Smart Technologies through Advanced Research (STAR) Lab
Accessible, affordable, and adaptable healthcare solutions that drive sustainable impact
About
Dr. Byeol Star Kim
Dr. Kim is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), the Morsani College of Medicine, and the Department of Medical Engineering at the University of South Florida (USF).
Before joining USF, Dr. Kim worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, where she advised clients across a range of industries with a focus on business strategy.
She holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. During her graduate studies, she founded a medical simulation startup based on her innovation filed for international patent. Her startup, CorFix Medical, was awarded funding from the State of Maryland - Maryland Innovation Initiative. She also served as a research fellow at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she contributed to the development of customized surgical cutting guides for total knee arthroplasty.
Dr. Kim’s research is driven by a commitment to translating engineering innovation into clinically and commercially viable solutions. Her interdisciplinary background in medicine, engineering, and business informs her pursuit of impactful, real-world applications in medical simulation and healthcare technology.
Team STAR
Identify. Innovate. Transform.
United by curiosity and purpose, we turn challenges into solutions in healthcare innovation.
Alexander Rodrigues
Undergraduate Student
Biomedical Engineering Major
3D & CAD Modeler
3D Printed XR Goggle Project
Nguyen Nguyen
Undergraduate Student
Biomedical Engineering Major
CAD Designer
XR Exposure Therapy Project
Dat Tran
Undergraduate Student
Computer Science Major
VR Developer
AI-Based VR Medical Training Project
Alex Lim
Undergraduate Student
Computer Science Major
AR Developer
Computer Vision Based AR Project
Trang Nguyen
Undergraduate Student
Biomedical Engineering Major
Animation
XR Exposure Therapy Project
Research
XR Physical Rehabilitation
A real-time, personalized physical rehabilitation platform using interactive game-based technology and machine learning
AI-Based VR Medical Training
An intelligent medical simulation system powered by LLMs and NLP for realistic clinical training
XR Surgical Training
An immersive smartphone-based stereoscopic XR-based educational tool for hands-on medical student training
AR Cardiac Surgical Guidance
A real-time, computer vision–driven platform for predictive modeling and optimization of cardiac surgeries
Adaptive AR Exposure Therapy
A machine learning–driven platform for real-time, adaptive exposure therapy to enhance clinical outcomes
After-Stroke Biomechanics
An investigation of finger biomechanics in stroke patients pre- and post-standard clinical interventions
Publication
Journal Papers
[J3] Kim, B, Foundational Characterization of Tracking Robustness in Smartphone-Based Augmented Reality: Effects of Marker Size, Motion, Occlusion, and Lighting for Simulation Applications, Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) Formative Research (Manuscript in Preparation)
[J2] Kim, B., Kim, M., Kwon, H., Park, J., Shin, J., & Shim, J., Effect of Botulinum Toxin A on Stroke Patient’s Hand Functionality and Maximum Distal Flexion Force Production (Manuscript in Preparation)
[J1] Kim, B., Kim, M., Kwon, H., Park, J., Shin, J., & Shim, J., Strength and Functionality Comparisons Between the Stroke Patient’s Less-Affected Hand and Healthy Subject Hand (Manuscript in Preparation)
Conference Papers
[C1] Kim, B., and Hu, A., Design Insights for Realistic AI Patients in Medical Training Simulation: Content, Style, and Behavior, ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2026) (Submitted)
Abstract
[A3] Kim, B. and Rodriguez, A., Design of a Customizable 3D-Printed Smartphone XR Goggle for Personalized Fit and Visual Comfort, 10th Annual Virtual Reality and Healthcare Global Symposium, ebruary 27 to March 1, 2026 (Accepted)
[A2] Kim, B., Nguyen, T., and Lim, A., Smartphone-Based Adaptive Stereoscopic XR for Exposure Therapy: Toward Personalized, Accessible, and Interactive Interventions, 10th Annual Virtual Reality and Healthcare Global Symposium, February 27 to March 1, 2026 (Accepted)
[A1] Kim, B. and Tran, D., AI-Driven Virtual Reality Simulation for Surgeon-Patient Communication Training in Awake Neurosurgical Procedures, 2026 Annual ACS Surgical Simulation Summit, March 12, 2026 (Accepted)
Miscellaneous
Demo
[D2] DevFest Tampa 2025, Google Developer Group - Booth demonstration of ongoing XR and AI-based medical simulation research projects, November 15, 2025. [D1] Kim, B., ASCEND: Bridging Clinical Education and Access through Smartphone-Based XR Dental Simulation, 26th International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, SimVentors Showcase, January 12, 2026 (Accepted)
Workshop
[W1] Kim, B., Applying Human-Centered Design in Medical Education: From Challenges to Solutions, 3rd Annual USF Health MedEd Symposium, Bridging Theory to Practice: Insights from the Learning Environment (Submitted)
Panel
[P1] Kim, B., AI in Healthcare, The International Healthcare Association, University of South Florida, November 2025
Hiring
PhD and Undergraduate Students: XR Development Opportunities in Medical Systems
We are actively recruiting students interested in developing advanced extended reality (XR) medical systems using Unity and C#, with a focus on integrating machine learning and artificial intelligence to enhance system capabilities.
Contact Us
Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS),
124 S. Franklin Street
Tampa, FL 33602
+1 813-396-0818
IG: starlabusf