Personnel Content Area

Rory A. Cooper, Ph.D. received the B.S. and M.Eng degrees in electrical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 1985 and 1986, respectively. He received the Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering with a concentration in bioengineering from University of California at Santa Barbara in 1989. He is FISA & Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Chair and distinguished professor of the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, and professor of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also a professor in the Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System. Dr. Cooper is director and VA Senior Research Career Scientist of the Center for Wheelchairs and Associated Rehabilitation Engineering, a VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Center of Excellence. He serves or has served on the editorial board of several prominent peer-reviewed journals in the fields of rehabilitation and bioengineering. Dr. Cooper has been selected for numerous prestigious awards. Dr. Cooper has authored or co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed journal publications. He also has six patents awarded or pending. Dr. Cooper is the author of two books (which have been translated into Japanese and Chinese): "Rehabilitation Engineering Applied to Mobility and Manipulation” and “Wheelchair Selection and Configuration”. Dr. Cooper is an elected Fellow of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. Dr. Cooper has been an invited lecturer at many institutions around the world, and was awarded “Honorary Professor” at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Xi’an Jiatong University. He has also been elected to Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, and Sigma Xi honorary societies. Dr. Cooper is past President of RESNA, and a member of the RESNA/ANSI and ISO Wheelchair Standards Committees, and IEEE-EMBS Medical Device Standards Committee. He is a Trustee of the Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation, and a member of the steering committee of the Academy of PM&R on research capacity building. In 1988, he was a bronze medalist in the Paralympic Games, Seoul, Republic of Korea. He was on the steering committee for the 1996 Paralympic Scientific Congress held in Atlanta, GA. He was a member of the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – Medicare Advisory Committee. Currently he serves as Chair on the National Advisory Board on Medical Rehabilitation Research, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and as a member of the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Prosthetics and Special Disability Programs Advisory Committee.

Michael L. Boninger is Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also the Assistant Dean for Medical Student Research in the School of Medicine. Dr. Boninger works as a physician researcher for the Department of Veterans Affairs, is the Medical Director of the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, and is the director of the University of Pittsburgh Model Center on Spinal Cord Injury (UPMC-SCI), funded by the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR). He is also the Executive Director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Center for Assistive Technology. Dr. Boninger graduated from Ohio State University with both a medical doctorate and a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He received his specialty training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Michigan Medical Center where he served as Chief Resident. After his residency program, he completed a NIDRR Fellowship in Assistive Technology at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Boninger’s work focuses on all aspects of assistive technology; he specifically focuses on upper extremity pain in individuals who rely on manual wheelchairs for mobility, telerehabilitation, and assistive technology service delivery. Dr. Boninger has over 100 peer-reviewed journal publications and numerous book chapters and extended abstracts in these research areas. Dr. Boninger was honored in 2002 with the Pittsburgh Business Times Health Care Heroes Award for “Innovation and Research”. In 2003 he was elected to the College of Fellows in the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), and was selected Outstanding Faculty by the University of Pittsburgh. He has lectured internationally on biomechanics of repetitive strain injury, assistive technology, and wheelchair propulsion. Dr. Boninger also holds three U.S. patents.

Donald M. Spaeth, PhD, ATP is the Associate Director of Engineering and a Research Scientist at the VA R&D Center of Excellence at HERL. Dr. Spaeth received his PhD degree in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh in August 2002. Since 1997 he has participated in several research projects on alternative control systems for electric powered wheelchairs and personal computers. He received training support as a NIDRR fellow from 1995 to 1998 and through a VA pre-doctoral fellowship in 1999. He has held both clinical and manufacturing positions in the rehabilitation technology industry. Prior professional employment includes software designer and computer access product manager for the Prentke Romich Company from 1989 to 1994 and technology specialist for the Assistive Device Center Intermediate Unit 13, in Harrisburg, PA between 1986 and 1989. He has an ongoing interest in control systems for individuals with substantial motor impairments.

