Creating MedEdTech

In medical school, Michelle Higgins, MD, PhD learned 3D printing in order to make temporal bone surgical simulators for fellow medical students and residents who have limited access to real or synthetic temporal bones. Subsequently, she launched AugmENT in 2022 before starting otolaryngology residency.

AugmENT is a simulation technology company with the mission to ensure inclusive and equitable access to otolaryngology surgical education while caring for people and the planet.

Inclusive and equitable access means making the technology that AugmENT develops as broadly available as possible. Toward this end, AugmENT's products and services are sold globally at competitive prices meant to benefit surgeons in low- to middle-income countries. Surgeons who cannot afford them or access them for whatever reason can qualify to receive donated surgical simulators.

To date, AugmENT and its partners have donated over 400 3D-printed temporal bones.

Inclusive and equitable access also means maintaining an open philosophy regarding research and development with the commitment to enhance everyone's practice by sharing skills, knowledge, and technology. Join our Community of Practice to give feedback, share what you know, and learn together.

Caring for people and the planet means aligning every business decision and action with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). AugmENT seeks to contribute the most to good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), industry innovation (SDG 9), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), and responsible consumption and production (SDG 12).

As the first step forward, AugmENT's practices are meant to avoid harm by choosing biohazard-free, biobased, biodegradable, and recycled materials whenever available and appropriate for simulating a given surgery.