Close-Up Talk Radio Spotlights Dr. Wendell Zehell

Advancements in technology have led to many innovative solutions that have affected many aspects of society. From business to culture, security and transportation, and wealth to health: the effects are displayed everywhere we look. The medical world has vastly changed from the wave of technological improvements we seen over the last century. For over 47 years, Dr. Wendell E. Zehell was a renowned surgeon at the forefront of utilizing and enhancing medical surgery with the use of technology.

Dr. Zehell always had a passion for medicine. He also knew the importance of mathematics. Dr. Zehell incorporated his love for both areas and earned his Bachelor’s as a double major in pre-med and mathematics from Washington Jefferson College in Washington, PA. Despite being told by many people that double majoring would be a waste of time, Dr. Zehell knew there was tremendous benefits to be seen by the medical field working with mathematical models and technology.

Dr. Zehell went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1960 and after spending two years in the military, was in surgical residency for 5 years, and became a board certified surgeon. Dr. Zehell was fascinated with biotechnology and eventually joined a group of surgeons in Pittsburgh. His path would eventually lead him to working on the development of a robotic voice-activated machine to assist with surgery.

“I would work 18-20 hours a day between surgeries and developing the robot. We finished a prototype in 1995. It was successfully used for abdominal and chest surgeries. Mathematical models were essential to its creation.” says Dr. Zehell.

In his book Biotechnology, Dr. Zehell provides a guideline as to how physiology should be incorporated into technology. “Biotechnology exhibits how technology should be used in medicine.”

For more information call 412-398-2359 or fax 412-835-7159.