Dan Ding, PhD
Primary InvestigatorDr. Ding is tenured Associate Professor at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL), the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) at the University of Pittsburgh, and a Research Scientist at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. She also holds secondary appointments at the Department of Bioengineering and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Pitt. Dr. Ding received her PhD in Robotics and had three years of postdoctoral training in rehabilitation engineering. Dr. Ding has a multidisciplinary background and her research interests focus on using wearable technologies to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent secondary conditions in individuals who rely on wheelchairs for mobility, and using connected-home and robotics technologies to support independent living of people with complex disabilities. Dr. Ding has led many research and training projects in assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering funded by the Veterans Affairs Department, the National Institute of Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, the Department of Defense, and other agencies/organizations.
Andrea D. Fairman, PhD, MOT, OTR/L, CPRP
Co-InvestigatorDr. Fairman currently serves as the Capstone Coordinator and Associate Professor of Johnson & Wales University OTD Program in Providence, RI. She also holds an adjunct faculty position at the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology (RST) at Pitt. Dr. Fairman began her career working in human services and community mental health before she became an occupational therapist. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Fairman has practiced occupational therapy in a wide variety of treatment settings including: home health, school-based services, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities, and now, in the academic and research environment. She has also served in administrative and leadership capacities, including her role as Executive Director of the Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania. Dr. Fairman’s research interests are focused on how technology can help to support persons with disabilities and chronic conditions. She has worked extensively with mobile health (mHealth) and technologies to support persons in the home and community settings.
Brad Dicianno, MD
Co-InvestigatorDr. Dicianno is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He serves as the Medical Director and COO of the Human Engineering Research Laboratories. He is the Medical Director of the UPMC Center for Assistive Technology and the Director of the UPMC Adult Spina Bifida Clinic. His research interests focus on developing and studying interventions targeted to improving health and wellness in individuals with complex disabilities (wheelchairs, adaptive sports, telemedicine, virtual reality, and preventative care programs). Brad graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Evolutionary Biology and a BA in the History and Philosophy of Science and from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with his medical doctorate. He completed residency in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center where he served as chief resident. He then completed an NIH fellowship within the Rehabilitation Medicine Scientist Training Program and obtained a Masters Degree in Bioengineering.
John Coltellaro, MS
Co-InvestigatorMr. Coltellaro is a RESNA certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) and has been practicing as a rehabilitation engineer since 1990. He is a clinical instructor within the Department of Rehabilitation Science Technology in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University Pittsburgh. and teaches two graduate-level courses related to assistive technology. He also provides rehabilitation engineering services in the areas of computer access/applications, environmental controls, and home/worksite modifications for clients at the UPMC CAT and the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute. He provides clinical education on electronic assistive technology to professionals through the continuing education program at the Department of RST.
Rosemarie Cooper, MPT, ATP
Co-InvestigatorMrs. Cooper 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 a RESNA certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). She is currently employed as an Associate Professor within the Department of Rehabilitation Science Technology in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University Pittsburgh. She is the Director of Center for Assistive Technology (CAT) within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), and also works as a Clinical Instructor/ Wheelchair Seating Clinician. Mrs. Cooper is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Business academic honor society and a member of APTA.
Gina McKernan, PhD
Co-InvestigatorDr. McKernan has a multidisciplinary background in statistics, measurement, and research, working within the healthcare industry, the University of Pittsburgh, and the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. She obtained her doctorate in Research Methodology from the University of Pittsburgh, concentrating on advanced statistical methods. She has completed a number of primary and secondary research projects focused on the evaluation of technology, protocols, interventions, and data associated with improving the quality of life in persons with disabilities.
Cheng-Shiu Chung, PhD
Co-InvestigatorDr. Chung is a research scientist at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL), the University of Pittsburgh. He has a background in mechanical and biomedical engineering, and received his PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Chung was a NIDILRR ARRT fellow and a PVA Research Foundation Fellow. Dr. Chung has extensive experience in developing and customizing human computer interfaces for assistive devices for people with complex disabilities.
Lindsey Morris, OTD, OTR/L
Clinical/Research CoordinatorDr. Morris is an occupational therapist and clinical research coordinator at the Human Engineering Research Laboratories (HERL) at the University of Pittsburgh. She received her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions (MGHIHP) in May of 2020. Her research interest and doctoral project have focused on the use of mainstream smart technologies as assistive technologies (AT) for persons with chronic and complex disabilities to support their health, participation, independence, and quality of life.