Hind Hobeika

Lebanese engineer pioneering affordable 3D-printed prosthetics for amputees worldwide

Hind Hobeika is a mechanical engineer and co-founder of 3D4MD, a nonprofit using 3D printing technology to create low-cost prosthetic limbs. Born in 1987 in Lebanon, she developed her passion for medical innovation during her studies at MIT where she worked on bioengineering projects. Her breakthrough came in 2014 when she created the first 3D-printed prosthetic hand costing just $25 - a fraction of traditional prosthetics.

Through 3D4MD, Hobeika has provided over 10,000 prosthetics to amputees in conflict zones like Syria and Yemen, as well as disaster areas like Nepal. The organization trains local technicians to print limbs using recycled materials, creating sustainable local solutions. Their open-source designs have been downloaded over 500,000 times globally.

Her TED Talk "3D printing prosthetics for all" has over 2 million views. Hobeika was named one of Time Magazine's "30 under 30" in 2016 and received the Global Humanitarian Innovation Award in 2020. She continues to advocate for accessible healthcare through technology despite Lebanon's ongoing economic crisis.