Speaker and Consultant Bureau

VISN 8 Patient Safety Center of Inquiry, Tampa

Shawn P. Applegarth MSME

Professional Experience: Mr. Applegarth is the Associate Director of the Engineering Laboratory for the Tampa VISN 8 Patient Safety Center of Inquiry. He is also a mechanical engineering Ph.D. student at the University of South Florida. Mr. Applegarth has served as Co-Investigator on several funded research projects through VA HSR&D and RR&D services and has authored several peer-reviewed publications and technical reports. He served as student chairman for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) during his tenure at USF. He is currently serving on a VA Wandering Consortium Committee focusing on technologies to prevent wandering behaviors in persons with dementia.

Educational Background: Mr. Applegarth received his Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida in Tampa. He is currently pursuing his mechanical engineering Ph.D. while maintaining a 3.5 GPA. His Masters thesis focused on fuel cell technologies incorporated into unique robotic platforms. He is a full member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Research Interests: Mr. Applegarth has served on a variety of research projects, focusing on emerging technologies used in patient safety and transport. In addition, he has experience in conducting evaluations on new and existing technologies and has participated in creating and designing prototypes of devices developed and used by the VA healthcare system. Mr. Applegarth has done extensive experimental work testing the mechanical properties of hip protectors. 

Selected Publications:

1. Bulat, T., Applegarth, S., Wilkinson, S., Ahmed, S., Quigley, P., “The Effect of Moisture in Hip Protector Foam on Force Attenuation Properties”, Medical Engineering & Physics, 2005 (In Review).
2. Applegarth, S.P., Wilkinson, S., “Bendable Spliceable Tubular Biofuel Cell Cable”, Am. Chem Soc. Div. Fuel Chem., 2005 Accepted.
3. DiSalvo, H., Konopack, J., Applegarth, S.P., Haiduven, D., Katsouli, P. & Fisher, J. “A Pilot Study to Measure the Compressive Force Required to Activate Retractable Intramuscular Safety Syringes” Proc from the 15th Annual Scientific meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, Los Angeles California, Abs #226, 2005.
4. Konopack, J., DiSalvo, H., Applegarth, S.P., and Haiduven, D., “From bedside to bench: A pilot study to measure the force required to activate a retractable safety syringe” American Journal of Infection Control, 33(5), Abs #49736, 2005.
5. Nelson, A, Powell-Cope, G, Gavin-Dreschnack, D, Quigley, P, Bulat, T, Baptiste, A, Applegarth, S.P., Friedman, Y, “Technology to Promote Safe Mobility in the Elderly”, Nurs. Clin. N Am, 2004, pp. 649-671.

Areas of Expertise for Speaking / Consulting Engagements:

• Mechanical Properties of Hip Protectors
• Sensor Array Technologies
• Mechanical Design and Fabrication
• Technologies for Safe Patient Handling and Movement
• Fuel Cell Technologies

If interested in retaining the services of Mr. Applegarth, please contact him at 813-558-3930