Elizabeth Halsne

Elizabeth Halsne (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington and an investigator at the VA RR&D Center for Limb Loss and Mobility (CLiMB). She combines clinical expertise as a certified prosthetist/orthotist with research focusing on improving personalized care for limb loss patients through quantitative and qualitative methods.

• Doctorate in Rehabilitation Science (2021)
• Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (2019)
• Bachelor of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics (2010)
• Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (American Board for Certification, 2013)

Her research examines biomechanical, performance-based, and patient-reported outcomes related to prosthesis use, with specific emphasis on mobility assessment and clinical tool development. She collaborates with the University of Washington Center on Outcomes Research in Rehabilitation (UWCORR) and directs the Orthotics and Prosthetics Foundation's Early Career Research Grant program.

Key research trends:

• Prosthetic component optimization (e.g., stiffness effects on knee loading)
• Development of decision support tools for precision prescription
• Validation of mobility outcome measures
• Predictive modeling for post-amputation functional outcomes

Scientific awards include:

• 2024 PM&R Honorable Mention
• 2022 Thranhardt Lecture Award
• 2021 UW Women in Engineering Award
• 2021 Husky 100 recipient
• 2020 O.P.E.R.F. fellowship

She teaches clinical/research courses in the Master of Prosthetics & Orthotics program and biomechanics courses as affiliate faculty in Mechanical Engineering.