Nicole

Nikki Beitenman, BSBME, BBA, CAM-F developed and currently leads the 3D Innovation Center at the Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, SC. Ms. Beitenman received her BS in Biomedical Engineering with a focus on Biomaterials and Tissues and BA in Business and Organizational Communication Structures from The University of Akron in Akron, OH. She is certified in Additive Manufacturing through SME. Ms. Beitenman began her career with the VA in 2016 as part of the Biomedical Engineering TCF Program at the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis, MO. While there, she began working the Prosthetic Department to develop a process for 3D Printing check sockets for amputee patients. After 3 years, Ms. Beitenman transferred to the Charleston facility where she developed and stood up the Advanced Manufacturing Site as part of the Innovation Ecosystem. She collaborates with clinicians, engineers, and hospital staff across the facility as well as the rest of the country. The Charleston team manufactures products and devices that range from facility improvement to patient matched medical devices. Ms. Beitenman’s service achievements include being the recipient of the National HeRO (Healthcare Effectiveness and Resource Optimization) Award in 2020 for her work in 3D Printing for healthcare applications, being the lead for the team that developed the first 3D Printed medical device with compassionate use approval from the FDA for VHA, and was the recipient of the 2021 Under Secretary for Health’s Dr. Robert L Jesse Award for Excellence in Innovation. Her team has continued to push the boundaries of what 3D printing can do in healthcare, with now two more compassionate use approvals and service offerings for VHA across the country. Her work has touched over 60 VA medical centers and changed the lives of hundreds of Veterans.