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About

Mary S. Dietrich is a leading researcher at the intersection of robotics and healthcare, with a focus on socially assistive robots for aging populations and robotic surgical systems. Her most cited work, "Socially Assistive Robots: Measuring Older Adults' Perceptions" (108 citations), addresses critical manpower shortages in healthcare by exploring how older adults accept and interact with robots designed to facilitate care delivery. In surgical robotics, Dietrich has made significant contributions to otologic and urologic procedures. Her research on robotic cochlear implant insertion (60 citations) demonstrates how robotic tools can minimize insertion forces and reduce intracochlear trauma, while her work on robotic mastoidectomy (38 citations) establishes force requirements for safe temporal bone milling. She also developed the TURBot system (32 citations) for robot-assisted transurethral bladder tumor resection, addressing limitations in tool dexterity and visualization. Her recent work on endovascular detection of catheter-thrombus contact (2024) introduces novel sensing modalities for thrombus management. With over 260 total citations across her publications, Dietrich's research spans from encouraging social engagement among older adults to advancing precision in robotic surgery, making her a versatile contributor to medical robotics.