ActivAided in the News- Kelly Collier: "Saving the World, One Back at a Time"

This is a great news story about Kelly Collier, who worked with me to develop the Recovery Aid back brace by ActivAided.  I'm the physician mentioned in the story- Kelly and I met when we were both working in Pittsburgh

Some highlights from the story:
"Inventor Kelly Collier first connected with Innovation Works to build her business skills. She had just finished a dual degree in materials science and biomedical engineering from Carnegie Mellon. As part of a class project -- and with guidance from a physician recognized as an expert on spine care and sports medicine -- Collier developed a device to ease back pain. With the makings of a prototype, she then faced challenges with business development. 

"It was hard to convince people to believe me," recalls Collier. "And to get people to believe that this product was going to work the way I said it was going to work."

She attended free public sessions and applied for Innovation Works' AlphaLab program, a business accelerator that funds entrepreneurs with a $25,000 investment and provides intense business mentoring. Collier then obtained additional funding from Innovation Works as her business, ActivAided Orthotics, grew. The RecoveryAid garment is now sold online and through medical supply companies across the country.

"The product works really well," says Collier. "My goal was to try to save the world one back at a time."