents whose children died as a result of hazing at universities across the country will be the featured panelists at an anti-hazing event from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, in the International Ballroom of the Bruce M. Pitman Center at the University of Idaho. Read more

Posted Tue, 05 Feb 2019 09:35:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Feb. 4, 2019 From greeting guests and managing competition sites to driving artists and educators to locations around town, the University of Idahos Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival is seeking volunteers to fill a variety of roles for this years festival, Feb. 22-23, 2019. Read more

Posted Thu, 31 Jan 2019 13:26:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Jan. 31, 2019 The University of Idaho College of Law Library has launched a research and records repository that serves as the only online source for Idaho Supreme Court records and briefs as well as other legal documents. Read more

Posted Tue, 29 Jan 2019 08:21:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Jan. 29, 2019 Kristie Kenney, a former U.S. ambassador to Thailand, the Philippines and Ecuador, as well as an expert on Asia and foreign affairs, will address the challenges of foreign policy in 2019 as part of the University of Idaho Martin Forum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, in the Administration Building Auditorium. Read more

Posted Mon, 28 Jan 2019 14:06:00 -0800

A collection of board games are now available at the U of I Library. The game collection is the inspiration of library employees who sought to provide board games for the benefit of the U of I community. Board gaming in general has experienced a rise in popularity in recent decades and provides an activity that promotes critical thinking and stress relief. Read more

Posted Mon, 28 Jan 2019 10:33:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Jan. 28, 2019 Spanish flamenco duo Eric and Encarnacin will visit the University of Idaho Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8-9, during the Lionel Hampton School of Musics World Music Celebration, a two-day event featuring a concert and master class with the international visiting musicians. Read more

Posted Thu, 24 Jan 2019 10:40:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Jan. 24, 2019 The University of Idaho has joined 129 other public universities in a new, collaborative initiative to enhance student success: Powered by Publics: Scaling Student Success. Sponsored by the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, the initiative addresses college access, retention and graduation rates. Universities are clustered into smaller groups to more quickly implement best practices for student success. Read more

Posted Wed, 23 Jan 2019 14:41:00 -0800

The Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED) is eager to support U of I faculty members to apply for Fulbright Awards supporting research and teaching opportunities worldwide. Read more

Posted Wed, 23 Jan 2019 13:06:00 -0800

BOISE, Idaho Jan. 23, 2019 Construction of an electric power generation facility in eastern Idaho that would utilize a group of small modular reactors could significantly boost the regional and state economies and increase U.S. carbon-free energy development, according to an economic impact study completed by the University of Idaho and Boise State University. Read more

Posted Tue, 22 Jan 2019 14:53:00 -0800

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady will give the lecture "Civility, Humility and Interbranch Relations" at the 6th Denton Darrington Annual Lecture on Law and Government on Wednesday, Feb. 27, in Boise. Sponsored by the University of Idaho College of Law, the Idaho Supreme Court, and the Idaho State Bar and Law Foundation, the lecture begins at 5 p.m. Mountain time, Feb. 27, in the Lincoln Auditorium at the Idaho State Capitol. Read more

Posted Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:42:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Jan. 22, 2019 Photographs that document the lives of cowboys on the gay rodeo circuit in the late 1980s and early 1990s will be on display as part of an exhibit Feb. 4 to April 30 in the second-floor exhibit space of the University of Idaho Library at Moscow. Read more

Posted Tue, 22 Jan 2019 10:21:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Jan. 22, 2019 Lewis-Clark State College students who want to pursue a law degree and are accepted into the University of Idaho College of Law will now have a quicker path to earn that degree thanks to a transfer articulation agreement between the two schools. Read more

Posted Fri, 18 Jan 2019 12:00:00 -0800

MOSCOW, Idaho Jan. 18, 2019 University of Idaho international students, faculty and staff will showcase the culture, food and music of about 30 countries during the annual Cruise the World, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, in the International Ballroom of the Bruce M. Pitman Center, Moscow. Read more

Posted Thu, 17 Jan 2019 13:06:00 -0800

Read more from the original source:
News Releases - University of Idaho

Three weeks ago, I traveled to Salt Lake City for a three-day health hacking journey that involved advanced muscle integration technique, high dose vitamin C therapy, stem cell injections and more. I received so many questions about the journey that I figured Id give you the complete lowdown in todays article, complete with videos and other helpful downloads.

Enjoy the knowledge youll discover below, and leave any questions or comments under the article.

On my first day in Salt Lake City, I visited the offices of Dr. Craig Buhler for a four-hour Advanced Muscle Integration Technique (AMIT) session. I firstheard of Craig,also know as Dr. Two Fingers in Tim Ferrisss book 4-Hour Body, when I interviewed him several years ago about how he can make injuries and issues that have nagged the body for as long as decades, completely disappear with special techniques and also how his technique can keep acute injuries from becoming long-term problems.

AMIT practitioners can predict injuries by examining and identifying instabilities in the body, which in most cases lead to injury. The therapies utilized in AMIT procedures allow for rapid corrections of instabilities, resulting in improved function, removal of pain and an overall new level of performance.

