Douglas A. Hobson, PhD,
P Eng
Born: September 23, 1938 -
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Entry into the AT field:
1963
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How I got into the
field
In 1963, I sought an
engineering job as an ME student in a new research program located in a
rehabilitation center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Fortunately I was hired, worked
for the summer, did my senior project in the field and was hired upon
graduation in 1965 for $9500/yr. I received my B.Sc in 1965 and my Ph.D. in
Bioengineering in 1989.
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Important event(s) that influenced
my early decision to get into the assistive technology field
In Canada, the political response to the
thalidomide tragedy in the early 60's was to appropriate funding for four
rehabilitation engineering research centers. Colin McLaurin and Jim Foort
retuned to Canada from the US to head the programs in Toronto and Winnipeg,
respectively. Jim Foort hired me as a sophomore engineering student in the
Winnipeg program, to work with two thalidomide infants with missing limbs.
Jim's experience and driving interest was lower limb prosthetics-which soon
became my passion. To work with Jim Foort, and be indirectly associated with
Colin McClaurin and later by affiliation with Ben Wilson and Tony Staros was an
amazing experience for a young engineer from Seven Sisters (small town just
outside Winnipeg), Manitoba.
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Why I chose the AT
field
Motivation: as a student-need
for a summer job in a mechanical engineering related field. Later--opportunity
to make an engineering contribution in a career that appealed to my
sensibilities.
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My inspiration and
mentor
I worked directly with Jim
Foort, who is now 84 and still as creative as ever. Jim is the most unique
person I have ever met in my life. To have him as a mentor, at probably the
most formative stage of my career, was indeed a key factor in my decision to
pursue the path I did. Jim is a very liberal and lateral thinker and generous
to a fault with his ideas, goodwill and resources.
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Why the field is important to me
and the central focus of my work
RE
has been my passion and career for more than 40 years. It has been important to
me because it has provided the platform upon which I have been able to make the
contributions I felt were important and worthy of my life's energies. My
central focus has been mainly in wheelchairs and wheelchair seating R & D
and related education, AT services, and industry standards
development.
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My memorable successes and
greatest contributions to the field
- Leading the development of pioneering
AT service programs in Winnipeg and Memphis, Tn.
- Establishing RESNA in 1979, as the
youngest member of the founding group of five (Staros, Traub, Reswick,
McClaurin, Hobson).
- Initiating and leading the early
wheelchair standards activity in RESNA, in partnership with Colin
McLaurin.
- Establishing the early continuing
education programs in specialized wheelchair seating for children in
partnership with Elaine Trefler
- Developing the early concepts for
modular wheelchair inserts, bead seats and foam-in-place seats and related
accessories, with emphasis on pediatric seating
- The co-hosting of the 1976 meeting in
Knoxville, TN, that developed the justification and blueprint for
rehabilitation engineering and education of rehab engineers.
- Leading the early development of
industry standards for wheelchair technology and later wheelchair
transportation safety, within RESNA, SAE and ISO.
- Mentoring an unknown number of people
who have, or are continuing to make, significant contributions to the AT field
and the lives of individuals it strives to serve.
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My most memorable
failures
In essence, I was fired
twice, both times in my hometown of Winnipeg. At the time it seemed like a
drastic failing on my part-but in retrospect, it was the best thing that could
have happened-because it provided the need and opportunity to find or create
new career opportunities-both superior to the those I left behind. In both
cases, exciting new opportunities were found in the US, in Memphis in 1974, and
in Pittsburgh in 1992.
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Significant changes and advances
in the field since I first entered it
- Establishment of the NIHR/NIDRR-RERC
Program in 73-74, and later the VA-Research centers.
- Recognition by Medicare, Medicaid and
Special Ed, that AT is a clinical service worthy of government
support.
- Rise of consumer empowerment,
consumer-driven services and participation of more consumers in research
activities.
- Establishment of RESNA and the RESNA
credentialing program.
- Establishment of International Seating
Symposium, Closing the Gap and C-Sun and other continuing education
venues.
- Availability of industry standards
that are now improving the quality and safety of all wheelchair, wheelchair
seating, and wheelchair transportation technology.
- ADA - that has created the national
environment for positive systems change that has impacted the careers of all AT
professionals and those they serve.
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On the future of rehabilitation
engineering and assistive technology
The initial model for RE was one of viable roles
for increasing numbers of engineers in the AT industry, and as service delivery
partners in rehabilitation settings of all kinds. Smaller numbers of REs,
mainly those with advance degrees, would find their homes in academic and
related research settings and would generate RE's with skills to work in both
settings. That vision has not been fully realized-mainly due to the lack of
recognition and therefore payment of RE clinical services. Also, I feel the
NIDRR/RERC vision has been distorted to the extent that many RERCs are no
longer lead by engineers, and as a result many Center activities have no
significant engineering content. As a result, the RERC movement is not
producing sufficient engineering leaders with vision and abilities to sustain
the RE momentum, both politically and professionally, into the future. In
contrast, I think the field of AT will continue to grow with or without RE. The
industry, in spite of ongoing funding issues, is fundamentally healthy and the
need for AT services will only continue to grow as America ages and obesity
begins to take its toll.
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My role within RESNA and what it
gave back to me
During the period
from 1980 to 1995 or so, I served in various leadership roles, including as
President, 1991-92. I can not begin to count the ways that RESNA has provided a
platform and colleague network that have drastically enriched by career and
sense of personal self-worth through contribution. Today, I continue to serve
as a active member on 3-4 ANSI/RESNA -Standards Committees and thereby still
reap the many benefits.
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On the future of RESNA
RESNA no longer lives in the environment for
which if was originally created to serve. I strongly encourage the leaders in
RESNA to again provide the leadership needed to redefine the role and future
blueprint for RESNA, in such a way that it will serve the needs of the AT field
for next 20-30 years. Furthermore, I believe it's too late for a series on
small incremental changes.
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My suggestions for those just
entering the field
Be courageous in
pursuing your career passions. Be an agent for positive change through
consensus building. Support the big picture developments of the AT field or one
day you may not have a career to pursue. If you keep unselfish contribution as
your primary focus, your rewards will follow. Be generous in your
acknowledgement and support of others, as you never know when you may kindle a
passion in the heart and career of a younger colleague. And finally, along the
way be sure to quietly take enjoyment and pleasure from your successes and
quickly forget the rest-as in the long run they will become the necessary
'dust' of a successful career.
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