Stefania Fatone
Background
Dr. Stefania Fatone is a Professor and Associate Chair in the University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Program Director of the UW Prosthetics and Orthotics Program, and Director of OPAL. She has an undergraduate degree in prosthetics and orthotics and a PhD from La Trobe University in Australia.
She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University. Dr. Fatone’s research examines the effects of prostheses and orthoses on human movement and function to increase understanding, establish efficacy, and improve effectiveness of prosthetic and orthotic interventions for people with disability. She has nearly 30 years of experience conducting O&P research. Her research includes a broad range of experimental, qualitative, and review studies in areas such as transfemoral prosthetic socket biomechanics and design, orthotic management of upper motor neuron lesions, and partial foot amputation.
Dr. Fatone is the co-developer of the Northwestern University Flexible Sub-ischial Socket technique and the Patient Decision Aid for People Facing Partial Foot Amputation due to Peripheral Arterial Disease.
Why did you apply?
We applied for the Pilot Research Grant because pilot funding was needed to explore a new research idea and develop pilot data necessary to apply for additional funding.
How did the funding help you meet your goals?
We are using the Pilot Research Grant to assess feasibility of our idea for how to assess prosthetic socket fit.
What did the funding mean to you personally?
Getting research funding from an O&P organization is validation that the research ideas I have resonate clinically.
This award has allowed me to pivot to a new project idea. Without pilot funding it is impossible to begin exploring new ideas.
Learn More about the continuation of Dr. Fatone’s funded work: https://sites.uw.edu/o-p-a-l/socket-fit-assessment/
