The Tetradapt Initiative Team
The Tetradapt Initiative began in 2008 when founder and visionary, Jeffrey Rosenbluth, M.D., dreamed of a better and more aspirational way to deliver the latest technology for adaptive sports and recreation to people living with spinal cord injuries or disease. Tetradapt works in coordination with the University of Utah's best engineering, research, business, and medical minds to design, manufacture and deliver state-of-the art equipment and devices to individuals living with paralysis.
JEFFREY ROSENBLUTH
Jeffrey Rosenbluth, M.D., is the founder of Tetradapt and is the Medical Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Acute Rehabilitation program at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center.
Rosenbluth has promoted a vision of health, independence and an active lifestyle for individuals with complex physical disabilities in the Intermountain west since 2001. In 2003 he developed the University of Utah’s TRAILS (Technology, Recreation, Access, Independence, Lifestyle, Sports) Program with a goal of maximizing quality of life through innovations in wellness, sports, recreation, education, and advocacy.
TRAILS provides 15,000 community program hours and Rosenbluth believes strongly in incorporating University of Utah students from diverse backgrounds into all aspects of program development and support. His work on TRAILS has attracted widespread support from leading funding organizations in the field, including the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, the United States Paralympic Committee, and the United States Veterans Administration.
Rosenbluth has obtained more than $5 million in support for innovative product and program development for individuals with complex disabilities. In 2013, Rosenbluth received the Craig H. Neilsen Presidential Endowed Chair of Spinal Cord Injury Medicine.
AMY MORTENSON
Amy Mortenson is the Innovations Manager for the Spinal Cord Injury team. Amy has more than a decade of experience and an extensive knowledge of program/project management grant writing, government law, and records and administrative functions. Amy manages University of Utah Graduate and Undergraduate student teams that develop products for the TRAILS program. Amy is an enthusiastic advocate for inclusion and thoroughly enjoys being a part of the work that the team does to improve the well-being and lifestyle of individuals of all abilities.
TANJA KARI
Tanja Kari is the TRAILS Program Director with University of Utah Health and an active technical classifier for IPC Para Nordic Skiing. Kari has been working with athletes of all levels for more than 20 years and loves program development and building the athlete pathways.
Kari’s ski experience runs deep. She is a Paralympian and gold medalist, representing Finland in cross country skiing 1992-2002. She has a Master’s degree in Sports Sciences from University of Jyväskylä, Finland and Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from the Sports Institute of Lapland, Finland.
Kari also is leading a global initiative to expand the TetraSki opportunities for independent skiing for individuals with complex physical disabilities and Paralympic Athletes with high support needs. Learn more »
ROSS IMBURGIA
Ross Imburgia is a lifelong skier, sailor and general outdoor adventurer. After graduating from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2014, he joined the Tetradapt Initiative as a design engineer working on adaptive sports technology. He currently serves as the engineering team lead on the TetraSki and watercraft projects. He also works closely with the student teams to bring their conceptual ideas to fruition. Ross is passionate about developing and utilizing new technology to help people with advanced disabilities experience the outdoors.
SUE SANDWICK
Sue Sandwick has been a physical therapist practicing in Neurologic Rehab for 28 years, specializing in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) rehabilitation throughout every aspect within the continuum of care. She has been a regular instructor at the University of Utah, Department of Physical Therapy for 27 years, obtaining her Neurologic Specialist Certification in 2004, and earning her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Utah in 2009. Sue specializes in SCI rehabilitation, health and wellness programming as well as complex wheelchair seating and mobility and consistently shares her extensive knowledge into adapted sports applications.
AHMAD ALSALEEM
Ahmad Alsaleem is a Ph.D. student in Computing at University of Utah. Ahmad is a graduate researcher at the center of medical innovation. His research involves optimizing software and hardware for assistive technologies. Alongside supervising multiple clinical trials for different research projects. His research project Healthx (a new method to detect amblyopia) received multiple awards and recognitions around the country. During his graduate study he has been awarded multiple grants and scholarships for his research and work.
ROGER ALTIZER
Roger Altizer, Jr. is the co-founder of Entertainment Arts and Engineering, the top-ranked game design program in the nation, the Director of Digital Medicine for the Center for Medical Innovation, the founding Director of The GApp lab (Therapeutic Games and Apps) and former director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Art and Technology at the University of Utah. Roger earned his Ph.D. in Communication at Utah and specializes in serious and medical games as well as game design and development. His research focuses on the importance of play and how good design encourages it. Creator of The Design Box, a participatory, inductive design methodology, Roger strives to include users as designers in his work.
ANDREW MERRYWEATHER
Andrew S. Merryweather is director of the Ergonomics and Safety Program at the University of Utah and Associate Professor in the department of Mechanical Engineering where he teaches and directs research in the areas of biomechanics, human factors, musculoskeletal injury prevention and human modeling. Merryweather obtained his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah in 2008 as a NIOSH Trainee in Occupational Injury Prevention. Over the past 12 years Dr. Merryweather has managed significant research projects investigating musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace, assistive technologies for persons with disabilities, adaptive technology development, robotics and human-system engineering.
STEPHEN TRAPP
Stephen Trapp is a rehabilitation psychologist on faculty with the University of Utah’s Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. His research and clinical practice examines topics related to health behaviors, technology, and wellbeing of individuals with spinal cord injuries.
Brandon RiverA-Melo
Brandon Rivera-Melo develops software, games, and interactive experiences that improve peoples’ quality of life. His current focus is an app that helps patients with spinal cord injury prevent pressure ulcers. Brandon earned his B.S. at Northwestern University in Biomedical Engineering and Psychology with certificates in Human Centered Design and Entrepreneurship. He served as a Design for America Fellow, tackling social challenges, mentoring the next generation of student leaders, and building university-community relationships. Brandon earned his Master’s of Engineering, Arts, and Entertainment at the University of Utah with an emphasis in Game Production. He is currently pursuing his MBA through the University of Utah Eccles Business School.
Keegan Buffington
Keegan Buffington is a Training and Education Specialist with TRAILS at University of Utah Health. Buffington holds Level 3 Adaptive and Level 2 Alpine Ski Certifications through Professional Ski Instructors of America. He is a certified sailing instructor with an adaptive endorsement from US Sailing.
Buffington followed his passions for the outdoors, teaching others and life-long learning after graduating from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Chemistry. Buffington pursued adaptive recreation internships at Achieve Tahoe in Lake Tahoe, CA and STARS in Steamboat Springs, CO shortly after graduating. Following his internships he became a staff instructor/trainer at Achieve Tahoe where he shared his passions for the outdoors.
CULLEN ROBINSON
Cullen is the Program Coordinator for TRAILS. Before coming to TRAILS, Cullen held a similar position at New England Disabled Sports, an adaptive sports program located in Lincoln, New Hampshire. He currently holds a Level 1 Adaptive skiing certification from PSIA and is pursuing further ski certifications. Cullen also is an adaptive mountain bike instructor trainer for BICP (Bike Instructor Certification Instructor Program) and holds a Level 1 able bodied certification as well.
Cullen was drawn to TRAILS because he believes that equitable and quality recreational instruction should be available for everyone of all abilities. “With the TetraSki, Tetra Watercraft, and seemingly endless adaptations for bikes and kayaks, you can achieve safe quality instruction for anyone,” he says.
Cullen earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Colby-Sawyer College. Along with his experience in adaptive sports programs, he helped start a housing design company in New Hampshire that focused on sustainability for the buyer — both financially and environmentally.
When not working you can find Cullen skiing, mountain biking or rock climbing.