QL+ Program Manager:
Jody Kakacek
Ph.D., MNPM
The Catholic University of America is the national university of the Catholic Church and the only higher education institution founded by the U.S. bishops. Established in 1887 as a papally chartered graduate and research center, the University comprises 12 schools and 31 research facilities and is home to 3,332 undergraduate and 2,624 graduate students.
jody.kakacek@qlplus.org
The breakaway for the prosthetic leg is being completed in accordance with the Quality of Life Plus (QL+) Program. The challenger for this project is Peter Way. Peter is a retired Army Major who was injured in 2003, while serving, from a rocket-propelled grenade....
We were tasked to create an assistive golf adaptation device for veteran, Eric Lund. Back in May 2012, Eric lost both of his arms while serving in Afghanistan....
The Challenge is to improve the algorithm/software and possibly the prosthetic angles to allow for a more efficient and safer gait following OI surgery.
The goal of this challenge to create a lightweight brace that can automatically be placed into a 90-degree elbow position with something such as a “push of a button” and will also be able to hold his shoulder up into his socket.
The goal of this challenge to create a lightweight brace that can automatically be placed into a 90-degree elbow position with something such as a “push of a button” and will also be able to hold his shoulder up into his socket.
The goal of this Challenge is to create a golfing device that will allow him to enjoy the sport.
The Challenge is to create hiking prosthetics that allow him to walk over uneven terrain safely and efficiently.
The breakaway for the prosthetic leg is being completed in accordance with the Quality of Life Plus (QL+) Program. The challenger for this project is Peter Way. Peter is a retired Army Major who was injured in 2003, while serving, from a rocket-propelled grenade....
SGT Eric Lund is a retired Army Infantryman (11B) who lost both arms from an IED blast injury in 2012. Eric was deployed to Afghanistan for his first deployment on January 3, 2012. On the Sunday morning of May 2nd, he remembers being in an MATV, but has no memory of hitting the IED. His memory began to resurface while he was in ICU in San Antonio. It was patchy and came with nightmares. His first memories were being wheeled outside and how hot it was. The story of his injury to this point is pieced together. Eric was a gunner when his vehicle (lead vehicle) ran over a large IED that flipped the vehicle. The 2nd vehicle, also, ran over the IED. This was the start of an ambush ensued by gunfire. Eric was the most severely injured of the 10 men. He lost his right arm on the scene and they later had to take the 2nd arm as well. Eric received bilateral hand transplants 1 year ago. At this point he does not have use of his forearms, wrists and hands until the nerves finish growing distally, and therefore is unable to grip, flex or extend his wrists.
