16 Sep 2021

Fellowship alumnus appointed Assistant Professor, Engineering at Western University

Jacob Reeves, who completed the Medical Innovation Fellowship (MIF) in 2019, has been appointed Assistant Professor (Limited Term) at Western University’s Faculty of Engineering. He will be teaching several courses in design and innovation, including a component of the new Engineering Leadership and Innovation Graduate Diploma. The diploma provides the opportunity for engineering graduates to develop professional leadership skills in the context of engineering practice, and to enhance their employability.

The program aims to develop an entrepreneurial mindset along with leadership skills that are in demand from employers within startups, established firms, or the public sector. The ability to cross boundaries towards business and organizational leadership is often seen as helping to accelerate an engineer’s career.

“I am looking forward to teaching these courses, and being a part of the new graduate diploma program,” said Reeves on his appointment “these courses are exciting because they don’t always present clear-cut answers, we want to encourage students to be entrepreneurial and think of new solutions.”

A three-time graduate of Western University, Jacob holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Mechanical Engineering. His doctoral work was conducted at the Roth|McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Centre’s Bioengineering lab; where he focused on the design and assessment of stemless implants for shoulder arthroplasty.

After completing the MIF program Reeves went on to become a Postdoctoral Mitacs Accelerate Fellow in collaboration with Exactech Inc. Exactech produces innovative implants, instruments and technologies for joint replacement. He also co-founded ONPoint Medical, a spin-off company formed to commercialize a rehabilitation technology developed by his cohort in the MIF program.

“I chose to continue working at Western because of the growing entrepreneurial focus and culture, and the push for commercializing creative solutions,” said Reeves.

Reeves also noted how the Medical Innovation Fellowship contributes to this culture, “the freedom and opportunity the MIF gives is truly a gift that encourages you to be comfortable experimenting and helps you figure out what you want to do with your career.”