STA Student Builds Solar Medical Device to Improve Health Care Access

A Grade 12 student at St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Secondary School has developed an innovative solar-powered medical device to support health care in communities with limited electricity.

Jonathan Weng designed the solar power telemedicine device, a portable health kit that includes a digital stethoscope, pulse oximeter and other diagnostic tools that operate independently of the electrical grid. The system also supports connections for additional equipment like ultrasound scanners, helping bring essential diagnostics to places where consistent power is not available.

Jonathan developed the device in his own time over the past 18 months. His inspiration came from a trip abroad where he saw how power outages prevented local clinics from providing care. This motivated him to build a solution that keeps vital medical tools running, even off grid, using solar panels and a hand-crank generator for times with low sunlight.

The device is designed for simplicity so health workers in remote settings can use it with minimal training. It also supports digital links to specialists in larger centres, allowing remote diagnosis and advice.

Jonathan plans to pilot the system in Kenya this spring with a partner organization to refine the design before wider use. He has already earned emergency medical credentials in Canada and the United States, and has started a youth health advocacy group focused on improving access to care in underserved regions.

Jonathan’s work reflects the values of service and innovation we support at St. Thomas Aquinas and throughout the CISVA community.