ImpacTech

Host(s): Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest(s): Shay Cohen, Co-Founder and CEO of Verbali and innovator behind Ma-Talk

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
Verbali.io | Website

Discussion Topics (time stamp)

The inspiration  1:15Their experience with AAC  5:45Early Development  10:37

Transcript | Word Doc, PDF

Duration: 00:18:14

Host(s): Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest(s): Taylor Allen and Sreejith Ravi, REAR LAB at Georgia Tech

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
REAR Lab | Website

Discussion Topics (time stamp)

What sparked the idea  2:05Design challenges  6:06Different features  13:09Future applications and the market 19:58RESNA student design challenge 22:01

Transcript | Word Doc, PDF

Duration: 00:31:25

Host(s): Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest(s): Mike Soniat and Wayne Newitts

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
DOOR-E | Website, Facebook

Discussion Topics (time stamp)

Technical hurdles in developing Door-E  1:13Engineering and manufacturing challenges  4:18Community-building and user feedback  7:34Stories of impact and user needs  14:07Next steps: beta testing, scaling, and distribution  17:02

Transcript | Word Doc, PDF

Duration: 00:22:27

Host(s): Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest(s): Mike Soniat and Wayne Newitts

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
DOOR-E | Website, Facebook

Discussion Topics

The origin story of DOOR-E, inspired by helping a friend with mobility needsFeedback that shaped product developmentCommunity validation and emotional impact of connecting with usersHow DOOR-E works: portable, affordable, and zero-installation door automationTarget users: individuals with mobility challenges, caregivers, and therapistsBroader applications beyond accessibility, including everyday convenience

Transcript | Word Doc, PDF

Duration: 00:20:03

Host(s): Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest(s): Student Design Team - HAT, University of Washington: Yuka Fan, Emily Boeschoten, Adria Gonzalez, Sasha Portnova

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
HAT Team Information | Video, Website, Publication

 

Discussion Topics

RESNA Student Design Challenge ExperienceBridging the Gap Between Technology and Real-World UseNext Steps for the Hand Assessment Tool (HAT)Advice for Other Student InnovatorsVision for Real-World Impact

Duration: 00:16:01

Host(s): Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest(s): Student Design Team - HAT, University of Washington: Yuka Fan, Emily Boeschoten, Adria Gonzalez, Sasha Portnova

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
HAT Team Information | Video, Website, Publication

Transcript | Word Doc,  PDF

 

Discussion Topics

Intro & Episode OverviewTeam Formation and BackgroundsClinical Motivation Behind HATHow HAT WorksTech Design Choices (Leap vs Webcam)Reliability Testing InsightsInclusivity and Accessibility in DesignOT Perspective on Disability RepresentationClosing & Teaser for Part 2

Duration: 00:25:04

Host(s): Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh, Josh Anderson, Program Director, Assistive Technology Specialist for Easter Seals Crossroads, and Host of Assistive Technology Update
Guest(s): Brandon Biggs, CEO of XR Navigation; John McInerney, IMPACT Mentor and Board Member

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
Easter Seals Crossroads | Website
Assistive Technology Update | Website, Podcast Apple Page
XR Navigation | LinkedIn, Website

Transcript | Word Doc,  PDF

Duration: 00:26:37

Host(s): Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh, Josh Anderson, Program Director, Assistive Technology Specialist for Easter Seals Crossroads, and Host of Assistive Technology Update
Guest(s): Brandon Biggs, CEO of XR Navigation; John McInerney, IMPACT Mentor and Board Member

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
Easter Seals Crossroads | Website 
Assistive Technology Update | Website, Podcast Apple Page
XR Navigation | LinkedIn, Website

Transcript | Word Doc,  PDF

Duration: 00:27:45

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Co-Host: Dr. Michelle Zorrilla, Senior Research Scientist and Associate Director of Technology Translation, IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Emilie Maamary, CMO of Steadiwear 

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
Transcript | PDF

Some abbreviations used during the episode:
B to B to C: business to business to consumer
MVP: minimum viable product

Duration: 00:22:17

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Co-Host: Dr. Michelle Zorrilla, Senior Research Scientist and Associate Director of Technology Translation, IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Emilie Maamary, CMO of Steadiwear 

Use the code "IETF" to get an additional $50 off the pre-order of the Steadiwear Three device, which is currently available at a 40% discount through the end of the year 2024.

