Powered progress: ATSU-ASHS students, faculty empower patients with next-gen technology
Posted: September 29, 2025
As technology advances faster than ever, ATSU stands at the forefront of preparing healthcare
providers of the future. What started as a showcased robotic device at the University’s annual healthcare expo has become a catalyst for change across the University in classrooms, clinics, and communities. The device, a wearable exoskeleton, now plays a pivotal role in the lives of patients and the education of students. For patients, it provides renewed confidence and independence; for students, it provides a deeper understanding of their profession and the people they will serve.
ATSU Healthcare Expo
Since its debut on the University’s Mesa, Arizona, campus in 2022, the ATSU Healthcare Expo has become an annual event, bringing together students, educators, healthcare professionals, and community members to learn about and explore the latest advancements in healthcare. The expo was established by Adam Story, PT, DPT, OTR/L, OTD, MTC, FNAP, an assistant professor of occupational therapy at ATSU’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS).
Dr. Story started the expo to promote interprofessional collaboration across the University and health professions. Over the last four years, he has worked to build a network of community resources and
knowledge, all for the benefit of current and future healthcare professionals.
Today, the expo features more than 110 exhibitors from 14 states and four countries and has even expanded to ATSU’s Kirksville, Missouri, campus. The event showcases everything from Air Evac helicopters to therapy demonstrations with horses. Attendees engage in hands-on demonstrations
of brand-new healthcare innovations, including prosthetics, mobility equipment, adaptive sports programs, and exoskeletons.
“It’s one thing to be able to talk about products and services, but it’s another thing to actually see it with your eyes,” Dr. Story says. “It’s much easier to have an understanding of what a product is and how it’s going to help your patient.”
The exoskeleton
“It’s like a walking business card for A.T. Still University.”
That’s how Dr. Story describes the exoskeleton – a cutting-edge robotic device helping patients with spinal cord injuries walk again. And, thanks to Dr. Story, ATSU is one of just three universities that has the device.
Soon after the ATSU Healthcare Expo in 2023, Dr. Story received a call from a manufacturer letting him know a hospital in California wanted to donate an exoskeleton to a major university or clinic.
“I put my name in the hat for ATSU, and we won the bid,” he says.
Acquired in July 2023, the University’s exoskeleton is nicknamed Ironman, in honor of its donor, a person with an incomplete spinal cord injury who ultimately regained some of his function and could walk without the robotic legs.
“He said the exoskeleton training was harder than training for the Ironman,” Dr. Story recalls.
Now, ATSU joins an elite group of institutions in the U.S. using the device for research, including the University of Southern California and Langston University. Additionally, ATSU is one of three major organizations in Arizona educating people on the exoskeleton, along with Barrow Neurological Institute
and Touchstone Rehabilitation.
“It’s an honor to be put in with those big names across the country,” Dr. Story says.
What is an exoskeleton?
A wearable, robotic suit enabling individuals with spinal cord injuries to stand, walk, and climb steps. It involves an orthosis worn on the lower limbs and trunk, a battery and control system, and forearm crutches for support and control.
Three teams, one mission
Once Dr. Story acquired the exoskeleton, he carefully considered how he was going to use this technology and incorporate it into the campus and curriculum.
Rather than limit its use to a single department, Dr. Story saw an opportunity to turn Ironman into a cross-campus effort. He formed three teams comprised of ATSU-ASHS faculty across different
departments: a clinical team, a technical build-out team, and a research team. Dr. Story is a member of all three teams.
“Any time I do something big, I like to bring as many people up with me as possible,” Dr. Story says. “I wanted to go down that interprofessional collaboration route because I see the importance of having a team with different perspectives working together to better someone’s life.”
The clinical team integrates the exoskeleton into the ATSU Center for Occupational and Physical Therapy, a pro bono clinic offering opportunities for those from underserved populations, those
without insurance, and even those who don’t quite fit the criteria to try the device.
