ELIZABETH HALSNE, PHD, CPO
Professional Experience
RESEARCH SCIENTIST
June 2021 - present
Investigator in the VA RRD Center for Limb Loss and MoBility (CLiMB) at the VA Puget Sound in Seattle, WA and an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington.
GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHER
September 2015 - present
Working with David Morgenroth, MD and Brian Hafner, PhD on lower limb prosthetics comparative effectiveness and patient-centered prosthetic foot prescription through the University of Washington and at the Center for Limb Loss and MoBility (CLiMB) at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.
RESEARCH PROSTHETIST-ORTHOTIST
July 2011 - August 2015
Staff certified prosthetist-orthotist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now Shirley Ryan AbilityLab) and in the Center for Bionic Medicine. Worked with Levi Hargrove, PhD and Todd Kuiken, MD on upper and lower limb powered prosthesis design and control.
RESIDENT ORTHOTIST
June 2010 - July 2011
Resident orthotist at the University of Michigan Orthotics & Prosthetics Center. Lead multi-center research project on patient satisfaction with orthotics and prosthetics care.
EDUCATION
B.S. PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS
2010
University of Washington
Honors Program
UW Academy Robinson Center for Young Scholars
M.S. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
2019
University of Washington
PHD REHABILITATION SCIENCE
2021
University of Washington
RESEARCH PROJECTS
2015 - 2021
PROSTHETIC FOOT EMULATOR
Using a robotic prosthetic foot emulator, as well as corresponding commercial prosthetic feet, to investigate a test-drive approach to patient-centered prosthetic foot prescription.
PI: David Morgenroth, MD, Co-PI's: Brian Hafner, PhD, Andrew Hansen, PhD, Lee Childers, PhD, CP
2015 - 2017
CROSSOVER PROSTHETIC FOOT
Investigating comparative effectiveness of crossover prosthetic foot and energy-storing prosthetic foot on a variety of clinical outcomes, including energy expenditure, performance-based mobility, and patient-reported mobility, balance, fatigue, and activity restrictions.
PI: Brian Hafner, PhD, Co-PI's: Sara Morgan, CPO, PhD, Patricia Kramer, PhD, PE
2015-2018
PARASTOMAL HERNIA SUPPORT
Designing and testing a low-cost, nonsurgical approach to managing recurrent parastomal hernias in patients with stomas following colon cancer or other intestinal diseases.
PI: Mika Sinanan, MD, PhD
2012-2015
NEURAL CONTROL OF POWERED TRANSFEMORAL PROSTHESES
Investigating the use of lower limb EMG and electromechanical sensor pattern recognition for state machine control of a powered knee and ankle prosthesis.
PI: Levi Hargrove, PhD
2013-2015
MECHANICAL-ELECTRICAL PROSTHETIC INTERFACE
Designing and testing a novel magnetic interface for the mechanical and electrical connection to a transhumeral or transfemoral myoelectric prosthesis.
PI: Todd Kuiken, MD
2011-2013
LONG-TERM STEP COUNT ACTIVITY OF TRANSFEMORAL PROSTHESIS USERS
Retrospective data analysis of two years of daily step activity from individuals using transfemoral prostheses.
PI: Brian Hafner, PhD
HONORS & AWARDS
UW OUTSTANDING WOMEN IN ENGINEERING AWARD
2021
University of Washington 2021 Outstanding Women in Engineering Award in Innovation
UW THREE MINUTE THESIS (3MT)
2021
University of Washington 2021 3MT Competition Award Winner
First Place
HUSKY 100
2021
The University of Washington Husky 100 award honors one hundred of the 50,000 graduate and undergraduate students for their passion, leadership, and commitment to improving their communities.
OPERF FELLOWSHIP AWARD
2020
Orthotic and Prosthetic Education and Research Foundation (OPERF) Fellowship Award Program $5k Fellowship recipient
JUDITH M. RUNSTAD WELLS FARGO SCHOLARSHIP
2018
Judith M. Runstad Wells Fargo Women’s Roundtable Scholarship $6.5k scholarship recipient
UW COMOTION INNOVATION FUND
2017
University of Washington CoMotion Innovation Fund $50k fund entrepreneurial team award recipient for Quinton PHSH Parastomal Hernia Support
NSF I-CORPS CUSTOMER DISCOVERY GRANT
2017
National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) $2.5k Customer Discovery Grant entrepreneurial team lead recipient for Quinton PHSH Parastomal Hernia Support
UW HOLLOMON HEALTH INNOVATION CHALLENGE FINALIST
2017
University of Washington Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge Top Finalist team award recipient for Quinton PHSH Parastomal Hernia Harness
UW BUERK CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP BUSINESS FINALIST
2016
University of Washington Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship Business Plan Competition finalist team award for Quinton PHSH Parastomal Hernia Harness
UW SCHOOL OF MEDICINE GRADUATE INNOVATOR PRESENTER
2016
University of Washington School of Medicine Inventor of the Year graduate student innovator presenter
UW COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING CAPSTONE DESIGN AWARD
2016
University of Washington College of Engineering Capstone Design team award recipient for Quinton PHSH Parastomal Hernia Support
UW BUERK CENTER HEALTH INNOVATION CHALLENGE
2016
University of Washington Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship Health Innovation Challenge prototype team award recipient for Quinton PHSH Parastomal Hernia Support
UW GRADUATE SCHOOL TOP SCHOLAR AWARD
2015-2016
University of Washington Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation 2015-2016 Top Scholar Award recipient
MHSRS OUTSTANDING RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENT AWARD
2015
Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award 2015 Academic Team/First Place team award recipient
OPERF RESIDENT TRAVEL AWARD
2013
Orthotic and Prosthetic Education and Research Foundation Resident Travel Award recipient
AAOP MIDWEST CHAPTER GUNTHER GEHL SCHOLARSHIP
2012
American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists Midwest Chapter 2012 Gunther Gehl Scholarship recipient
AAOP NORTHWEST CHAPTER BERNARD C. SIMONS SCHOLARSHIP
2010
American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists Northwest Chapter 2010 Bernard C. Simons Merit Scholarship recipient