‘I Wanted to Challenge Myself:’ An Occupational Therapy Professor Explores the World of 3D Printing

Dr. Michelle Dowling spearheaded an initiative to incorporate 3D printing into the occupational therapy programs in Worcester and Manchester.

Three-dimensional printing is transforming how occupational therapy students and professors at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) approach learning and patient care.

With 32 years in the field, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy Michelle Dowling, OTD, has seen occupational therapy as a "high-touch, low-tech profession." However, she discovered that 3D printing could open new possibilities by creating customized accessibility devices, like utensils or splints, and educational models.

Motivated by this potential, Dr. Dowling incorporated 3D printing into her classes at Worcester and extended the initiative to the Manchester campus. "I wanted to challenge myself and my students to venture into more technology and not to be afraid of it," she said.

A World of Possibilities

Before exploring its possibilities for occupational therapists, Dr. Dowling knew a little about 3D printing from her engineer daughter, who studied mechanical analysis using 3D modeling software. However, it was at a 2023 conference for occupational therapists that her interest truly sparked, when she saw a vendor table run by an employee of the Perkins School for the Blind.

"This gentleman's there, and he has all this 3D-printed stuff,” Dr. Dowling recalled. “I'm like, wait a minute, what does the Perkins School for the Blind have to do with 3D printing?”

Upon closer inspection, she noticed that one of the tools on display was a 3D-printed phone stand specially made to help individuals with low vision hold their phones while reading text. Dr. Dowling, a certified hand and low vision therapist, said she instantly saw a connection with her work. She spoke with the vendor, who offered to send her the digital files for the stand’s design.

She said she began thinking through other ways 3D printing could connect to her work as an occupational therapist. One idea that crossed her mind was using the technology to create fidget tools for children with attention deficit disorders. She also thought it might signify an interesting learning opportunity for students in her Environments and Technologies class.

“These worlds were starting to come together,” Dr. Dowling said.

Leaping into Experiential Learning

Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy Danielle Amero, OTD, teaches Environments and Technologies on the Manchester campus. She helped Dowling conduct more research on bringing the technology to MCPHS classrooms.

“I don't think it ever occurred to me that 3D printers were so accessible,” Dr. Amero said. “A friend of mine was making 3D models of hands and I said ‘we can buy those.’ But then I researched some of the adaptive equipment you can print, and often it's cheaper and customizable. So I saw much more of the potential.”

Armed with a wealth of detailed information about various 3D printer models, from which are most cost-effective to which emit the most decibels of sound while being used, Dr. Dowling brought her findings to OT program director Doug Simmons. After receiving his support, she gave a detailed presentation to the rest of the OT faculty. They agreed to buy two 3D printers, one for Worcester and one for Manchester, where Dr. Amero would serve as Dr. Dowling’s counterpart.

This year, the two professors brought 3D printing into the lab portion of their Environments and Technologies classes. To introduce students to the computer-aided design software they’d be using to print objects, they asked them to design small, simple structures using easy-to-follow tutorials. The 3D printer reads the digital design file, which is like a recipe, and produces a real-life version by manipulating heat-activated plastic stored in the printer.

"The students were a little worried initially and weren't sure what the crazy professors were asking them to do. But we had them working in small groups so that it wasn't just one person trying to figure it out, and they supported each other,” Dr. Dowling said.

Taking Risks, Getting Results

Both professors agree there was a learning curve when using the tech. “We had some pretty epic fails, initially,” Dr. Amero said.

But she also added that the process prepared students for the challenges they will inevitably face in their careers.

“New technology is going to enter their clinics and they're going to have to feel frustrated and it's going to be kind of hard,” Dr. Amero said. “But that's all learning. It doesn't matter if you're not perfect at it—you put yourself out there, take a risk, and try it. So even if they don't all walk out of here ready to 3D print for the world, everybody has learned something new.”

One of the students in the lab was Logan Stevens, a recent graduate of the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program in Manchester. During their second year, Stevens and several other students worked together to design adaptive equipment for a client who had difficulty holding onto specific gym equipment due to a nerve injury. The group consulted with the client and created initial designs for a splint she could wear on her hand, incorporating her feedback into the final printed design.

“We worked closely with Dr. Amero to develop something functional and comfortable,” Stevens said. “We heard from her recently that she was able to use it on the rowing machine, something she hasn’t been able to do in 10 years.”

Stevens reflected on their work developing the splint in an article published with the American Occupational Therapy Association. Despite the challenges that arose during the process, they wrote that working with the tech was a rejuvenating experience that expanded their perspective of what they could accomplish as an occupational therapist.

"Working with new technology in a space that allows for processing time and failure is pivotal to students learning the applications of occupational therapy practices," Stevens wrote.

Stevens continued this on-campus project while completing a rotation at the Monarch School of New England, building a 3D-printing inventory to assist other occupational therapists. The inventory includes several designs for adaptive equipment, such as cup holders for wheelchairs, pencil grips, and other tools that the school can use in the future.

What’s Next

More possibilities are in store. Dr. Dowling has also used the 3D printer to create learning tools, like a model of the brain and spinal column for students taking a neuroanatomy course.

“Students can thread wiring through the different levels of the spinal cord and appreciate the motor and sensory tracts. It’s a tactile learning opportunity,” Dr. Dowling said.

Soon, Dr. Dowling said she wants to help and support other faculty, such as optometry and physical therapy, who are interested in using 3D printing.

“It's very refreshing to experience so much support from the school. I'm really impressed with the opportunity the University has given Danielle, me and the students to explore this and have it grow,” Dr. Dowling said.