Good Shepherd Rehabilitation is inviting the public to put on its creative thinking caps to name a piece of 3D printing technology that will shape the future of rehabilitation in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.

The rehabilitation network is now accepting name submissions for its new 3D printer, which will be used to benefit the lives of people with complex medical conditions and disabilities at Good Shepherd’s new rehabilitation hospital in Center Valley.

“We invite patients, families, Good Shepherd team members and individuals from not just the greater Lehigh Valley, but all over the country to show off their creativity with our naming contest,” says Amanda Clark, PT, DPT, NCS, director of Good Shepherd Creates. “3D printing in the rehabilitation space has tremendous life-changing potential for people with stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury and other disabilities.”

The 3D printer naming contest is open to all and free to enter. There are no limits on the number of submissions. The winning entry will receive a collection of 3D-printed smartphone accessories, which were produced on the very device that is the subject of the naming contest.

The deadline to submit 3D printer names is December 12, 2022. An internal team at Good Shepherd will consider submissions and announce the winner at a future date.

To submit names, fill out the naming contest form.

3D Printing and the Future of Rehabilitation

Good Shepherd’s soon-to-be-named 3D printer ultimately will find its home in the Experience Center of a brand-new, state-of-the-art inpatient rehabilitation hospital currently under construction in Center Valley. The new hospital is on track to open in summer 2023.

Known as the Good Shepherd/Moravian University 3D Experience, the 3D printing lab in Good Shepherd’s Experience Center will allow Good Shepherd physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physiatrists, and other clinicians to work with patients to take two-dimensional ideas and create customized, three-dimensional products. These products can assist in a wide variety of daily tasks, such as feeding, dressing, accessing technology and writing.

“Ultimately, our goal is for Good Shepherd to lead in clinical research, thought leadership and teaching others about the 3D printing technology,” says Emily Lyter, PT, DPT, administrative director of Good Shepherd Learns, Creates and Research. “Good Shepherd will become a leader in using 3D printing technology for rehabilitation — not just in the region, but around the country.”

3D Printer Naming Contest Details and Rules

·         To submit a name, fill out the contest form.

·         Trademarked characters, names, slogans, etc. will not be accepted.

·         Submissions will be accepted from December 6, 2022, through 11:59 pm December 12, 2022.

·         Multiple submissions are allowed.

·         Submissions will be collected, reviewed and voted upon by an internal committee comprised of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation team members.

·         Good Shepherd Rehabilitation reserves the right to withhold any submission.

[Source: Good Shepherd Rehabilitation]

CAPTION: Katelyn Amy (left), PT, DPT, Good Shepherd’s 3D printing clinical specialist, and Amanda Clark (right), PT, DPT, NCS, director of Good Shepherd Creates, show off Good Shepherd’s 3D printer.