KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

 

Alix Chadwell

Alix is an Anniversary Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, UK. She originally trained in Medical Engineering (University of Bath 2008-2012), before undertaking her PhD in upper-limb prosthetics (University of Salford 2014-2018). Following postdoctoral roles at Salford (Health Sciences) and Newcastle (Engineering) she moved to Southampton (Medicine) in July 2023. Her work explores how people use their prostheses in their day-to-day lives, and her Fellowship focusses on developing the groundworks needed to facilitate large-scale national esearch studies (for upper-limb prosthetics) with the potential to inform prescription and national policies.

Alix is Vice-Chair of ISPO UK and led the development of their special interest group in upper-limb prosthetics. She also sits on the ISPO International Scientific Committee and is vice-chair of their new International upper-limb interest group. In the UK she has taken a leading role on behalf of ISPO UK, supporting the equitable implementation of multi-grip hands across the NHS.

 

 

Sarah Day

Sarah Day qualified as a Prosthetist Orthotist from University of Strathclyde in 1999, and quickly realised that upper limb prosthetics would become her specialism. Combining her passion for prosthetics with a love for travel, Sarah embarked on a professional journey that led her to diverse settings across the UK, Ireland, Australia, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. These international experiences exposed her to a wide range of clinical practices and challenges, profoundly shaping her approach to patient care.

In 2012 Sarah joined the teaching faculty at University of Strathclyde where she teaches upper limb prosthetics and supervises research students. Her own research interests include epidemiology, socket design, and partial hand prosthetics. Sarah’s PhD focuses on the incidence of amputation and congenital limb difference in Scotland. She has authored two book chapters on socket design, and is an Assessor for the ISPO Education Committee.

 

Shawn Swanson Johnson 

Shawn Swanson Johnson is an independent consultant and in 2015, started her own company specializing in upper limb loss rehabilitation. She has been a registered and licensed therapist for over  23 years. Shawn was previously the National Director of Occupational Therapy for an upper limb prosthetics provider for 3 years and prior to that she was as a clinical specialist in upper-limb prosthetics with an international prosthetic manufacturer for 6 years. She also was employed in an outpatient rehabilitation setting in Houston, TX, specializing in traumatic neurological rehabilitation. Her background includes clinical work, publishing chapters and articles, as well as teaching experience in upper-limb rehabilitation, working with the rehab teams at Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical Centers, presenting to O&P student programs, speaking at national and international conferences,  upper limb prosthetic outcome measure work and facilitating collaboration between prosthetists and therapists to improve outcomes for their patients.

Since 2008, Shawn has been involved in the planning and chairing of the Skills for Life events, which are workshops dedicated to individuals living with bilateral upper limb loss/absence. In 2016, she founded Enhancing Skills for Life, 501c3 which supports the Skills for Life Workshops as well as other face to face interaction for those living without both arms or all four limbs and has been serving at the Executive Director for the nonprofit since its inception. The nonprofit has evolved in such a positive direction that it is now her focus full time. Shawn has served on various committees for Amputee Coalition since 2009, including the Upper Limb Advisory Council (ULAC) and the Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee (SciMAC). She is also a member of the Sepsis Alliance Advisory Board. Shawn previously served on the board of directors for the U.S. National Member Society of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (US-ISPO) for over 12 years. In 2022, Shawn received the Honorary Membership Award from the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP). This award is intended to recognize individuals who have demonstrated a very high level of knowledge and a dedication to the O&P field and are closely allied with the orthotics and prosthetics profession, but are not eligible for Academy membership.

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