Brad Dicianno, MD is the HERL Associate Medical Director and a staff physician at the Univ. of Pittsburgh Medical Center where he evaluates patients with disabilities for assistive technologies such as wheelchairs and addresses the complex assistive technology and rehabilitation needs of individuals with spina bifida. His research focus is understanding motor control and movement disorders by studying the interfaces between the upper limb and engineering devices such as power wheelchair joysticks. He is currently a RMSTP fellow at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories in Pittsburgh under the mentorship of Rory Cooper, PhD and Yoky Matsuoka PhD. Brad graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine after obtaining a BS in Evolutionary Biology and a BA in the History and Philosophy of Science as an undergraduate there. He completed residency in the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Univ. of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

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Faculty/Investigators

Bambi R. Brewer, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh in the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology. She received her PhD and her MS from the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in 2006 and 2002, respectively. She received BS degrees in mathematics and physics from Rhodes College in 2000. Her goal is to use technology, and specifically robotics, to improve the quality of life of individuals with neurological disease or injury. Her current projects include computerized assessment of the motor abilities of individuals with disability, the use of visual feedback to optimize performance in a robotic rehabilitation environment, and the creation of a robotic protocol for hand rehabilitation.

Diane M. Collins, PhD, OTR/L is a Health Research Scientist at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Human Engineering Research Laboratories. Also, she is Adjunct Associate Faculty in the Rehabilitation Science and Technology Department of the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Collins received her Baccalaureate degree in Occupational Therapy from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, with emphasis on infants and children with disabilities and individuals with psychiatric disorders. She later received a Masters Degree in Management from Webster University, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with an emphasis on systems organization. She then received a PhD in Rehabilitation Science and Technology from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Collins is a registered occupational therapist with 20 years of clinical experience working in healthcare, community, and school settings. She is a member of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, and has obtained two grants from the Veterans Administration Rehabilitation Research and Development Department for pre and post-doctoral education.

Rosemarie Cooper, MPT received the BA degree with concentration in International Business from California State University, Sacramento in 1994. She received the MPT degree in Physical Therapy from University of Pittsburgh in 1998. She is currently employed at the University Pittsburgh in the School for Health and Rehabilitation Science as an Instructor within the Department of Rehabilitation Science Technology. She is working as a Clinical Coordinator at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories and as a Clinical Instructor/ Wheelchair Seating Clinician at the UPMC Center for Assistive Technology. Preceding her PT studies, she has worked as a Research Associate for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Prior to coming to Pittsburgh, she has served as an Executive Committee Member at the National Wheelchair Athletic Association (NWAA) Paralympic Training Camps held in Sacramento, CA during Spring 1989-1994. Rosemarie Cooper has been an author on several articles on wheelchairs and seating. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Business academic honor society and a member of APTA.

Dan Ding, Ph.D, is a Rehabilitation Scientist at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, Department of Rehabilitation Science of Technology, University of Pittsburgh. She is now involved in the research projects including wheelchair back-driving study and force sensing joystick study. She received her Ph.D degree in Mechanical and Automation Engineering from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, HK SAR, in October 2001. She graduated with honor from Harbin Institute of Technology, China, in 1995 with the B.E. in Mechanical Engineering and the M.E. in Robotics in 1997. Her research interests include robotics, multi-fingered robot hands, dexterous manipulation, virtual reality and wheelchair control. She has published over 10 papers in refereed professional journals and international conference proceedings. She is a member of IEEE.

Annmarie Kelleher, MS, OTR/L, ATP received her BS and MS degrees in Occupational Therapy from the University of Pittsburgh in June 2001 and August 2004, respectively. Mrs. Kelleher is currently working as a Clinical Coordinator at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories and as a Wheelchair Seating Clinician at the UPMC Center for Assistive Technology. Knowledgeable in the proper administration of clinical studies involving human subjects, she is experienced in coordinating complex research projects. She is responsible for assisting in the development of clinical protocols, monitoring and participating in study implementation, subject recruitment, and data management. Mrs. Kelleher is also a member of Pi Theta Epsilon, an occupational therapy honor society, the Pennsylvania OT Association, the American OT Association, and the Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society for North America.

