WEST Lab Research Team

Dr. Irene Yang is an Assistant Professor and Endowed Chair in Spine and Trauma Biomechanics in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering (MME), Faculty of Engineering and the Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at University of Western Ontario (UWO). 

Dr. Yang leads the Western Engineering for Spine and Trauma (WEST) Lab located at Victoria Hospital (London, Ontario, Canada). Her research interests include machine learning for medical image analysis, experimental and computational biomechanics of the human musculoskeletal system particularly bone fractures, and medical implant design and development. Her group conducts orthopaedic engineering and biomechanics research in collaboration with the 100 orthopaedic trauma and spine surgeons from the Schulich School of Dentistry and Medicine's Department of Surgery at the Victoria Hospital (London, ON, Canada).

Dr. Yang is a specialty editor for the Bone and Joint Research Journal, a former British Orthopaedic Research Society/Bone Joint Research (BORS/BJR) travelling fellow, where she visited leading orthopaedic research labs across the USA (University of Denver, Colorado Joint Replacement, University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Hospital for Special Surgery (NY), Northeastern University in Boston) and in Canada (University of Ottawa). Her work has been published in Nature Scientific Reports, The Knee, and the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS). She is also co-inventor of a novel orthopaedic technology (bone implant) for pediatric coronal plane angular deformities of the lower limb (genu varum & genu valgum) and a wrist arthrodesis implant for fixed flexion deformity in Cerebral Palsy patients (University of Sydney & Westmead Children's Hospital, Australia; OrthoPediatrics Corp., USA). 

Originally from South Africa, Dr. Yang read a Bachelor of Mechanical (Biomedical) Engineering and Bachelor of Medical Science from the University of Sydney (Australia), and a DPhil as a Clarendon Scholar at The University of Oxford (United Kingdom), where she worked on reducing mobile bearing dislocations with the Oxford Knee implant (Oxford University, UK; Zimmer Biomet) in the lateral compartment of the knee. She completed her postdoctoral research training and independent academic research fellowship at the University of Edinburgh focused on developing ultrasound for orthopaedic surgery.

Paul (Pawel) Brzozowski, MSc, EIT (he/him)
Research Associate/Lab Manager

E: pawel.brzozowski@lhsc.on.ca | pbrzozow@uwo.ca

Research Interests / Specializations: Stress-testing orthopaedics implants; Biomechanical design optimizations; Biomaterial analysis

Paul is a biomedical engineering researcher and lab manager at WEST Lab with expertise in stress-testing orthopaedics implants, biomechanical design optimizations, and biomaterial analysis. He is available to assist you throughout your research: preparing research proposals, completing ethics forms, evaluating CAD files, designing the testing sequence, building testing jigs, setting up and running tests, data analysis, and manuscript preparation. Additionally, Paul is also available to assist with day-to-day operations at WEST Lab including placing orders, requesting quotes, equipment maintenance, safety inspections, and scheduling research.

Paul holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Biomedical Engineering and a Bachelor of Engineering Science (BESc) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Western Ontario. 

Radovan Zdero, PhD, CEng, MIMechE (he/him)
Consultant engineer | Write/Editor

E: rzdero@yahoo.ca

Research Interests / Specializations: biomechanical and biomaterials engineering

Dr. Radovan Zdero is a consultant engineer at WEST Lab with substantial research expertise in biomechanical and biomaterials engineering. He is available for planning/supervising projects, writing/editing journal articles and grant applications. He has a PhD in mechanical engineering (Queen’s University, Canada), as well as being a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (MIMechE). He has taught courses at universities, conducted research in hospitals, worked as a freelance engineer, and received over $1 million in research funding from academia (e.g. MITACS Canada), government (e.g. NSERC Canada), and industry (e.g. Stryker USA). He has authored hundreds of scientific peer-reviewed journal articles (e.g. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering), conference papers (e.g. Canadian Orthopaedic Association, World Congress of Biomechanics), and book chapters. He is also the editor/author of the university textbook Experimental Methods in Orthopaedic Biomechanics (publisher: Elsevier) and the author of the self-help guidebook Practical Career Advice for Engineers (publisher: Taylor & Francis).

Parham Rasoulinejad MD, FRCSC, MSC (he/him)
Program Director Orthopaedics Surgery
Associate professor of surgery, Western University
E: parham.rasoulinejad@lhsc.on.ca

Research Interests / Specializations: biomechanical testing of orthopaedics implants; Design and manufacturing of implants for spinal surgery

Dr. Parham Rasoulinejad is a clinical collaborator at WEST Lab with research expertise in biomechanical testing of orthopaedics implants as well design and manufacturing of implants used in spinal surgery. He is available to co-supervise projects with Dr. Yang focused on clinical and biomechanical assessment of spine surgery implants and procedures.

