A-MEDICO: Translating MedTech Innovation to Impact

In this special on-location episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, host Lisa George brings you conversations from “Translating Innovation: A-MEDICO Meets Alberta MedTech Industry,” an event designed to spark connections between researchers, trainees, and industry partners working at the intersection of health innovation and medical device development in Alberta.

Funded by the Alberta Ministry of Technology and Innovation, A-MEDICO is a major collaborative initiative led by the University of Calgary, with support from the University of Alberta, Red Deer Polytechnic, the University of Lethbridge, and NAIT’s Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation (CAMS). The goal: unite the province’s post-secondaries, industry partners, and underserved communities to accelerate Alberta’s medical technology ecosystem.

Lisa speaks with five key voices from across the innovation pipeline — from early-stage student researchers to experienced entrepreneurs and innovation leaders:

Ben Millen - VP of Design, Tangent Design Engineering

Ben shares how Tangent helps early scientific ideas move from napkin sketch to real-world medical devices. He explores the challenges of scale-up, regulatory compliance, and building products that are not only functional but manufacturable, safe, and clinically useful.

Stephanie Dang - Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary

Stephanie reflects on her transition from biochemistry to biomedical engineering and how automation, collaboration, and mentorship are shaping her journey as a medtech innovator.

Dr. Lindsey Westover - Associate Professor & Associate Dean, Faculty of Engineering, UCalgary

Dr. Westover discusses her work developing BackScanner, a low-cost mobile app that uses 3D imaging to monitor scoliosis without X-rays. She highlights the power of open access tools, clinician partnerships, and user-centered design.

Dr. John Wong - CEO & Co-Founder, Fluid Biomed Inc.

Dr. Wong shares the extraordinary journey of creating the world’s first bioabsorbable stent for treating brain aneurysms. From surgical insight to startup CEO, he opens up about navigating commercialization, investor alignment, and scaling a life-saving innovation.

Dr. Michael Kallos - Professor and Department Head, Biomedical Engineering, UCalgary