Alicia M. Koontz, PhD, RET, is a Rehabilitation Scientist at the VA R&D Center of Excellence and HERL. Dr. Koontz received her PhD degree in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh in August 2001. Dr. Koontz’s B.S. and M.S. degrees are in Biomedical Engineering, with a concentration in Rehabilitation Engineering from Wright State University, Fairborn, OH in 1993 and 1994, respectively. She is a recipient of a VA Research Career Development Award which is investigating the biomechanics of transfers among wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. Dr. Koontz’s research interests are in the areas of rehabilitation biomechanics, assistive technology, and secondary injury prevention. She is a certified Rehabilitation Engineering Technologist and provides clinical services to veteran patients in the VA Seating and Wheelchair Clinic. Dr. Koontz is the first author of over 35 peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings and book chapters. She is a member of RESNA, ASB, Tau Beta Pi, and Sigma Xi.

Michael McCue, Ph.D., CRC is Associate Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh. He is Director of the Rehabilitation Counseling Program. Dr. McCue administrates the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology at the Hiram G. Andrews Center in Johnstown, PA. He is also a neuropsychologist and Director of Behavioral Neuropsychology Associates, a community based rehabilitation agency in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. McCue obtained his Ph.D. in Rehabilitation from the University of Pittsburgh, with a minor in Educational Research. He completed a two-year post doctoral internship in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. McCue has undertaken extensive research and demonstration activities in neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities, including vocational rehabilitation and supported employment projects, ecological validity studies, research in applied cognitive rehabilitation, and empowerment and advocacy programs. He has also directed national training and demonstration programs in rehabilitation assessment and intervention. He has published over 40 articles, chapters and abstracts on the assessment and rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.

Jonathan Pearlman, PhD, is a Research Health Scientist at HERL and adjunct professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Pearlman earned his BS and MS in mechanical engineering at the UC Berkeley and Cornell University, respectively. Dr. Pearlman completed his PhD work Rehabilitation Science and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh in 2007, with an emphasis on assistive technology design and transfer to developing countries. Dr. Pearlman’s research interests are in the areas of participatory action design, assistive technology transfer methods, and new product development.

Richard Simpson, Ph.D. earned an MS in Bioengineering (1994), an MS in Computer Science and Engineering (1995), and a PhD in Bioengineering in (1997) from the University of Michigan; his BS is in Computer Science from Virginia Tech (1992). He has been ATP certified since 1997 and joined the Pitt RST faculty in September 2000. In addition to his academic responsibilities, Dr. Simpson provides AT services in computer access, augmentative communication, and environmental control at the CAT. Dr. Simpson has extensive research experience in advanced assistive technologies. During his graduate studies, he was active in the development and testing of the NavChair Assistive Wheelchair Navigation System, which served as a test bed for his doctoral research in adaptive shared control. He also developed several mechanisms to allow the NavChair to automatically adapt its behavior to meet changing task requirements and user needs. Dr. Simpson has also performed research in adaptive computer interfaces, focusing on techniques for text entry and text generation rate enhancement. Two of his papers received awards at international rehabilitation engineering conferences. Dr. Simpson is proficient in several programming languages and has developed software for a variety of assistive technology research efforts.