There are many things that can aid in shutting a muscle down. Simply being active and doing the many day-to-day activities put stresses on your body and can create imbalances. Strenuous activity, athletics, daily recreation, and nutritional habits are all examples of things that can contribute to muscles becoming inhibited. Craig seespatients with as little as 10-15 muscles shut down and some with 70-80 muscles that are shut down.

In activating a muscle an AMIT practitioner must stimulate 7 reflux points using his hands. There is one neurovascular point, one neurolymphatic point, two organ reflex points, an acupressure point, and the origin an insertion of the muscle itself. After stimulating these points together, the doctor will retest the muscle to determine that the muscle has become strong. Heres an example of Craig turning my glutes back on and the subsequent range of motion increase:

In addition, Craig performed a nasal chiropractic balloon adjustment on my sinuses. This blew my mind. Watch the video below to see what I mean:

Additional resources from the Dr. Buhler clinic visit:

My podcast with Dr. Craig Buhler

Dr. Buhlers website

On Day 2, I drove nearly two hours from Salt Lake to Pocatello, Idaho to visit Dr. Jason Wests clinic (along with Naomi Whittel, who I interviewed during the drive for the episode Drinking Sperm, Smearing Mayonnaise On Your Face, Protein Cycling & A Cell Death Deep Dive With Author Naomi Whittel)

What youre about to witness is one of the most cutting-edge protocols in naturopathic and chiropractic care. Dr. Jason West who operates the world-famous West Clinic in Pocatello, ID not only administered high-dose Vitamin C and an athlete cocktail into my body but also performed the procedure in this video.

Other treatments done at Jasons clinic included:

-IV vitamin C therapy -Stomach neural therapy -Nerve of maigne therapy -Regenerative injection therapy with prolozone (proliferative therapy using ozone)

Upon leaving his clinic, my body felt like a new man with several of the gastrointestinal and low back complaints I had completely gone.

Additional resources from the Dr. Jason West clinic visit:

-Naomi Whittels book,Glow15: A Science-Based Plan to Lose Weight, Revitalize Your Skin, and Invigorate Your Life

My podcast with Naomi Whittel

Dr. Jason Wests clinic

-PDF Download: Neural Therapy handout

-PDF Download: Prolozone Therapy handout

On Day 3, I traveled back to Salt Lake City for an amniotic stem cell injection at the East West Clinicowned by Dr. Regan Archibald. Watch the video below to see the entire stem cell IV and injection procedure performed on me:

Regan explained the procedure as follows:

On March 20th, my team used 1 ml of a product called StemShot from Utah Cord Bank in your back. The areas targeted were T12/L1 and L2. 1-1 1/2 deep injections were administered into tender areas along the erector muscles of the spine, primarily the longissimus dorsum and spinalis. Reversal of hypertonicity in the paraspinals, reducing inflammation in the spinal nerves, and repair of soft tissue damage was the intent of this procedure. The fact that you palpated exactly where the troubled areas existed in your paraspinals and the ease of point location with your anatomy allowed for a successful injection. We typically will use ultrasound guidance in more difficult cases but we dont use C-arm as the gamma rays have the potential to damage healthy stem cells. Stem cells have the ability to home into damaged areas and weve had a high level of success with our spinal treatments.

You also received a 1 ml IV infusion of StemVive from Utah Cord Bank. The StemVive product still has the same cell count, growth factor, and cytokine make-up as the StemShot, the only difference is that in this product some of the extracellular matrix has been sacrificed so that the cells can make it through the lungs intact. 90-95% of the cells will stop in the lungs initially but within 24 hours they can be found in every tissue compartment in your body. This is also the same product used in our brain treatments intranasally.

You also received acupuncture following your procedures. Points were selected and needled with 38 gauge acupuncture needles on your Bladder, Liver, Governing Vessel, and Kidney meridians to increase blood circulation in your spine and to promote intra stem cell release. Several papers have suggested that acupuncture improves the response rate of stem cell therapy.

Here are several studies that delve into the fascinating links explaining the relationship between acupuncture and stem cell injections:

Electro-acupuncture promotes differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, regeneration of nerve fibers and partial functional recovery after spinal cord injury

The Mechanism of Acupuncture Beyond Neurohumoral Theory

Adult Neurogenesis and Acupuncture Stimulation at ST36

Additional resources and videos from my stem cell injection at East West Clinic:

-YouTube:Brain Regeneration with Intranasal Cell Therapy

-YouTube:Stem Cell Pain and Health Transformation

-PDF: Post Stem Cell Follow Up

East West Clinic, mention Ben for a free consultation

Occasional getaways like this to reboot your body are something I highly encourage for anyone who can take the time and spend the resources to do it. Consider these type of adventures to be an investment in your body that pays off for years to come (and stay tuned for details on a two-week full body reboot that I am organizing for 2019 in Switzerland!)

Do you have questions, comments or feedback for Dr. Buhler, Dr. West, Dr. Archibald, Naomi or me? Leave your thoughts below and one of us will reply!

Ask Ben a Podcast Question

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Amniotic Stem Cell Injections, Advanced Muscle Integration ...

