Date: Monday, December 11, 2023
Category: General

This month we spoke with postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington Sasha Portnova about her experiences and outlook in the world of AT.   Don't forget to check out Sasha's new podcast about assistive technology research and innovation from an engineering perspective, “Gears of Progress,” which launched December 1^st.

How did you first become interested in the world of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology?

After my first year as an undergraduate at the University of Washington, I applied to the Department of Mechanical Engineering purely on a gut feeling and got accepted. At the time, I was still unsure on the directions to take it, but knew that working on purely human-free systems didn't sound appealing and wanted the impact of my work to have a more direct people’s component. So, I started looking through other Mechanical Engineering programs and stumbled upon the biomechanics route. In the description, the route included prosthetic and orthotic devices and exoskeletons, which sounded like the right fit. After that, everything seemed to lead me in the direction of assistive tech or, perhaps, I sought it unconsciously. As an undergrad, I joined the lab of Dr. Kat Steele, who was a brand-new faculty at the time and the only one working on biomechanics and orthotics at my university. Since then, biomechanics as well as engineering innovation in healthcare became actual concentrations within our own department, and I have gone on to receive a PhD and continue working in the fields of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technologies.

How did you first hear about the RESNA?

I was introduced to RESNA through my labmates who have personally attended and presented at RESNA's conference.

Tell us about your new podcast, ‘Gears of Progress’ and what inspired it.

“Gears of Progress” is a place to learn about research in rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology. It's an interview-based podcast in which I will be talking to folks from a variety of backgrounds - engineers, medical professionals, social workers, and more - to learn what they do to maximize the health and well-being of people with disabilities. We will be covering topics such as emerging tech, outcome measures, medical practice, public policy, accessibility education, and so much more.

Through the podcast, I hope to achieve several goals: dissemination of research and innovation in the fields of rehab engineering and AT, presentation of diverse paths available in AT for those who are interested in pursuing research, and information about various AT and rehab engineering resources available. Each episode is a journey that we will be taking with the guest speaker about how they got to what they are doing now, the exciting things they have been working on, and the plethora of useful resources they have utilized in their work.

The inspiration for the podcast is the first research-focused podcast I ever listened to, Biomechanics On Our Minds (BOOM). The hosts, Dr. Melissa Boswell and Dr. Johanna O'Day, were a true inspiration about finding creative ways in engaging the audience about biomechanics research and actually pushing for science dissemination in the field. In academic research, most of the work that is happening stays within the lab walls, only leaving them for yearly conference presentations and journal publications that are only attended or read by folks in the specific area. I think it is our duty to deliver the findings to a greater community in ways that are engaging and, most importantly, accessible.

I have plans to interview not only researchers but AT users, clinicians, accessibility organizations, and AT manufacturers. I love talking to people about their passion, and we have plenty of passionate people in AT.

What are you most proud of regarding your design process for ‘Gears of Progress’?

I am mostly proud that I launched it and have over six episodes ready. I think a big issue about side-projects of an academic researcher is that oftentimes they are left in the conceptualization stage. When it is not your main project, it is hard to properly allocate time for it. I am running on pure passion here and enjoying every step of the process! I hope I can channel that enthusiasm and passion through the mic to the audience as well.

What excites you most about the future of the field of assistive technology?

What excites me the most about the future of AT is seeing how much importance we are finally placing on the human/user aspect when designing and developing AT. I am glad to see this changing and excited to see how this will change the AT products that are being designed.

What drives your passion for AT?

The human aspect of it and the direct applications of AT that I can witness with my own eyes.

What advice do you have for fellow students looking to pursue a path in AT?

Listen to your gut more often than you tend to. Always keep the end-user in mind. Be open to feedback (both positive and negative). Seek collaborations across different disciplines - great AT work requires it. Don't be scared to learn something new. And most importantly, enjoy it!