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Staff

Statistician

Christian Niyonku, M.S. is the Statistician for the HERL. He received a BS in Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science from La Roche College in 2005 and a MS in Statistics from Carnegie Mellon University in 2007. Christian is also currently working as a Biostatistician in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh. His responsibilities involve interfacing with faculty, researchers, and students on the design of statistical analyses for grants and manuscripts for publication. Christian’s goal is to obtain a PhD degree in Biostatistics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Clinical Staff

Lauren O’Brien, BS is the Clinical and Education Outreach Coordinator at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology. She works with the Clinical Coordinators to develop protocols, recruit subjects and monitor and participate in the implementation of studies at the VA. Lauren also works with the continuing education department to coordinate conferences, seminars and tours of HERL and the Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. Lauren graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication, Public Relations and Promotions from Frostburg State University in Maryland. Lauren enjoys spending her free time in Maryland on Deep Creek Lake and Wisp Ski Resort.

Emily Teodorski, BS is a Clinical Coordinator at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories, where she is responsible for assisting in the development of clinical protocols, monitoring and participating in study implementation, subject recruitment, and data management. Emily received her BS in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 2003 and is currently pursuing a Master of Social Work degree. Previous research experience at the University of Pittsburgh included work on studies examining the effect of hostility on cardiovascular disease and on depression and anxiety in individuals with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Michelle L. Tolerico, MS is a bioengineer at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories. She is responsible for assisting with the design and development of research activities carried out in the biomechanics laboratory at HERL. She also acts as a direct liaison between the University of Pittsburgh and VA IRB offices on issues related to human subject testing conducted in the biomechanics lab. Michelle graduated with from the University of Rochester with a BS in biomedical engineering with a concentration in mechanical engineering in 2003. She received her MS degree in Rehabilitation Science and Technology with a concentration in seating and mobility from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005. While completing her graduate studies, Michelle worked as a research associate at HERL. During this time, she worked on quantifying the activity levels of wheelchair users through the use of a custom designed data logging device.

Technical Staff

Samuel A. Connor Jr, BS is the Technical Assistant for the Human Engineering Research Laboratories in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Point Park University. Mr. Connor has gained knowledge of many applicable technical and maintenance skills through his past work experiences in the United States Air Force. In the lab, Sam carries out contract testing of wheelchairs, evaluating the mechanical, electrical, and stability properties of each wheelchair. The battery of tests conducted assess the functional limits and safety of the wheelchair in everyday activities, such as prolonged driving, dropping off street curbs, environmental conditions, as well as overall structural durability. He also helps to maintain the machine shop and testing areas by ordering materials, organizing items, and servicing equipment. In addition, Mr. Connor assists with research and designs projects throughout the lab.

Stephen Hayashi, BS is HERL’s Electronics Engineer. He started working with the lab in 2003 as a Research Engineer from AT Sciences on the Smart Power Assist Modules (SPAM) for wheelchairs project. In 2005, he joined the HERL technical staff as a full-time Electronics Engineer to provide electronics support on all of our various projects. When he is not assisting with research projects, he can be found ensuring that all of our test and measurement equipment is in working order. In addition, he also investigates new technology to incorporate into future projects. Stephen received his BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

Mark McCartney is a Machinist at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories. Mark is Senior Machinist for the Center for Assistive Technology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He is responsible for the Centers Machine Shop, which has multiple duties. First to fabricate devices for people seen at the centers clinic, Second to machine and build projects from the Universities School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Mark also services as an instructor for the Universities Human Engineering Research Laboratories at the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Center, Helping students with design and fabrication of projects. Mark completed a four-year machinist apprenticeship program at Contraves Goerz Corporation in 1978 and is vested by the state of Pennsylvania as a Journeyman Machinist. Mark worked as a Machinist and a Precision Mechanical Assembler at Contraves for 20 years, the last 9 years in domestic and international field service. He came to work for the University in 1994.

Jeremy R. Puhlman, BSE is the Research Engineering Coordinator at the Human Engineering Research Labs. His main duty is to serve as a rehabilitation technologist team manager providing technical solutions to the problems in the research related to persons with disabilities and the rehabilitation sciences. He advises the faculty, staff and graduate students with the technical aspects of their projects. When he is not providing technical solutions for others you will find him designing and building prototypes for projects of his own. Jeremy also provides supervision and support to the HERL technical staff. Mr. Puhlman completed an internship with HERL as an undergrad at the University of Pittsburgh, and was later hired part time while he finished his studies. During his internship he designed, manufactured, and tested the first Pneumatic Suspension Wheelchair Caster Fork. In April 2003 he graduated with a BSE in Biomedical Engineering and was granted a full time position at HERL.

