Hiroko Tanaka and her classmate, Rachel Laird, collaborated with the Department of Physical Therapy at the College of Allied Health Sciences to develop one-of-a-kind training models for Physical Therapy students.

The silicone-based models were designed to enhance hands-on training and improve students' ability to identify wound types across various skin tones.

These models not only serve as essential training tools but also promote inclusivity in healthcare education.

Their project received funding from the Graduate School at Augusta University, and in March 2024, they won first place in the Innovate Pitch Competition, hosted by Augusta University and the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center, for their groundbreaking work.