My professional training is as a Prosthetist—I make artificial legs, arms, hands and fingers. This clinical foundation has expanded into education, humanitarian work, public health, research and clinical services.

I have been teaching students how to become prosthetists since 1992 with the focus being on the person who will be wearing the prosthesis as well as the nuances of the prosthetic fabrication. My passion for humanitarian work and travel resulted in establishment of the first and only Prosthetic & Orthotic (P&O) clinic in Belize—Project Hope Belize. From there I co-founded a U.S.non-profit organization (Prosthetic Hope International) to facilitate the development of that clinic and other similar projects. It was this passion for solving access challenges to health care which resulted in completion of a Master’s Degree in Public Health in 2005.

Research interests include the application of MRI to acquire residual limb shapes for CAD/CAM and finite element analysis, osseointegration as a means for suspension of prosthetic devices, reduction in the exposure to toxic agents in the fabrication of prostheses, waste stream management and reduction in the fabrication of prosthetic and orthotic devices and the fascinating adaptation process one must undergo in order incorporate an artificial replacement for a missing body part into one’s body image and activities of daily living especially for individuals with upper limb amputations of fingers, hands, partial hands and more proximal amputation levels.

My current clinical focus is on upper limb prosthetics as well as providing prosthetic rehabilitation care for the underserved.

Master’s in Public Health: University of Houston Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, December, 2005

Prosthetics Certificate: University of California, Los Angeles, California, March 1990

B.A. in Biology: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, May 1989

Book

Robert Kisttenberg Prosthetics in The Rehabilitation Specialist’s Handbook Rothstein J, Roy S, Wolf S. eds. Fourth Edition, F.A. Davis Company, Philadelphia, PA 2012 [In press]

Peer-reviewed articles

Ikeda, Andrea J.; Reisinger, Kim D.; Malkush, Melissa; Wu, Yeongchi; Edwards, Mark L.; Kistenberg, Robert S. Á priori alignment of transtibial prostheses: a comparison and evaluation of three methods. Disability and Rehabilitation In Press

Childers Lee, Robert Kistenberg, Robert Gregor. Pedaling Asymmetries in Cyclists with Unilateral Transtibial Amputation: Effect of Prosthetic Foot Stiffness. J Applied Biomechanics. 2011;27:4:314-321

Lee Childers, Robert Kistenberg, Robert Gregor. The biomechanics of cycling with a transtibial amputation: Recommendations for prosthetic design and direction for future research. Prosthet Orthot Intl. 2009;33:3:256-271

Friedbert Kohler, Gerold Stucki, Jan Geertzen, Helena Burger, Michael Dillon, Carolina Schiappacasse, Alberto Esquenazi, Robert Kistenberg, Nenad Kostanjsek. Developing Core Sets for persons following amputation based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a way to specify functioning. Prosthet Orthot Intl. 2009;33:2:117-129

Mark Pitkin, PhD; Grigory Raykhtsaum, MS; John Pilling, PhD; Yuri Shukeylo, PhD; Vladimir Moxson, PhD; Volodimir Duz, PhD; John Lewandowski, PhD; Raymond Connolly, PhD; John Dalton; Robert S. Kistenberg, MPH, CP, FAAOP; Boris Prilutsky, PhD; Stewart Jacobson, DVM, DACVP Mathematical modeling and mechanical and histopathology testing of the porous prosthetic pylon for direct skeletal attachment. J Res Rehabil Dev. 2009;46:3:314-330

Kistenberg, RS. Amputation prevention strategies in developing nations: a study of Belize, Central America. Master’s Thesis, University of Houston Health Science Center,Houston, Texas, December, 2005

2011 Defense manufacturing Technology Achievement Award

Prosthetics Orthotics Manufacturing Initiative, Department of Defense

Outstanding Educator Award, 2010, American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists

Fellow American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists March 2001

Faculty Recognition Award, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology April 2005