Dr. Rasoulinejad received his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Ottawa and a Masters in Biomedical engineering from Western University after completing his residency in Orthopaedics. He has also completed three fellowships in spinal surgery at Western University, University of British Columbia and University of Calgary. 

Supriya Singh MSc, FRCSC (she/her)
Program Director Orthopaedics Surgery
Assistant professor of surgery, Western University
E: supriya.singh@lhsc.on.ca

Research Interests / Specializations:  pediatric and adult spinal deformity; degenerative spinal disease particularly cervical myelopathy

Dr. Supriya Singh is a clinical collaborator at WEST Lab with research interest in pediatric and adult spinal deformity and degenerative spinal disease particularly cervical myelopathy. She is affiliated with CSORN (Canadian Spine Outcomes Research Network) and CSS (Canadian Spine Society).  She is able to co-supervise projects with Dr. Yang focused on clinical and biomechanical assessment of spine surgery procedures particularly in relation to spinal deformity surgery. 

Dr. Singh received her MD and Master's at Western University, completed her orthopedic surgery residency program here as well.  She then completed two spine fellowships, one in adult spine and one in pediatric spine, through the University of British Columbia.  

Jonathan Lin, BSc, MSc, MD (he/him)
PGY-1 Orthopaedic Surgery Resident (2024 - 2029)
University of Western Ontario
London Health Science Center
E: jonathan.lin@lhsc.on.ca

Jonathan joined the West Lab research group in September 2024. He is supervised by Dr. Irene Yang, and his research is focused on orthopeadic fixation devices and clinical outcomes. Jonathan graduated from the University of McGill in 2019 with a BSc and MSc in Applied Physical Therapy. He received his MD from l'Université de Sherbrooke in 2024.

Philip Daniel Skorzewski, BSc (Hons. Co-op) - Life Science (he/him)
Doctor of Medicine (2025-2027)
University of Western Ontario
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Windsor Campus
E: pskorzewski2027@uwo.ca

Philip joined the WEST Lab research group in January, 2025 as a research associate, supervised by Dr. Irene Yang. Philip's research is focused on the use of ultrasound in fracture management. Philip graduated from McMaster with a BSc (Hons. Co-op) in Life Science in 2022. Philip is the recipient of the Edward G. Hall Accessibility Award in Medicine and has previously produced research with the McMaster Dept. of Surgery and the Mouse Imagine Centre (MICe) at SickKids.

Moad Alsefaou, BSc (Hons) (he/him)
Doctor of Medicine (2024-2028)
University of Western Ontario
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Windsor Campus
E: malsefao@uwo.ca

Moad Alsefaou joined WEST Lab in February 2025 as a medical student researcher under the supervision of Dr. Irene Yang. His research focuses on orthopaedic innovation, particularly on the mechanical integrity of bone.

Moad is currently pursuing his Doctor of Medicine (MD) at Western University. He previously earned his MSc in Global Health from McMaster University and an Honours BSc in Health Studies (Co-operative Program) from the University of Waterloo. His work has been presented at national conferences, including The Canadian Association on Gerontology Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting and the Society for the Study of Addiction.

Melissa Misztal, MHSc, HBSc (she/her)
Doctor of Medicine (2024-2028)
University of Western Ontario
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
E: mmisztal2028@meds.uwo.ca

Melissa joined the WEST Lab in January 2025 as a medical student under the supervision of Dr. Patrick Thornley and Dr. Irene Yang. Her research focuses on surgical techniques for the treatment of scoliosis in children. Melissa holds an MHSc (2022) and an HBSc (2021) from the University of Toronto. Her prior research focused on paediatric rheumatology at The Hospital for Sick Children and youth mental health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Michael Thatcher, MD (he/him)
PGY-2 Orthopaedic Surgery Resident
University of Western Ontario
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry
E: mthatch@uwo.ca

Michael joined the WEST Lab research group in January of 2025 as an orthopedic surgery resident. He works with Dr. Patrick Thornley and Dr. Irene Yang to innovate surgical techniques and implant strategies to improve spinal deformity correction in pediatric scoliosis.

Minghuan(Tina) Xu (She/Her)

4th Year Undergraduate student - Mechanical & Materials Engineering (2021-2026)
University of Western Ontario
Faculty of Engineering
E: mxu466@uwo.ca

Minghuan joined the WEST lab research group in May, 2025 as a summer intern student supervised by Dr Yang. Minghuan's research is focused on FEA of the tibia, and is extending her summer work to an undergraduate engineering thesis. Minghuan Xu is currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the University of Western Ontario, where she has led and contributed to several technical projects, including designing and testing a two-stage speed reducer gearbox and prototyping a CPAP equipment cleaning device using SolidWorks and 3D printing. She also completed a data collection internship at Eetree Technical Company in Suzhou, China. Minghuan has received multiple awards, including the Western Admission Scholarship, a PhysicsBowl National Silver Award, and a Math Kangaroo Gold Award.