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
Transcript | PDF

Timestamps:
1:43 Steadiwear's Origin and Personal Inspiration
3:47 Challenges and Initial Steps
4:45 User T...

Duration: 00:25:27

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Leah Marmo, Director of Impact Accelerator at Iglis, Pittsburgh, PA

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
Transcript | PDF

Timestamps:

1:59 Leah's Background Story
20:15 Key Lessons Learned Throughout Her Career
27:37 Mission and Vision of the Inglis Impact Accelerator 
41:07 Sample Clients
56:26 Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs in this Space

 

Companies Mentioned in Episode
Together International | Website 
testa-seat | Website
Cookie Cookie Ice Cream | Website
River City Growers | Website
Disabili...

Duration: 01:03:16

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Rose Morris, Founder of Abram's Nation

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
Transcript | PDF

Timestamps:
1:45 Rose Morris and Abram's Nation Introduction
2:05 Motivation to start Abram's Nation
6:57 Challenges of Learning About FDA Registration and Insurance Requirements
11:56 Memorable Success Stories
18:50 Expansion into International Markets and SBA Exporter of the Year
27:25 Future Plans

Duration: 00:33:46

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Todd Hargroder and Troy Tesmer, co-founders of Soul Mobility, Inc.

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 
Transcript | PDF

 

Timestamps:
0:58 The IMPACT Award
2:31 How they got into the mobility space
9:43 Involvement in the field
13:02 Building a substantial product
17:50 Challenges during development
24:05 The future of power-assist
34:38 Never give up

Duration: 00:40:11

Host : Dr. Michelle Zorrilla, Associate Director of Technology Translation, and Dr. Julie Faieta, Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, Rehabilitation Science Researcher and Licensed Clinical Occupational Therapist
Guests: RESNA Developers' Showcase Teams (see below for more information)

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction 
02:13 Stephanie - VehiCLE  
03:48 Wayne - Wall Storage  
05:51 Leslie - Hummingbird  
09:46 Karen - Work Access  
13:04 Finn - Auli Tech  
16:20 Nadine - Kinemo  
21:01 Roger - MyAccessibleHome  
25:07 Todd - PowerFlex  

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram
1. VehiCLE by the Cleveland VA Technology Transfer Program - Stephanie Bailey | Website Duration: 00:29:15

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Julie Gulick, President and CEO of Bally Design

Julie Gulick - Bally Design | LinkedIn,  Website
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram

Transcript | PDF

Duration: 00:28:55

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt, Director of the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), an elite wheelchair racer, a Paralympic ambassador, public speaker, disability advocate, and former assistant professor at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt | LinkedIn, ACL.gov News,  Website
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Transcript | PDF

 

Info on pursuing NIDILRR funding
- View NIDILRR funding opportunities at Grants.gov
- View NIDILRR Funding Opportunities on ACL.gov   Tip: When the pag...

Duration: 00:21:19

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt, Director of the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), an elite wheelchair racer, a Paralympic ambassador, public speaker, disability advocate, and former assistant professor at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt | LinkedIn, ACL.gov News,  Website
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Transcript | PDF

 

Key Mentions
- NIDILRR main webpage
- NARIC
- About NIDILRR video

 

Adaptive sport/exercise RRTC
- How to...

Duration: 00:27:19

Hosts: Dr. Michelle Zorrilla, Associate Director of Technology Translation and Mrs. Nancy Augustine, Project Manager, at the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh,
Guests: Madeline Lee and Meghan Mulloy, graduate student entrepreneurs from the University of Pittsburgh’s Masters of Rehabilitation Technology program

Meghan Mulloy | LinkedIn
Toothbrush Buddy |  Website
RESNA Student Design Challenge 2022 | Website
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Full Transcript | PDF

Key Mentions  
SHRS Master of Rehabilitation Science https://www.shrs.pitt.edu/mrt
RESNA.org www.RESNA.org

 

 

 

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Duration: 00:23:15

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Tracey McGillivray, Entrepreneur/Co-founder & CEO at Axtion Independence Mobility Inc.; Liam Maaskant, Mechanical Engineer; Co-Founder & CPO, Axtion Independence Mobility Inc.