Research Support Staff

Andrea Bagay, BS is the Research Coordinator at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories. Andrea assists faculty members by providing information on funding opportunities and assisting with the preparation of proposals. Andrea is responsible for tracking all grant proposals within the lab. She also organizes scheduling of tours, seminars and lab sponsored meetings. Andrea works with new employees to fulfill necessary VA paperwork requirements as well as oversight of yearly renewals for existing employees. Andrea is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Business and Psychology.

Alisha Shane-Cuniff, A.S., is the Financial Research Administrator for the University of Pittsburgh Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology (RST) and the Engineering Research Center for Quality of Life Technology (QoLT). Alisha coordinates the post-award accounting in RST. In addition, she processes all purchase requests, disbursements, and travel reimbursements related to research for RST and QoLT. She has been a University of Pittsburgh staff member since 1988, most recently within the Departments of Neurology & Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. In Neurology, Alisha coordinated all Pre and Post Award activities. Thereafter, she was the Assistant Administrator to the Directors of Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury & General Orthopedic Rehabilitation within the Department of PM&R. In addition, she assisted the Resident Coordinator in PM&R and managed all non-research related financial tasks within the Department. She is a graduate of CCAC where she earned an Associates of Science in Accounting. She plans to continue her education and earn a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh. A lifelong Pittsburgher, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.

George Hagedorn, B.A. is HERL's Computer Engineer. He administers all tasks for the HERL network, including server management, hardware/software installation, and upgrades. George troubleshoots computers as needed, tracks computer hardware/software; initiates procurements for IT related purchases, maintains the Computer/Network portion of the disaster awareness plan, ensures VA IT compliance, and maintains IT supplies. He implements network adjustments as directed by the Administrative Officer and HERL Directors. George holds numerous MCSE certifications from Windows NT4.0 forward and is a Veteran of the U.S. Army. Received his Bachelor’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania.

Christine M. Heiner, BA is the Information Dissemination Coordinator for the Human Engineering Research Laboratories. She designs lab conference displays, brochures, flyers, and promotional materials. Christine is also the editor of the HERL Quarterly Newsletter and webmaster of the HERL website. She files, tracks, and prepares paperwork for all HERL publications and media, including print, television and radio coverage. Christine writes and prepares HERL articles to be published in commercial publications and has authored several feature articles in the magazine Paraplegia News. She also provides oversight of administrative databases and multimedia equipment. Prior to working at HERL, Christine worked as a DJ on Albright College radio and as a retail manager. Christine graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in the Spring of 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in English.

Mary Hershberger, M.Ed., is excited to assume her responsibilities as Education and Outreach Coordinator for Engineering Research Center for Quality of Life Technology (QoLT) and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology. Mary is responsible for the facilitation of the REU (research experience for undergraduates) and RET (research experience for teachers) and all other education and outreach seminars, conferences, and programs occurring within QoLT. Originating from eastern Pennsylvania, Mary came to the University of Pittsburgh to pursue a dual BS in Psychology and Spanish. Afterwards, while working as a graduate student assistant at the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at Pitt, Mary completed her M.Ed. in Higher Education Management, also from the University of Pittsburgh. An avid traveler, Mary enjoys visiting interesting places and studied abroad for a semester in Seville, Spain.

