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From left to right: Mark Schmeler, MRT Student in wheelchair, Mary Goldberg, and MRT Student in wheelchair during 2021 Deep Dive

 

The first week of May was Teacher Appreciation Week! In case you missed it, our Master of Rehabilitation Technology (MRT) Program Director Mary Goldberg celebrated by highlighting the faculty and instructors of the MRT program via Twitter! She gave those who mentor future Assistive Technology Professionals (ATPs) and cultivate assistive tech geniuses here at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences special kudos throughout the week.  

We encourage you to learn more about these esteemed MRT faculty and instructors:  
 

Jon Duvall working with assistive technology Jon Duvall, postdoctoral researcher, teaches MRT Social Experience of Disability and focuses on assistive technology (AT) design, development and standards.  
Headshot for Rachel Hibbs Assistant Professor Rachel Hibbs teaches MRT Medical Aspects of Disability and Seating Fundamentals and leads our Rehabilitation Science and Technology (RST) Continuing Education team.  
Headshot for Julie FaietaHeadshot for Patricia Karg Assistant Professor Julie Faieta (@julie_faieta) and Associate Professor Patricia Karg both teach MRT Research Methods. Faieta’s primary area of research is in the development and evaluation of assistive and pervasive technology-based interventions to address health span and quality of life in neurodegenerative and caregiver populations. Karg's work focuses on national and international AT standards.  
Headshot for David BrienzaHeadshot for Daniel Fisher Professor David Brienza and Instructor Daniel Fisher teach MRT Ethics. Brienza is a lead AT researcher and inventor. Fisher is a Certified Health Care Administrator. 
Headshot for Jonathan PearlmanHeadshot for Alexandra Delazio Associate Professor Jonathan Pearlman (@atdesignguy) and Research Engineer Alexandra Delazio teach MRT design with Goldberg. They are skilled engineers, innovators and leaders in AT design.  
Headshot for Joseph StraatmanHeadshot for Stephanie Vasquez Adjunct Clinical Instructor Joseph Straatman and Clinical and Research Coordinator Stephanie Vasquez are the instructors for the MRT Intro to AT. They are both active clinicians at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Center for Assistive Technology, or CAT, and consistently lead by example.  
Headshot for Mark Schmeler

Associate Professor Mark Schmeler and Research Scientist Rich Schein teach MRT Policy and lead our internships. They were critical in our program's Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs approval for moving the program online.  
Todd Hargroder is a serial entrepreneur with lived experience as a wheelchair user and has designed and commercialized AT (assistive technology) for over 35 years. In addition, Todd was recently recognized as one of the top innovators in the history of wheelchair mobility.

You can follow Program Director Mary Goldberg or the Department on Twitter (@MaryGoldbergPhD/@PittMSRT) for more posts like these and to stay up to date with MRT happenings!  

Read more about the MRT curriculum and courses in our one-year online program. 

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Published: 5/24/2022

Updated 12/5/2022