Tracey McGillivray | LinkedIn
Liam Maaskant | LinkedIn | Email
Action Independence Mobility Inc. |  Twitter
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Full Transcript | PDF

Key Mentions
www.Rise4Access.org
www.RESNA.org

 

Duration: 00:25:00

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Portia Singh, Director of Research at Cariloop, the world's first human-powered caregiver support platform that combines professional health care coaching services, and cloud-based tools that help families plan and manage every aspect of their caregiving journey; Shireen Abdullah, CEO of  Yumlish, an AI-powered digital health platform that provides culturally relevant nutrition therapy for minorities with diabetes and addresses socio-economic barriers to dietary adherence. 

Dr. Portia Singh | LinkedIn, Cariloop
Shireen Abdullah | Yumlish Website, LinkedIn
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitte...

Duration: 00:28:15

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Portia Singh, Director of Research at Cariloop, the world's first human-powered caregiver support platform that combines professional health care coaching services, and cloud-based tools that help families plan and manage every aspect of their caregiving journey; Shireen Abdullah, CEO of  Yumlish, an AI-powered digital health platform that provides culturally relevant nutrition therapy for minorities with diabetes and addresses socio-economic barriers to dietary adherence. 

Dr. Portia Singh | LinkedIn, Cariloop
Shireen Abdullah | Yumlish Website, LinkedIn
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitte...

Duration: 00:44:58

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Karin Leire, Vice President of Research and Innovation at Permobil; Dr. Laura Rice, Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, Associate Director of the Center on Health, Aging, and Disability, and Interim Director of Master of Public Health and Master of Health Administration Programs; and Dr. Shantha Sarangapani, Founder & CEO of ICET Inc., a growing contract R&D company aggressively developing new ideas, concepts and technologies in the areas of biomedicine, energy, and environment.

Karin Leire | LinkedIn
Dr. Laura Rice...

Duration: 00:18:35

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Karin Leire, Vice President of Research and Innovation at Permobil; Dr. Laura Rice, Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, Associate Director of the Center on Health, Aging, and Disability, and Interim Director of Master of Public Health and Master of Health Administration Programs; and Dr. Shantha Sarangapani, Founder & CEO of ICET Inc., a growing contract R&D company aggressively developing new ideas, concepts and technologies in the areas of biomedicine, energy, and environment.

Karin Leire | LinkedIn
Dr. Laura Rice...

Duration: 00:41:21

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Barbara G Stymies Chair in Rehabilitation Technology, and lead of the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics team at KITE, and Dr. Tilak Dutta, Scientist at the Toronto Rehab Institute. 


AGE-WELL NCE | Website, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
KITE Research Institute | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps:
01:30 Knowledge Translation Beyond Products
06:37 Barriers and Facilitators of Implementing Standards
10:19 Challenges of an Aging Population
1...

Duration: 00:23:24

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Barbara G Stymies Chair in Rehabilitation Technology, and lead of the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics team at KITE, and Dr. Tilak Dutta, Scientist at the Toronto Rehab Institute. 


AGE-WELL NCE | Website, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
KITE Research Institute | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter 

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
01:15 Alex Background & Intro
02:21 Tilak Background & Intro
03:28 KITE Center - What they do and the research teams Duration: 00:23:38

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Pooja Viswanathan, CEO of BRAZE Mobility Inc and  Dr. Rosalie Wang, Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto

FASTER Collective | Website
AGE-WELL NCE | Website, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
BRAZE Mobility Inc | Website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

FASTER Publication |  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33992634/ 
Wang, R. H., Kenyon, L. K., McGilton, K. S., Miller, W. C., Hovanec, N., Boger, J., Viswanathan, P., Robillard, J. M...