Paula Stankovic is the Administrative Officer for the Human Engineering Research Laboratories and has been with the lab since its start in 1994. Paula oversees budgets for all grant submissions; processes technology transfer and invention disclosures; oversees annual report preparation for various institutions; ensures that HERL is compliant with both VA and University rules and regulations; and provides review and oversight of the HERL website (www.herlpitt.org). Paula will act as the staff assistant to Drs. Rory Cooper and Michael Boninger, Directors of the VA WaRE Center of Excellence. Additionally she provides supervision to the HERL research support staff; acts as liaison between the VA and the University to graduate students; provides administrative oversight in coordinating the summer student internship program, and administers and maintains employee payrolls and records for all faculty/staff and students within HERL. Paula has worked in administration for over 20 years and most recently left the University of Pittsburgh after 15 years of research administration work to accept the position of AO for the VA Center of Excellence. Outside the lab Paula is a busy mother of two who along with her husband do their best to keep up with two growing girls. She also provides assistance to several outreach organizations in her community.

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Visiting Faculty

Hisaichi Ohnabe, Ph.D.

Dr. Hisaichi Ohnabe joined HERL in April 2004 as our third “visiting professor”. Dr. Ohnabe retired from Niigata University in Japan, where he was a professor in many departments, ranging from the Department of Biocybernetics to the Graduate School of Science and Technology. He will spend a year at HERL, where he will continue to develop the book he is writing with Dr. Rory Cooper, Dr. Douglas A. Hobson, and the faculty in the Dept. of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and VA Pittsburgh Health Care System, entitled, An Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering. The book, scheduled for publication in April 2005, will also be used in Japan to educate undergraduate and graduate students in Rehabilitation Engineering. Dr. Ohnabe’s concentration at HERL in Rehabilitation Engineering stems directly from the need for more advanced technology in Japan. With the booming aging population in all industrialized countries, Dr. Ohnabe has spent a significant amount of time studying wheelchairs in aging societies.

During his stay, Dr. Ohnabe has encouraged HERL students to submit research papers to the 2004 19^th Japanese Conference of Advancement on Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology (JCAART)/Rehabilitation Engineering Society of Japan (RESJA) conference, which took place in Sapporo, Japan in August 2004. In addition, Dr. Ohnabe attended the Symposium of Welfare Engineering in September 2004 to introduce the research results and the VA/HERL system to Japan.

Though he had the chance to study in several other programs, Dr. Ohnabe chose to come to HERL after coming into contact with Dr. Cooper while translating his book, Wheelchair Selection and Configuration into Japanese. Dr. Ohnabe felt that working at HERL would allow him to “expand his experience” in the realm of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. When asked what he enjoys most about working at HERL, Dr. Ohnabe is quick to reply, “the atmosphere!” He enjoys the cooperative ambiance of the lab, using his office of as an example of where a mechanical engineer and a rehabilitation scientist can communicate daily to problem solve and develop new ideas.

Toru Furui, Ph.D.

Toru Furui is a visiting faculty member at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories from Japan. He has been with us since July 2004 and is a postdoctoral associate of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1990, Toru received his Japanese Physical Therapy License. He received his doctorate in Science, with a major in Physical Therapy, from Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan, in March 2004. He has also obtained a BA in Sociology majoring in Social Welfare.

Toru has a wife and three children ages 23, 24, and 25. He practiced Physical Therapy in Japan for 14 years and has done extensive work with people who have Cerebral Palsy. In Japan, people with CP were often segregated and targeted by bullies.After graduating in 1990, Toru got a local government position for a community-based practice. He specialized in finding better adaptation for individuals with disabilities in ADL and mobility in a changing environment. Collaborating with teachers and children’s institutes, Toru accommodated some public schools and private kindergartens for children with disabilities. The Hiroshima Physical Therapist Association awarded Toru with the Physical Therapist Distinguished Service Award in 2001.

Toru’s research has included the retrospective study of the secondary functional deterioration in socially active adults with cerebral palsy in Japan and postural control by ergonomic seating in severe neurological cases.He has also studied the regional community support system for homebound elderly persons in Japan.

