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By Tina Meketa, University Communications and Marketing

A team of recent graduates of USF鈥檚 biomedical and mechanical engineering programs are entering the workforce experienced in the powerful intersection of academia, innovation and industry. As part of their senior capstone project, they invented a custom-designed medical device for Marine Corps veteran Yessenia Buckley. 

Buckley suffered a spinal cord injury during active-duty officer training that resulted in drop foot 鈥� a condition that affects her ability to lift the front part of her foot when walking. The mother of two also suffers from osteoarthritis in her knees and has spent years trying to find the right leg brace that doesn鈥檛 irritate her skin or cause her to overheat. She finally found one custom-designed inside USF Professor Souheil Zekri鈥檚 classroom 鈥� three hours from her home in Ponte Vedra, near Jacksonville.

鈥淢edical research and engineering have been lifesaving for multiple reasons after having a spinal cord injury,鈥� Buckley said. 鈥淚 was excited to see a dedicated team of students that were not only helping to design something specific and custom to me, but what it could do for the community, fellow veterans and other spinal cord injury patients in the future.鈥�

鈥淭he value of being able to translate what they do in a real-world scenario is priceless. To be able to see a project like this have an immediate result, even in a short amount of time, to just see the possibility is amazing,鈥� said Buckley, who traveled to Tampa multiple times for fittings.

As part of their culminating design experience, students partnered with the non-profit QL Plus, which matches veterans with specific mobility needs to student engineers. To assist with Buckley鈥檚 drop foot, the team designed and tested a hybrid orthotic combining elements of ankle-foot and knee-foot devices. Their goal: reduce the bulk of her existing device, improve comfort and enhance functionality.

Unlike many student projects that remain theoretical, USF biomedical engineering capstone teams are held to rigorous standards. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just pitch an idea or a model," Zekri said. 鈥淵ou have to deliver a working prototype that withstands a series of benchtop tests, and in some cases, even conduct destructive testing to ensure long-term reliability and safety. This depth in product development allows students to learn what it takes to become a biomedical engineer.鈥�

鈥淲orking directly with a specific patient was incredibly meaningful to me and one of the main reasons I chose this capstone over others,鈥� said Patricia Zamora, who graduated cum laude in spring 2025. 鈥淚 pursued biomedical engineering because I wanted to make a real difference in people鈥檚 lives, and this experience gave me the perfect opportunity to do just that. Getting to know Yessenia and seeing firsthand how our work could improve her quality of life was deeply rewarding and reaffirmed my passion for the field.鈥�

The team鈥檚 device not only passed performance tests, but was also designed with 3D-printable components, enabling it to be reproduced affordably by others in the future. It meets Buckley鈥檚 daily needs and is light enough for all-day wear and can withstand two years of use. A bonus: It cost less than $1,700 to produce 鈥� a fraction of traditional development costs.

鈥淲orking with Yessenia for the past year has been a rewarding experience in multiple ways,鈥� said Bret Nowakowski, who recently graduated with a degree in biomedical engineering. 鈥淣ot only was the team able to produce a functioning prototype that resembled our hard work and dedication, but we were also able to see Yessenia improve and meet her goals along the way. Her positive reaction to the brace was wonderful.鈥�

"QL Plus provides opportunities for engineering students to create one-of-a-kind devices to help veterans with disabilities. The work of this USF student team shows the remarkable skills and training that make a difference in Yessenia's life," said Mark Robbins, executive director of QL Plus.

For Buckley, the device marks a tangible step forward in her recovery. For USF鈥檚 students, it鈥檚 a real-world demonstration of how higher education and engineering can change lives.