Student Spotlight: Graduating Senior Michael Sohn

Michael Sohn is graduating in spring 2024 and…heading right back to the classroom in the fall when he begins medical school at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He’s excited to expand upon his passion for medical device innovation through research and to implement new technologies into clinics as he continues on his path towards becoming a physician.

What has your engineering journey been like?

My journey has been an interesting one, especially since I’m not directly pursuing engineering post-graduation! While I’ve known that I’ve wanted a future in medicine for some time now, in middle school, it became hard to ignore my obsession with the inner workings of mechanical devices. As a kid, I constantly asked questions about how the world around me worked, and this passion only strengthened as I took part in Science Olympiad and AP Physics in high school. I didn’t “always” want to be an engineer, but I always wanted to know how things worked–eventually, I came to realize that those two desires were one in the same. As I was looking to choose what to study at UW-Madison, I came to the realization that if I were to abandon this pursuit of understanding through engineering entirely, I would leave school forever feeling unfulfilled. As such, I chose to study engineering and enter the world of medicine with a unique perspective on design, technology, and problem-solving, and I feel confident that my time at UW has allowed me to capitalize on this goal.

Can you share more about your research interest areas and expertise?

At UW, my most extensive research experience has come with the Microsurgery and Regenerative Medicine Lab in the UWSMPH Department of Plastic Surgery. This lab and its highly qualified staff led by Dr. Aaron Dingle and Dr. Samuel Poore have provided a fantastic introduction to the world of research. My primary investigations in this group have dealt with enhancing the current standard for pre-transplant organ preservation in the hopes of ultimately improving the mobility of veterans with amputations. Our experiments involve performing hindlimb transplants on rodents in the presence or absence of PrC-210, a reactive oxygen species scavenger. I’ve found opportunities to tie in my engineering background to this project via the utilization of Doppler imaging equipment and the performance of comprehensive data analyses on the experiments’ results. Though these experiments are still in progress, it has certainly been exciting to present our initial results at various regional research conferences. Regarding my research interests, I hold a special attachment to projects which work to improve the lives of people with disabilities, and this research has been wildly invigorating for me.

Additionally, I spent some time with Dr. Josh Roth’s Biomedical Advances in Medicine (BAM) Lab in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. I worked with graduate student Matthew Blomquist to refine an OpenSim model of the human knee to assess the impact on joint mechanics of varying strengths and lengths of different ligaments in the hopes of better informing orthopedic surgical procedures. Finding an opportunity to combine my engineering and medical skillsets provided me hope that pursuing medicine does not mandate giving up my passion for innovation in the realm of medical devices and models. I’m excited to continue working on the cutting edge of medical technologies as I continue with research in the coming years.

What made you decide to pursue medical school following your engineering degree?

I can safely say that this is not the first time I’ve gotten this question, and for good reason! I’ve always wanted to attend medical school. The opportunities to actively work to better another person’s health, spread comfort through the dissemination of information, and advocate on behalf of marginalized communities receiving inadequate care have proven to be the primary driving forces for such a goal. That said, working alongside groundbreaking medical technology has been a long-held fascination which was equally integral to these aspirations. Given that medical schools simply require the completion of prerequisite coursework and do not mandate a specific major, I decided to both capitalize on my excitement for the design of medical technology and prepare myself for the ever-evolving landscape of medical devices by majoring in Mechanical Engineering. The choice of Mechanical over Biomedical primarily stemmed from the desire to receive a broader education which also highlighted Machine Design. I’ve been thrilled with the results of my decision to study engineering prior to medical school.

How did your ME studies/research help prepare you for your next steps? Did any mentors make an impact on your experience?

From an objective perspective, the content I have been taught in my Mechanical Engineering curriculum has been directly applicable to my research and internship experiences. For example, Professor Andrew Mikkelson’s Design of Machine Elements course (ME342) provided me with the knowledge necessary to properly design and select the components of the sander I prototyped during my internship at Milwaukee Tool. Additionally, the CAD skills I picked up in ME231 (Geometric Modeling for Design and Manufacturing) and ME331 (Computer-Aided Engineering) made using Siemens NX at Milwaukee Tool significantly easier. Finally, as I have aspirations of pursuing Orthopedic Surgery in medicine, Dr. Josh Roth’s Design of Orthopaedic Implants course (ME414) taught me the basics of implant design which will both guide my future research aspirations and allow me to be more aware of my choice of implant if I eventually pursue surgery.

