Christine Lannon M.D, is a PGY-1 in the integrated cardiothoracic surgery program at the University of Michigan. While participating in cardiac surgery missions abroad before and during medical school, she observed a recurring problem. Visiting surgical teams would arrive, perform a large number of complex cases in a short amount of time, and then leave—often without the ability to provide continued hands-on training to the local teams.

She began to see this model not just as temporary relief, but as part of a cycle of dependence—one where local surgeons were left without the tools or resources to continue building expertise after the mission ended. It raised an important question for her:

How can we move from providing care to supporting lasting surgical capacity?

While at EnMed, Christine turned that question into action. She had been following the growing use of surgical simulation models in U.S. training programs and saw their potential to fill a gap in global cardiac education. But most of the commercially available models were prohibitively expensive, especially for hospitals and training programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

That’s where Hearts in Hand began.

Christine led a team of students and engineers at EnMed to create affordable, anatomically accurate heart models using 3D-printed molds and silicone casting techniques. Designed to replicate common congenital defects, these models provide realistic, hands-on training tools that are accessible to resource-limited environments.

The goal wasn’t to replace mission work—but to equip local providers with the tools they need to train, practice, and build independent surgical programs.

Hearts in Hand represents a practical step toward sustainable global cardiac care—one that applies engineering to address a clear training gap and make a measurable impact on surgical outcomes in underserved regions.