About us
Our Team: Over 20 years of experience enhancing the lives of patients
Beginning nearly 20 years ago with Dr. Macko's involvement in high intensity treadmill training in neurorehabilitation, the NextStep Robotics team has united their diverse backgrounds to introduce affordable and impactful robotic solutions into the recovery journey for individuals suffering from foot drop due to stroke or other medical conditions.
Brad Hennessie, CEO
Brad, a former Lead Clinical Research Specialist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, is now leading the way in offering physical therapists a fresh approach to effectively and sustainably alleviate the negative impacts of foot drop. Over the past decade, he has worked alongside his co-founders to secure several research grants, establishing a solid and secure foundation for the company.
Dr. Richard Macko, CSO
Dr. Macko is a renowned neurologist and professor of neurology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, specializing in stroke recovery. With more than two decades of experience leading the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Center of Excellence in Exercise and Robotics, Dr. Macko has authored over 150 peer-reviewed research papers on stroke neurorehabilitation. His primary focus at the Center of Excellence involves designing and evaluating exercise training programs tailored to specific diseases, integrating motor learning and exercise therapy to enhance functional mobility in individuals recovering from strokes and other mobility impairments.
Anindo Roy, PhD, CTO
Aside from being the standout comedian on the team, Dr. Roy is the mastermind behind it all, creating the control system embedded in our AMBLE robot. With a wealth of experience and expertise in rehabilitation robotics from MIT, Anindo brings a unique perspective and skill set to transforming therapy needs into robotic solutions. He spearheads all engineering efforts, from integrating robotics into the recovery process to developing new intellectual property. Dr. Roy holds adjunct faculty positions at both the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the James Clark School of Engineering.
Larry Forrester, PhD, Resident Scientist
Dr. Forrester is the recently retired Director of the Baltimore VA Human Motor Performance Laboratory. Larry has nearly two decades of experience conducting rehabilitation research focused on therapeutic interventions to improve movement function after stroke and other neurological diseases. In addition, Dr. Forrester joins Anindo, Dr. Macko, and Brad as founders of NextStep Robotics.