Papers
10
Total Citations
275
H-Index
9
About
Rachel Melnyk is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of urologic surgery, biomedical engineering, and simulation science. Her work centers on developing high-fidelity, patient-specific surgical training platforms for complex robotic procedures, particularly robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) and nerve-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (NS-RARP). Melnyk’s major contribution is the integration of 3D printing and hydrogel casting technologies to create perfused, full-immersion simulation models that replicate human anatomy with unprecedented accuracy. She has rigorously validated these platforms using clinically relevant objective metrics of simulation (CROMS) and clinically relevant performance metrics of simulation (CRPMS), with multi-institutional studies demonstrating their effectiveness. Her most cited work (64 citations) validates a perfused RAPN simulation platform, while subsequent studies have extended this approach to kidney transplant simulation and patient-specific surgical rehearsals. Melnyk has also explored gaze-augmented training to enhance skill acquisition in virtual reality robotic suturing. With over 275 total citations across her top ten papers, her research is shaping the future of surgical education by providing safe, realistic environments for trainees to master complex robotic techniques before entering the operating room.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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