Bioengineering Laboratory
Coro West, Suite 404
1 Hoppin Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Voice: (401) 444-2987
Fax: (401) 444-4418
e-mail: Liz_Drewniak@Brown.edu

Education:
Whitman-Hanson Regional High School 2000
Brown University, B.S. 2004
Brown University, M.S. 2005

Research Interests:
The research focus of Ms. Drewniak deals with sports injury prevention, more specifically impact biomechanics in sports such as lacrosse, baseball, hockey, and football. Projects have included testing of the mechanical properties of lacrosse balls and also the biomechanical properties of baseball and lacrosse chest protectors and their correlation with the occurrence of commotio cordis (sudden cardiac death). Future projects will include the use of the Head Impact Telemetry System (HITS) to monitor mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI’s).

Positions and Experience:
Brown University – Division of Engineering: Teaching Assistant 2003-2005
Brown University – Division of Engineering: Research Assistant Summer 2003
Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Faulkner Hospital: Research Assistant Summer 2001
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.: Engineer Technician Summer 2000

Masters Thesis:
“An Investigation of the Use of Mechanical Testing to Predict the Efficacy of Chest Protectors in Reducing Sudden Cardiac Death (Commotio Cordis) from Blunt Impact”

Published Abstracts:
Drewniak E, Spenciner DB, Crisco JJ: “Do Mechanical Properties of Chest Protectors Correlate with the Incidence of Ventricular Fibrillation in a Sudden Death (Commotio Cordis) Swine Model?” Proceedings of the ISB/ASB 2005 Congress.