Advanced Platform Technology Center
Dr. Ronald Triolo's Lab Staff
Stephanie Bailey
Stephanie Nogan Bailey received a BSE in biomedical engineering, concentration in biomechanics, from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland OH in 2003. Since that time, she has been working at the Motion Study Laboratory of the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center supporting a variety of trunk and lower-extremity functional electrical stimulation (FES) clinical trials. She works with users of neuroprosthetic devices, performs experiments to evaluate system performance, and develops new stimulation systems for advanced function. Additionally, she collects, analyzes, and summarizes kinematic, kinetic, and physiological data for a variety of studies within the lab.
Tara Byrd
Tara Byrd received a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience at Westminster College. She was employed as a Research Technician for the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center focusing on dopaminergic neurons in the prefrontal cortex for 10 years. In 2012, Tara joined the Clinical Trials Unit at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, coordinating regulatory operations as part of the NCI-designated CASE Comprehensive Cancer Center. In 2018, she returned to the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center as a study coordinator, and is providing regulatory support for APT Center research in Dr. Ron Triolo’s lab.
Kevin Foglyano
Kevin Foglyano began working with the APT Center as a student in the spring of 2008. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering with a specialty in Biomechanics from Case Western Reserve University in 2009 and began working full time with the center. He works on a variety of projects ranging from standing and walking with neuromuscular stimulation systems to developing exoskeletal bracing. He specializes in algorithm development with electromyogram (EMG) and accelerometer based control, motion capture data analysis, programming electrical stimulation systems, and incorporating new equipment and devices into laboratory setups.
Emily Johnson
Emily Johnson received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology from Kent State University in Kent, OH. Previously, she worked as a Research Technician at Northeast Ohio Medical University, then joined the Clinical Trials Unit at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, working as part of the NCI-designated CASE Comprehensive Cancer Center as a Clinical Research Coordinator and Data Specialist. In 2019, she began working at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center as a Research Coordinator providing support to the APT Center and Spinal Cord Injury unit. She is involved in several research projects using neuromuscular stimulation to help paralyzed individuals regain various functional abilities using neuroprosthetic devices.
Lisa Lombardo
Lisa Lombardo, MPT received her B.S. in Psychology from The Ohio State University in 1994 and Master of Physical Therapy from Slippery Rock University in 1997. She was employed as a staff physical therapist and clinical education coordinator at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation from 1997-2002. She then moved to Minneapolis and was a senior physical therapist at the Courage Center from 2002-2006. Currently, Lisa is a Research Physical Therapist at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. Lisa specializes in the treatment of individuals with spinal cord injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis. She is currently involved in several research projects involving the use of an implanted neuroprothesis and functional electrical stimulation to provide individuals with paralysis the ability to regain functions such as standing, stepping and seated stability. Lisa is also a part-time professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Cleveland State University.
Michael E. Miller
Michael E. Miller has B.S. (1994) and M.S. (2000) degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio. He has been working in the field of functional electrical stimulation (FES) since 1992, first at CWRU's Applied Neural Control Laboratory on a diaphragm-pacing neuroprosthesis, then at the Cleveland FES Center as part of the software development team and, since 2002, as a rehabilitation engineer implementing neuroprostheses for standing, walking, seated stability and lower extremity exercise.
Aarika Sheehan
Aarika Sheehan earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Cleveland State University and her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. Having worked in multiple research settings as an undergraduate, Dr. Sheehan was interested in taking part in research while in graduate school and had the opportunity to complete a research placement at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. While there, she helped devise a research protocol to study the use of a self-leveling walker and its effect on stability when negotiating stairs. Upon graduation from physical therapy school, Aarika worked primarily in the outpatient setting as a physical therapist for Rehab Professionals of Cleveland, Inc. She has now returned to the VA with a primary focus on helping develop a home-going program for a sensory project aimed to help restore sensation in those who have had a lower limb amputation.