Duration: 00:30:05

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Pooja Viswanathan, CEO of BRAZE Mobility Inc

BRAZE Mobility Inc | Website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
00:56 Background & Intro
01:58 BRAZE Mobility and the technology
03:29 From Academia to Entrepreneurship
07:25 Funding and IP
16:15 Mentorship is critical
17:40 How each side can work together

Duration: 00:29:12

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Dan Zondervan (VP) and Dr. David Reikensmeyer (Clinical Advisor) of FlintRehab

FlintRehab | Website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
Products |  FitMi, MusicGlove

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
01:18 Clinical Trial Process - Research Perspective
04:14 Clinical Trial Process - Industry Perspective and Communicating the Value of a Product
05:40 FlintRehab’s Consumer Product Mentality
06:31 Including Qualitative Components
07:44 FDA Process and Tips
12:08 Business Models Differ by Product
17...

Duration: 00:24:26

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guests: Dr. Dan Zondervan (VP) and Dr. David Reikensmeyer (Clinical Advisor) of FlintRehab

FlintRehab | Website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
Products |  FitMi, MusicGlove, 

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
1:22 FlintRehab's Backstory.
7:56 SBIR Funding Mechanism got them started.
8:39 Their Products.
10:09  What the data is suggesting.
14:53 Why neuro-rehabilitation.
16:37 Straddling the university and small business role.
20:51 Wearing many hats. 

Duration: 00:25:33

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest Co-Host: John Inserra, Principle at Mindful Venture Consulting
Guests: Don Morrison, chairman of Deal Flow for BlueTree Allied Angels, and Corinne Vinopol, CEO of the Institute for Disabilities Research and Training Inc.

John Inserra | LinkedIn
Corinne Vinopol | LinkedIn
Don Morrison | LinkedIn

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
1:40 Essential pieces for product to succeed.
3:57 Product/Market Fit.
7:28 Importance of intellectual property.
11:45 Identifying a more compe...

Duration: 00:26:24

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest Co-Host: John Inserra, Principle at Mindful Venture Consulting
Guests: Don Morrison, chairman of Deal Flow for BlueTree Allied Angels, and Corinne Vinopol, CEO of the Institute for Disabilities Research and Training Inc.

John Inserra | LinkedIn
Corinne Vinopol | LinkedIn
Don Morrison | LinkedIn

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 
01:08 IMPACT Center Training
01:56 Co-host and Guest Intros
04:55 What is in it for the mentor and what do they...

Duration: 00:24:37

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Dr. Cathy Bodine, Associate Professor, Director, Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering

UC Denver - CIDE |  Website

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 

2:38 Advice to those making their technologies open source and how to think about sustainability.
4:40 Analyzing market share and the other critical components of a business plan.
11:01 The Technology Act Programs.
14:47 Innovation Trends in Academia.
17:35 Advice to women and other underrepresented innovators.
2...

Duration: 00:28:34

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Dr. Cathy Bodine, Associate Professor, Director, Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering

UC Denver - CIDE |  Website

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 

1:13 How Dr. Cathy Bodine got into assistive technology
3:19 Taking the leap from industry to academia
4:19 The start of the innovation hub at CU and Dr. Bodine's roles
6:01 Paths and challenges associated with getting technologies out of the university
7:59 Future changes assisting innova...

Duration: 00:23:05

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Steve Sutter, President of CreateAbility Concepts, Inc.

CreateAbility Concepts, Inc. |  Website, Email

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF

Timestamps: 

Duration: 00:26:32

Host: Dr. Mary Goldberg, Co-Director of the IMPACT Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Guest: Steve Sutter, President of CreateAbility Concepts, Inc.

CreateAbility Concepts, Inc. |  Website, Email

IMPACT Center | Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter

Full Episode Transcript | PDF 

Timestamps: 
02:47 From the corporate world to starting his own business.
04:33 What problem needed to be solved?
07:53 How the solution would help the stakeholders; Company values.
09:32 Focus groups; Engaging the community; Gap analysis and Mini Release Cycles. 
12:00 Impact of COVID-19 on the company and stakeholder engagement.
13:48 Benefits and COVID-19...

Duration: 00:24:26