In this conversation, Dr. David Morgenroth discusses his career at the VA, emphasizing the importance of giving back to veterans and the unique opportunities for thorough clinical practice and research within the VA system. He highlights the significance of collaboration between government and industry in advancing prosthetic technologies and the challenges of translating innovations from the VA to the civilian sector. The discussion also covers the role of implementation science in ensuring that innovations are effectively integrated into clinical practice. Dr. Morgenroth shares insights on the AMPREDICT Decision Support Tool, designed to aid decision-making in amputation levels, and emphasizes the importance of mentorship in fostering career development. He concludes with a call to action for innovators to focus on team science and relationship building to enhance their impact on clinical care.

Intro and outro music by the Flatbush Cowboys (a band that David Morgenroth played in from Brooklyn, NY).

Takeaways

• Dr. Morgenroth's career has been shaped by serendipity and mentorship.
• The VA allows for a thorough practice of medicine.
• Collaboration between government, academia, and industry is crucial for innovation in prosthetics.
• Implementation science is essential for translating research into clinical practice.
• The AMPREDICT Decision Support Tool aids in shared decision-making for amputation levels.
• Prosthetic selection can be augmented by allowing users to trial different options.
• Data-driven and shared decision-making are growing areas in healthcare innovation.
• Mentorship plays a vital role in career satisfaction and success.
• Building relationships is key to effective collaboration in research.
• Innovators should prioritize team science and cultivate relationships for impactful solutions.

Sound Bites

• "This is the future of healthcare in action."
• "Mentorship is the secret sauce."
• "Take a walk in the woods and just think."

Chapters

00:15

Introduction to Dr. David Morgenroth

01:46

The Value of Working at the VA

07:13

Collaboration Between VA and Private Sector

11:26

Challenges in Translating Innovations

17:34

The Importance of Implementation Science

22:54

Shared Decision-Making in Amputation

28:50

Future of Prosthetics and Data Utilization

35:36

Shared Decision Making in Prosthetic Selection

40:24

The Role of Data in Clinical Decision Making

46:08

Collaboration and Innovation in Prosthetic Research

50:46

The Importance of Team Science

58:48

The Power of Mentorship

01:07:05

Call to Action for Innovators

In today's episode, we sit down with Tim Reissman, Associate Professor from the University of Dayton in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department.

Join us to learn more about his unique journey in rehabilitation engineering, spanning a wide range of technology areas, all focused on realizing the freedom of movement through human-centered design and collaborative research/education.

Learn more about Tim, who encourages you to reach out to him at treissman1@udayton.edu.

In today's episode, we sit down with Peter Adamczyk, Associate Professor from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Mechanical Engineering department.

Join us to learn more about his journey through the research, development, and clinical translation of advanced prosthetic design as well as explorations into how wearable sensors could transform this industry and many others.

Learn more about Peter, who encourages you to reach out to him at peter.adamczyk@wisc.edu.

In this episode, we sit down with Geoff Turner, an independent consultant to prosthetics manufacturers (including Humotech) based out of New York City.

Join us as we learn how he leverages his own daily experience using prosthetic technology, diverse business background, and passion for mobility and athletics to deliver no-nonsense perspective that is helping multiple exciting companies realize more useful products.

Learn more about Geoff and Humotech's products. Geoff encourages you to reach out to him via email at geoff@humotech.com.

In today’s episode, we sit down with Steve Collins, Associate Professor from Stanford University in the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Join us to learn more about his quest to improve mobility with robotic prosthetics and exoskeletons that optimize metabolic energy efficiency by leveraging advanced learning algorithms.

Learn more about Steve, who encourages you to reach out to him at stevecollins@stanford.edu.

In today's episode, we sit down with Joyce Perrone, an independent consultant to Orthotics & Prosthetics businesses (including Humotech) based out of Pittsburgh, PA.

Join us as we learn how she navigates the complex healthcare landscape with empathy, optimism, and a keen eye for data insights.

Learn more about Joyce, who encourages you to reach out to her via email at jperrone.jp@gmail.com.

In today’s episode, we sit down with Philippe Malcolm, Associate Professor from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Join us as we learn more about what makes Philippe tick and how his unique approach is leading us towards a more nuanced understanding of the nature of human energy consumption during locomotion and where wearable robotics could have the greatest impact.

Learn more about Philippe and the Department of Biomechanics at UNO. Philippe encourages you to reach out to him via email at pmalcolm@unomaha.edu.

In today's episode, we sit down with Matt Yandell, Chief Innovation Officer at HeroWear, an exciting spin-off company from Vanderbilt University.

Join us to learn more about how to build an exoskeleton product that delights users: from optimizing the design, to fostering a healthy company culture, to honing your unique value proposition within this burgeoning industry.

Learn more about Matt, who encourages you to reach out to him via email at myandell@herowearexo.com.