Stem cells are going to play a very important part in the future of medicine. Stem cells have been utilized for cancer problems such as leukemia, since approximately the 1960s. In the last decade research has been devoted and is now showing success with the use of stem cells for musculoskeletal problems such as osteoarthritis, cartilage defects, tendon tears and new research is being done for degenerative disc problems of the spine. Pain Care Boise is now excited to be offering Stem Cell treatments for problems such as osteoarthritis, cartilage defects and tendon defects.

There are several sources or ways to obtain stem cells.#1. A human embryo contains pluripotent stem cells. This means they can differentiate into any cell line( i.e. cartilage, tendon, muscle, bone, etc). Of course utilizing cells from embryos continues to be a very controversial and of course ethical issue preventing the wide use of stem cells from embryos.

#2. An induced stem cell is also pluripotent. This is a method in which you can take almost any cell (such as a skin cell) and by injecting genes or molecules into the cells one can convert the cells into stem cells. Unfortunately a concern with these cells is introducing an oncogene, which could result in cancer.

#3. Adult stem cells are what are typically used for musculoskeletal pain problems. Adult stem cells are considered multipotent which means they can differentiate into some but not all cell types. Adult stem cells may be obtained from almost every human tissue with bone marrow, adipose(fat) tissue, blood, placental blood, and placental tissue probably being the most studied. Once again there are obvious ethical reasons for not using stem cells from the placenta. With blood although we can get stem cells, they will more likely convert into blood cells rather than musculoskeletal type cells. These cells are called hematopoietic stem cells.

Adipose (fat) cells do provide a significant number of stem cells and even more than from bone marrow.However, there are several reasons that adipose (or fat tissue) is not used as often as bone marrow. One reason is adipose stem cells do not convert as easily as bone marrow stem cells. This in part may be due to a better immunomodulatory effect within bone marrow stem cells. A second reason is with bone marrow aspirates we also get the benefit of platelets, which are typically collected along with the bone marrow stem cells. Another reason is that the FDA has decided that one of the processes, which utilizes an enzyme, collagenase, to separate the stem cells from the stroma of the adipose or fat cells is considered to be a significant manipulation. The FDA has decided if any cells are more than minimally manipulated they cannot be utilized. The FDA has approved some devices that will mechanically process adipose. However, they continue to deter the use of adipose stating that any processing that alters the original relevant characteristics of adipose is more than minimal manipulation. This ruling is presently being fought by several medical organizations.

This leaves us with the adult stem cells from bone marrow, which are the most commonly used for musculoskeletal pain problems. The bone marrow adult stem cells are often times called mesenchymal stem cells or MSCs. (As opposed to hematopoietic stem cells, which are responsible for the formation of blood cells.) MSCs are capable of differentiating into chondrocytes, which can become cartilage; or into tenocytes, which can become tendons; or into osteocytes, which can become bone; or into myoblasts, which can become muscle. What the MSCs become is highly dependent upon what cell it is living next to or what cell it is placed next to.

MSCs are not only multipotent progenitor cells (meaning they can convert into other cells), but are also referred to as immunoprivileged cells. What this means is that they are immunosuppressive and the body will not reject these cells when injected into another area of the body. They may also reduce inflammation by decreasing the activity of T cells (which contribute to inflammation).

They have a trophic property, which means they allow growth. They secrete cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. This leads us to the one concern with using stem cells. The concern is that injecting stem cells could cause tumors or cancer. This is presently only speculative. Several animal and human studies have revealed a high degree of safety with no indication of tumor growth ever reported.

MSCs also will initiate angiogenesis, which is the development of new blood vessels into the injured area. Obviously this is important to bring in oxygen and the proper nutrients as well as the ability to get rid of the waste products.

In summary, the FDA has defined two categories of human cell products:

#1. Minimally manipulated Spinning the cells down in a special centrifuge to concentrate the cells is presently considered OK.

#2. More than minimally manipulated a. The cells cannot be extracted and grown in a cell culture outside of the body. b. As mentioned above the process utilizing an enzyme to remove the stem cells from the stroma of adipose or fat tissue is presently considered more than minimally manipulated.

Based on the above information Pain Care Boise is now offering stem cell treatments by aspirating bone marrow from the iliac crest area. This is a simple procedure that can be done with image guidance. The procedure is well tolerated and takes minimal time typically under five minutes.

PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) maybe synergistic to the Stem Cell injections. PRP has more growth factors to release, which will aid in cell proliferation. One of the growth factors is vascular endothelial growth factor, which will further aid in the angiogenesis or formation of new blood vessels.

Although the above discussed a significant amount of science, obtaining your own readily available multipotent stem cells is easily done in a timely manner with image guidance. Your cells are then very precisely placed with ultrasound guidance into the damaged joint, cartilage or tendon by our provider, who is also certified in musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Common indications for Stem Cells:

> Osteoarthritic joints> Cartilage defects> Meniscus tears> Tendon tears complete> Rotator cuff tears complete> Anterior cruciate ligament tears> Achilles tendon tears> Patellar tendon tears> Hamstring tendon tears> Many other tendon or ligament injuries

Excerpt from:
Stem Cell Treatment Idaho | Stem Cell Treatment Sun Valley ...