Cancer survivor channels experience into animation

Published On Mon 14 Aug 2017 by Cara Longmuir

A University of Dundee student who battled cancer has used his experiences during treatment to come up with a novel way to help cancer specialist nurses.

Medical Art student Ryan Berardi, from New Jersey has created a 3D animation for nurses to use if chemotherapy is unintentionally wrongly administered.

This project is part of Ryan’s exhibit at this year’s Masters Show, which takes place at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design from Friday, 18^th August.

Ryan’s animation focuses on a patient’s anatomy, but also involves surgical tools and equipment. It could be used by nurses to work out where they had gone wrong. They would then follow the animation to prevent further damage to the patient.

The 25-year-old was diagnosed with Leukaemia at the age of 18. He had to receive treatment while he was studying for his undergraduate degree in Sculpture from the University of Arts, Philadelphia.

He said, “Now that I’m in remission I decided that I wanted to do the Medical Art MSc.  From being around medical professionals during my treatment, I found out a lot about the condition and how it is treated.

“I know the instruments they use and the different types of chemotherapy, but I also know what could go wrong when it comes to treatment. Hopefully they don’t need to use the animation, but if they do they will know how to stop any further complications.”

The Masters Show will open on Friday, 18^th August. It will run until Saturday, 27th August. The exhibition is open from 10am-8pm on weekdays and from 10am-4pm at weekends.

For more information see www.dundee.ac.uk/mastersshow.

For media enquiries contact:
Cara Longmuir
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 385243
Email: c.z.longmuir@dundee.ac.uk