A crowd watched as the surgical robot's arms moved with a delicate precision, its movements directed by a human counterpart just a few feet away. As the spider-like arms of the machine completed the final task, the crowd congratulated the robot's operator. Instead of a doctor with years of experience, the girl who directed this surgical machine was a student at Highland Park High School.
Dr. Richard Salter, from Advanced Ob-Gyn Associations, served as the featured speaker at the 2012 HPHS Science Festival Nov. 15. Dr. Salter spent the day on the HPHS auditorium stage giving eager HP students hands-on experience with the da Vinci surgical robot. Created by Intuitive Systems, the robot enables minimally invasive surgeries in a wide array of procedures.
In addition to the interest that the science festival draws from the students and faculty, this year's iteration drew media attention. The sessions with the da Vinci robot were filmed by Identity Media Services for its show "Best Docs Network featuring Forest Park Medical Centers." The hospital named in the show's title serves as the home base for both Dr. Salter and the robot. The segment featuring his presentation aired Dec. 2 on the CW33 network, and is now available on YouTube.
Dr. Salter, an HP parent, contacted HPHS Science Department Chair Roseanne Leediker last year about bringing the da Vinci robot to the high school for a demonstration. Leediker realized that the best way to share this technology with a large group of students would be through the Science Festival.
"This surgical innovation really impressed upon our students how medicine and technology/engineering can be blended into a career," Leediker said.
This year's festival featured more than 40 speakers representing careers in science, engineering, medicine, research and technology. 2008 HPHS graduate Audrey Thompson Burks, who attended the festival while in high school, was one of this year's speakers. Burks, who recently earned a degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University, presented on the topic of oil wells. HPHS Technology Department Chair Brenda McGurgan helped bring in additional technology speakers from companies like IBM and Texas Instruments.
The Science Festival was underwritten by the HPHS PTA, La Fiesta de las Seis Banderas, Forest Park Medical Center, Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and many HP parents.