More subjectively and arguably more importantly, I’d argue, has been the curriculum’s emphasis on problem-solving and building intuition. It’s inevitable that in medicine, I will encounter concepts which are unfamiliar to me, and it may be tempting to shut down if I don’t immediately know the answer. My experience as an engineer has instilled in me a firm willingness to reflect on the concepts that I do know, seek help from those more knowing than myself, investigate the situation further, consider multiple solutions, and ultimately decide upon a course of action which can be modified based on initial results. I’m certain that such a mindset towards problems will prove useful as I prepare to enter the world of medicine.

As for mentors, I really can’t thank enough people for the investment they’ve made in me and the impact they’ve had on my life. For starters, I’ve worked as a PrEPS facilitator at the Undergraduate Learning Center for the past 6 semester, and my supervisors Kathy Prem and Xiaoming Ma have never waivered in their support for me in this role. I am eternally grateful for their guidance. Dr. Aaron Dingle and Dr. Joshua Roth have both been instrumental to my introduction to research. Dr. Jason Oakley, with whom I have taken ME231 and ME361, was pivotal in my admission to medical school via his letter of recommendation. Professionally, Peter Borowski and Kyle Schultz at Milwaukee Tool were wildly helpful in familiarizing me with engineering industry during my internship with the company, and Dr. Allison Mahvi has been a welcoming figure for the past semester in which I’ve worked as a Student Assistant for her Heat Transfer course (ME364). Finally, Dr. Darryl Thelen has always been a guiding force for Pi Tau Sigma and an excellent Chair for the department. The fact that there are still so many names that I could thank (in addition to my friends and family) speaks to the Department’s capacity to take in and mentor students. Without the impact of all of these people, I would certainly not be on the road to accomplishing my dreams.

Were you involved with any student organizations?

My involvement with Pi Tau Sigma and Badgers for Special Olympics have certainly been highlights of my time at UW. With Pi Tau Sigma, a Mechanical Engineering honor society, I’ve served as both Treasurer and President. I’ve most enjoyed the opportunities this club has afforded me to speak with pioneers in both industry and academia.

With Badgers for Special Olympics, I’ve served as the Social Events Chair for the past three semesters, and I can confidently say that this has been the hallmark of my college experience. Alongside people with intellectual disabilities (IDs), I’ve had the opportunity to join National Tournament basketball and football teams, lead the first-ever campus-wide Buddy Olympics, and orchestrate halftime show scrimmages at which our athletes can showcase their skills. You might have seen us at the UW Men’s Basketball game against Robert Morris this past November! Most importantly, I’ve seen the shear dedication of an incredible group of people towards creating a more inclusive society in which people’s disabilities are celebrated rather than concealed, and I’m wildly excited to watch the sustained progress towards that goal as I continue working alongside this incredible organization. For anyone looking to get involved, I cannot recommend Special Olympics enough!

Please share about any internships or co-op experiences. What did you do there and why/was it worthwhile?

I worked as a Continuous Improvement Intern for Ascension Wisconsin Healthcare and a Medical Assistant for the Orthopedic Institute of Wisconsin my first two summers at UW. My most engineering-centric internship was this past summer, when I worked as a Mechanical Engineering Intern at Milwaukee Tool in Brookfield, WI. I firmly believe that all engineering students should strive for at least one internship in their collegiate career so as to broaden their engineering horizons, and I hope that everyone can have as positive of an experience as my time with Milwaukee was for me.

What might you share with other ME students coming up behind you?

Get involved and try new things! Coming in with a completely set mind on what it is you seek to accomplish in life can often lead to missing out on the discovery of previously unexplored passions. I think that a willingness to pursue whatever interests you in the moment can often lead you down some wildly fascinating roads. Join that volunteer group, email that professor, start that club, and take that hard class. Who cares if you aren’t interested in it tomorrow when there’s the chance that it’s exactly what you’ve been searching for throughout all of college! An engineering degree is versatile, and you have a whole host of opportunities at your disposal. Pursuing industry, nonprofits, academia, consulting, and even medical school are all feasible career routes for you to take, and you have the chance to discern which best fits you over the course of four years. What a wonderful opportunity, and it’s up to you to make the most of it. Enjoy it, and I wish you luck!