March 25, 2025
ECU's Isley Innovation Hub hosts event on prosthetic innovation and athletic activity
The Isley Innovation Hub hosted an engaging event on Thursday, March 20, titled Innovations in Prosthetic Design and Considerations for Athletic Activity.
The event featured a panel of expert clinicians, including prosthetist Brent Wright of EastPoint Prosthetics and Orthotics and Dr. Ryan Wedge, assistant professor in ECU’s Department of Physical Therapy. The discussion focused on challenges with access, best practices in patient care, and emerging technologies in developing functional prosthetics.
Special guest Anita Bills shared her journey of losing part of her arm and displayed various upper-extremity prosthetics, highlighting advancements made over the past 40 years. Wills, who remains highly active—particularly in water sports—showcased assistive devices she uses for swimming and kiteboarding.
An interdisciplinary audience of students and faculty in physical therapy, biomechanics, engineering, therapeutic recreation, and pre-health professions gathered to hear the panelists emphasize the value of collaboration in driving innovation.
The event also spotlighted ECU’s chapter of the Helping Hand Project. This nonprofit organization supports youth with upper-limb differences. Using online design and 3D modeling tools, the group creates functional prototypes and assistive devices through resources available at the Wornom Makerspace and Isley Innovation Hub.
Dr. Sharon Moore, Isley’s Innovator in Residence, and Hannah Blackburn, a biomedical engineering major and founder of ECU’s Helping Hand Project chapter, co-organized the event.
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