Interview: Dr. Sujatha Buddhe, Pediatric 3D Printing, Seattle

Sujatha Buddhe, MBBS, MS, is an attending physician at the Seattle Children’s Hospital and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Buddhe earned her medical degree from the Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad, India. She completed her pediatrics residency at the Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, NY and pediatric cardiology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Her advanced fellowship training in pediatric cardiac non-invasive imaging was completed at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York. She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical research and statistical analysis at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology.

Dr. Buddhe will be a speaker at the Seattle, Washington event!

Jenny: When was the first encounter you had with 3D printing? What was that experience like? What were you thinking at that moment?

Sujatha: My first experience was when I started in Seattle Children’s. We then just started using 3D printing for planning complex intracardiac surgeries. Initially, as always, we were skeptical about the approach. As we started using this more, we found it extremely useful and amazing every time.
Jenny: What inspired you to start your journey in 3D printing?

Sujatha: Seeing how it can improve patient outcomes. I am also inspired by how we could improve parent/medical personnel education.

Jenny: Who inspired you the most along this journey in 3D printing?  

Sujatha: My mentor Dr. Stephen Seslar

Jenny: What motivates you the most for your work?

Sujatha: My patients. The possibilities for making a positive difference.

Jenny: What is/are the biggest obstacle(s) in your line of work? If you have conquered them, what were your solutions?

Sujatha: Time and Funding.

Jenny: What do you think is (are) the biggest challenge(s) in 3D Printing/bio-printing? What do you think the potential solution(s) is (are)?

Sujatha: Biggest challenges are funding/reimbursement.
Solutions are studies demonstrating the effectiveness and clinical use of these modalities

Jenny: What advice would you give to a smart driven college student in the “real world”? What bad advice you heard should they ignore?

Sujatha: The possibilities are endless. Just give your best effort and never let anyone tell you otherwise.

Jenny: What do you enjoy in your spare time? What are you passionate about outside of your work/3d printing?

Sujatha: Spending time with my family/kids, traveling, cooking.

Jenny: What does the word “3DHEALS” mean to you?  =)

Sujatha: Using 3dimensional models either by printing or by novel visualization modalities (hopefully with bio-printing) to heal our patient’s hearts and improve our communication/education/understanding.

Check out these interviews:

Interview: Sean Looi, General Manager of Creatz3D Pte Ltd

Interview: Daisy Zhu, Co-founder of 3D Science Valley

Interview: Dr. Chen Ching Kit, Pediatric Cardic 3D Printing, Singapore

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