An exoskeleton costs anywhere from $130,000-$150,000, with some of the newer models costing nearly $200,000. Medicare has started to approve exoskeleton use for those with certain spinal cord injuries; however, without exposure and knowledge of the device, clinicians are less likely to refer or advocate for the use of exoskeletons. People may struggle to secure a device, and uninsured or underserved populations may not get an opportunity to see if an exoskeleton is right for them. With the ATSU Center for Occupational and Physical Therapy, patients who fit the inclusion criteria to use an exoskeleton reap the benefits of this technology for free.
“The first year was a good training year for us to understand what our capabilities were and what we could help people with,” Dr. Story says.
Jennifer Radziak, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, assistant professor, program director, occupational therapy, and J.A. Graves, PT, DPT, assistant professor, co-director of clinical education, physical therapy, are on the clinical team.
“Working with the exoskeleton has allowed me the opportunity to work on an interdisciplinary team of professionals who believe in the exoskeleton and the impact it can have on its users,” Dr. Graves says. “I have had the opportunity to meet and work with clients that I otherwise wouldn’t have, which has resulted in new friendships.”
In addition to faculty members, physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) students work with patients to see and understand how the exoskeleton works, something Dr. Story believes will be beneficial to them in their professional careers.
The technical build-out team customizes the device for each exoskeleton user, adjusting stride length, speed, and structural fit. Thomas Hartman, DMSc, PA-C, assistant professor, director of progression & retention, physician assistant studies, and Dr. Graves serve on this team. The company who manufactures the exoskeleton, ReWalk, recommended Dr. Story and his team take on one patient at a time. However, the team decided to work with two patients per week. One patient was 5’2” and the other was 6’4”, which meant the team had to adjust the exoskeleton for each user weekly.
And finally, the research team explores the exoskeleton’s broader effects. The team is comprised of junior faculty and seasoned researchers with physician assistant, athletic training, PT, and OT backgrounds. Dr. Story notes much of the current research focuses on the exoskeleton from a physical therapist’s point of view and not from an occupational therapist’s point of view.
“I built this team to look at this research from different angles and different perspectives, which has really paid off,” Dr. Story says.
The research team includes Drs. Radziak, Graves, and Hartman from the other two teams in addition to Kellie C. Huxel Bliven, PhD, ATC, professor and chair, interdisciplinary health sciences; Sue Dahl-Popolizio, DBH, OTR/L, professor, director of research, occupational therapy; and Lacee Andrews, OTD, OTR/L, CNS, CSRP, assistant professor, director of clinical education, academic fieldwork coordinator, occupational therapy.
Collaborative research
The first major study took the research team across the U.S. to visit 12 participants in their homes and see firsthand how patients use their exoskeleton.
“We got to see a lot of different regions of the country and different demographics using the product,” Dr. Story says. “This opened a lot of doors for us to discover new things and hopefully fill some gaps in the research.”
Dr. Story and his team have discovered patients using the exoskeleton are reporting decreased pain and reduced reliance on medications since they’re able to get up and move around, performing simple tasks like doing laundry or cooking a meal.
“Working with the exoskeleton has provided me with a different perspective and allowed me to see the impact that advancing medical technology can have on people’s lives,” says Dr. Graves. “It has also provided opportunities for me to advance my knowledge and contributions to the field, which have had a positive impact on my career trajectory.”
In addition to seeing how patients use their exoskeletons, Dr. Story and his team are contributing to the latest knowledge by presenting their findings at national and state conferences. He brings the exoskeleton with him wherever he can, starting conversations about the technology and looking for additional collaborators. In doing so, he’s brought more recognition to the University, which is why he refers to Ironman as a “walking business card.”
A patient’s experience
For patients who have the opportunity to use an exoskeleton, the experience may be life changing. Jeff DeWeese, a current patient at the ATSU Center for Occupational and Physical Therapy, has been using Ironman since November 2023. Not only has his experience with this technology given him a renewed
sense of confidence, but it has also given him hope.
In April 2019, DeWeese was struck by a drunk driver while on his motorcycle, resulting in an incomplete spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Although his road to recovery has been slow and painful, he has made significant progress toward improving his mobility.
