A Competency-Based Learning Framework for Interdisciplinary Medical Additive Manufacturing: Democratizing Surgical Planning Education Through Open-Source Workflows

Medical additive manufacturing (AM) education faces significant accessibility barriers due to reliance on expensive proprietary software, limiting opportunities for institutions with constrained resources. This paper proposes a competency-based learning framework for teaching patient-specific surgical planning using exclusively open-source tools. Drawing from constructivist learning theory, a four-stage competency pathway is defined: (1) Medical Imaging Literacy, (2) Anatomic Modeling, (3) Surgical Planning and Design, and (4) Digital Fabrication. To illustrate the technical feasibility of the framework, a complete mandibular reconstruction workflow was implemented using open-source software. The results demonstrate that an end-to-end open-source pathway can produce geometrically accurate models and functionally suitable prototypes for surgical planning contexts. The framework offers a scalable and accessible model for interdisciplinary education by reducing financial barriers while maintaining alignment with industry-relevant workflows. While the present study focuses on technical validation, future work will involve empirical evaluation of learning outcomes and competency acquisition in educational settings.     «

Medical additive manufacturing (AM) education faces significant accessibility barriers due to reliance on expensive proprietary software, limiting opportunities for institutions with constrained resources. This paper proposes a competency-based learning framework for teaching patient-specific surgical planning using exclusively open-source tools. Drawing from constructivist learning theory, a four-stage competency pathway is defined: (1) Medical Imaging Literacy, (2) Anatomic Modeling, (3) Surgi...     »