Orthopedic Research Team

The Orthopaedic Biomedical Imaging Institute at Vanguard Weiss Memorial Hospital is an independent research facility affiliated with the University of Chicago. Learn more about the orthopaedic research team below.

Contact the Institute at (773) 564-5190 for more information on joint research currently under way.

John M. Martell, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon and researcher at the Orthopaedic Biomedical Imaging Institute at Weiss and Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Chicago. Dr. Martell is a leader in the field of computerized wear analysis of orthopedic joint implants with a special focus on biomedical imaging tools. The Institute is known nationally and internationally for the unbiased evaluation of hip implants and their polyethylene wear rate data. Dr. Martell’s innovative, patented software uses an edge detection method for analysis. Dr. Martell received the prestigious American Orthopaedic Association’s ASG Traveling Fellowship for 2006 when he conducted extensive research in Europe.

Darlene M. Urlaub, is the on-site manager of the Orthopaedic Biomedical Imaging Institute. Ms. Urlaub also serves as a research project professional and administrative assistant to Dr. John M. Martell. Ms. Urlaub processes the incoming films, electronic data and disks containing X-ray images. All data is stored on the lab’s six computers for wear analysis. She coordinates work assignments with the technicians and updates the database with their results and then generates reports based on this data.

Michael Chinander, Ph.D., is a research professional from the University of Chicago, Department of Radiology with a degree in Medical Physics. Dr. Chinander works primarily on coding and development of all new software.