Shojiro “George” Terashima

I majored in Biomechanics for my Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree, as well as for my Doctorate thesis. I have measured, and analyzed human lower extremity joint motion of unimpaired individuals as well as individuals with diagnoses of ligamentous injuries and Osteoarthritis (OA), status post High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO) and Total Joint Arthroplasty, etc. The results of my research provided insight for the design of artificial joints, how to treat injuries, how to operate and what type of artificial joints were best. All of the aforementioned topics are important and worth studying, but I preferred to focus on the design and development of machines, equipments and tools, specifically for the rehabilitation and assistive technology field. So in these recent years, as a result of my findings, I have changed my focus and study in these fields. As you know, the “Wheelchair” is the representative assistive device. When I started to research wheelchairs, Dr. Cooper’s name frequently appeared in the journal papers and I decided that I would like to visit his laboratory if I was able to study abroad. I was very eager to talk with Dr. Cooper and learn what kind of person he was. Fortunately, last year Dr. Cooper came to Japan for a conference and I was able to hear his presentation and watch him talking with professors. At this time I decided to apply, because I understood his personality before ever talking with him.
The purpose of my visit to the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) are as follows: to understand the background of assistive technology, to understand the “Problems” and “Needs” of individuals with disabilities, and to find a good topic for my research.

While in Pittsburgh Dr. Cooper allowed me to join the rehabilitation team at the Center for Assistive Technology (CAT) and obtain clinical experience. I gained a better understanding of the problems, and needs of wheelchair users. Those experiences helped me to develop a sense of what problems wheelchair users experience, what they want to do, what activities of daily life they perform, how they should be treated, and what type of wheelchair is best for their individual needs.
While here I decided to work on the “Robotic Arm”. Before I came to HERL I could not understand the need for and the importance of the Robotic Arm or those kinds of assistive devices. I wondered if researchers developed devices such as the “Robotic Arm” only for the purpose research studies and not for actual use by disabled individuals. However, my assumption was not correct, now I can tell who will use these types of devices, and how important they are. Because of my background I can assist in the design and development of the Robotic Arm controller, while working in collaboration with HERL. Therefore, I could accomplish two of my goals, finding a topic of research and cooperation though the Robotic Arm! Another research topic was also found, but I would like to save that for next time…
Every person was so kind and nice. I greatly appreciate your kindness and help. I really like all members of this laboratory and Pittsburgh very much. I will come back again. See you soon!!

Lucas van der Woude, Ph.D. came to Pittsburgh on June 22nd from Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, where he is an associate professor at the Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences. Dr. van der Woude chose to take a sabbatical at HERL in the hopes of experiencing a different research and teaching environment in a field of expertise similar to his own. “In the field of Wheelchair research there are basically two leading labs in the world: Pittsburgh and Amsterdam,” said van der Woude. The fact that he is an adjunct associate professor at Pitt’s Department of Rehab Science and Technology and had visited HERL several times naturally lead to the idea of Dr. van der Woude spending a sabbatical at our lab.

Dr. van der Woude kept busy during his 3-month visit. He traveled to Cleveland with the HERL research team to participate in the 2002 National Veterans Wheelchair Games. He also began working with Drs. Cooper and Boninger on a collaborative textbook, “Biomechanics and Physiology of Manual Wheelchair Use.” Dr. van der Woude had the opportunity to provide his perspective in the writing of HERL research papers and grant proposals as well.

During his visit Dr. van der Woude taught a four part RST Student Lecture Series and Visiting Faculty Lectures at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. van der Woude was eager to introduce rehab research from his university and compare and contrast it with HERL’s approach. “Our much more biologically steered ‘Amsterdam’ perspective differs from some degree from the more engineering perspective at HERL”, said van der Woude of his lecturing experiences. “The teaching was great fun to do.”

In addition to lecturing, consulting, and writing, Dr. van der Woude also organized a memorable wheelchair basketball game, which took place in the Highland Drive VA gym. HERL faculty, staff and students were all eager to participate in the basketball game.

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