Signal in the noise: building bias-free medical devices, with Valencia Koomson

Growing up, Valencia Koomson wasn't supposed to be the one playing with the electronic set - that was her brother's Christmas present. She played with it anyway, and now she runs a lab at Tufts University focused on designing precision biosensors. She's turned that expertise toward addressing a long-overlooked problem in medical technology: pulse oximeters that work less reliably for patients with darker skin.In this episode, she explains what it actually takes to engineer a more inclusive pulse oximeter and she shares how she's navigating the complexities of commercialising a new medical device.You'll learn:- Why pulse oximeters tend to be less accurate on patients with darker skin tones- The engineering principles Koomson is using to redesign the device from the ground up- How she thinks about bridging the gap between lab innovation and real-world impact---*** Help us shape the future of Made For Us! Take our 4-minute listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7---About Valencia KoomsonValencia Koomson holds the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Tufts University with a secondary appointment at the Department of Computer Science and Tisch College of Civic Life. She is the founding director of the Advanced Integrated Circuits & Systems Lab at Tufts with a research focus on medical device innovation, global health technology, and health equity advocacy. Dr. Koomson completed B.S. and M.Eng. degrees in electrical engineering and computer science at MIT. She was awarded the George C. Marshall scholarship to pursue post-graduate studies at the University of Cambridge where she received the M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering. Dr. Koomson has authored over 60 publications, book chapters, and patents. She was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Professorship at MIT in 2021.Follow Valencia Koomson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/profkoomson/Learn more about the Advanced Integrated Circuits and Systems Lab at Tufts: https://engineering.tufts.edu/ece/koomson---Other episodes you might like:The pulse oximeter problem: a trusted medical device comes under the spotlightHow to design a fairer healthcare system---Connect with Made for Us- Show notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcast- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast- Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/