MSc Medical Visualisation & Human Anatomy School of Innovation & Technology
Ashna Konjeti
Hello, my name is Ashna Konjeti! The intersection of art and medicine has always been a key focus within my career. I completed my Bachelor of Science (BS) at the University of Illinois at Chicago in Neuroscience, with minors in Biomedical Visualization and Gender and Women’s Studies. Driven by this foundation, I took on a Master’s in Medical Visualization and Human Anatomy.
This program was enriching and engaging, and I found it the perfect way to build upon my interests. I had the opportunity to expand my skills in diverse disciplines including 3D modeling, volumetric visualization, app/interface development, and augmented reality, all while gaining an extensive knowledge of human anatomy supplemented by cadaveric dissection. My knowledge culminated in my dissertation project, We’re Not Invincible– an interactive, accessible application with AR functionality that aims to inform adolescent audiences of the consequences of facial traumatic injuries.
Following this degree, I am pursuing a medical degree at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. I hope to utilize the skills I have gained through this Master’s degree to better connect with my patients, peers, and mentors, as well as contribute to the development of accessible, effective health resources.
Dissertation Project: We’re Not Invincible
“We’re Not Invincible– Addressing the consequences of blunt force traumatic facial injuries and the impact of the adolescent invincibility fallacy,” was made in collaboration with Medics Against Violence, a Scotland-based charity rooted in clinician-led programs aiming to inform young people and healthcare professionals of the consequences of violence and domestic abuse.
Traumatic injuries are a striking global issue, with traumatic facial injuries being particularly dangerous– there is a greater concentration of nerves and blood vessels in the facial region, and thin facial bones are more prone to fracture. These injuries disproportionately affect adolescent boys in disadvantaged communities, and they are often linked with alcohol misuse and interpersonal violence. Despite the significant physical, psychological, and financial costs that accompany these injuries, they remain under-addressed in health education efforts targeting vulnerable youth. Moreover, adolescents often perceive themselves as invincible, a perspective encouraged by unrepresentative media depictions of action, violence, and injury recovery. Given this, the aim of this project was to develop an accessible and interactive mobile application for adolescent audiences that spreads awareness of the severity of traumatic facial injuries and discourages related violence and beliefs of invincibility. A structured process was followed in the creation of the application– multiple 3D modeling, design, and development softwares were utilized– and the completed application was tested on an experimental cohort of adolescent boys from disadvantaged communities, a cohort of experts from Medics Against Violence, and two cohorts of Oral and Maxillofacial experts. The characteristics of usability, face validity, content validity, and motivation/engagement were evaluated.
Acknowledgements
This project would not have been possible without my mentors, Dr. Matthieu Poyade and Prof. Christine Goodall. Thank you for your unwavering support and guidance throughout the entire process!
Project Links
Interactive Visualization
This course primarily involved the development of skills in coding (in C#) and application development through Unity.
Interactive Visualization Summative
This project was developed with two of my MSc course colleagues, Kate MacDiarmid and Chloe Levenson. This Unity application was designed as a patient resource to explain the anatomy, symptoms, and treatment options relating to a herniated disk.