Multiple days a week, DeWeese is at a gym, doing calisthenics and improving his core strength, and at Touchstone Rehabilitation, walking with a reciprocating gait orthosis. It was through Touchstone where a ReWalk representative referred him to Dr. Story. Since then, DeWeese and Drs. Story and Graves have been working together to make Ironman more accessible, which in turn has helped DeWeese physically
and mentally.
“For me, it was exciting,” DeWeese says. “I was excited to try the exoskeleton to find out what improvements could be made for myself, and I was excited to help in the research development for ATSU, for the school itself and for future patients so that other people can benefit from it.”
The exoskeleton has greatly improved his strength, endurance, and ability to do everyday tasks. DeWeese can now walk long distances with no rest breaks. He’s used it in a kitchen setting where he’s able to stand while opening cabinets and grabbing dishes. He’s been able to walk through varying terrain like grass and dirt, as well as stop at an elevator, push the button, and walk through the door. His latest development, though, is being able to take multiple steps without using the crutches.
“It’s given me more hope and confidence in the sense that there are lots of people out there trying to help others such as myself have a more fulfilled, healthy, and independent life after suffering a spinal cord injury,” DeWeese says.
These milestones also have a profound effect on Dr. Story and his team. They have enjoyed seeing the patients’ progress and witnessing the positive change in their lives.
“I really wish more people had access to these devices as I truly do think they can change people’s lives,” Dr. Graves says. “I am most impressed, and maybe surprised, at the technology behind these devices and how well they hold up. We have been using ours rigorously with our users to help them achieve their goals, and these devices have stood the test of time and use!”
The student perspective
At the ATSU Center for Occupational and Physical Therapy, students have the opportunity to observe or lead treatment sessions for patients under the direct supervision of faculty, including Dr. Story. When Dr. Story acquired Ironman, he secured a rare, innovative learning experience for students.
Each session using the exoskeleton focuses on helping patients complete everyday activities. Students are encouraged to be creative in designing their activities while providing meaningful therapy. The students use what is available to them while considering what tasks the patients are interested in completing. Some of these activities range from household chores, including washing dishes, putting away groceries, folding laundry, and picking up clothes off the ground, to activities like playing foosball or
walking through different environments.
“Providing occupation-based activities helped the patients comprehend their abilities in navigating daily activities,” says Kadyn Davis, a third-year student in ATSU-ASHS’ Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program. “They were able to see their capabilities beyond their limitations.”
Davis, who served as student coordinator for the 2025 ATSU Healthcare Expo, has enjoyed working with the patients, learning about their stories and their goals. He says it is inspiring to see how they keep pushing forward to overcome the challenges they face on a daily basis.
For Gian Canonizado, also a third-year OTD student, the experience of working with a patient in an exoskeleton was empowering and rewarding. He was surprised by the amount of coordination required between the patient and therapist when navigating an environment, including the constant verbal communication and physical demands to guide and stabilize the device.
“It opened my eyes to how technology can support function in everyday tasks – things many of us take for granted, like reaching overhead to grab a cup from a cabinet,” Canonizado says. “It also helped me recognize how aspects of our environment, even something as basic as a living space, can become inaccessible.”
By designing their own simulated activities and obstacle courses reflecting real-life tasks, students have gained insight and meaning from the exoskeleton experience. They have seen firsthand how impactful the sessions are for patients, and the experience has deepened their understanding of the OT field.
“Thanks to my professors at ATSU, I have seen OT being used in schools, memory care facilities, a community reentry program, and even on a ranch where horses are used as part of the therapy treatment,” Davis says. “Being an OT student at ATSU has helped me understand what the profession is capable of and who can benefit from it.”
The University’s innovative, interdisciplinary efforts with Ironman are just the beginning. Dr. Story recently acquired a second exoskeleton to increase the University’s opportunities for education and research. These opportunities further position ATSU as a leader in patient-centered care and prepare students to be a step ahead as future healthcare providers.