John B. Pietsch, MD, FAAP, FACS

Dr Pietsch is a pediatric surgeon interested in the study of nutritional status and body water distribution in infants, children and mothers. With the assistance of Phase I funding from a Bill and Melinda Gates Grand Challenges Exploration grant, his team has developed a novel compact device to measure bioelectrical impedance vector analysis. This device is linked to a smart phone which is programed to show the user body composition and body water components. Further studies are being conducted in the USA and Africa with the goal of early detection of malnutrition and body water changes. This may permit early nutritional intervention in infants, children and pregnant and nursing mothers and improve outcomes.