Limb Loss Management in the Homecare Setting (Live on 09/30/26)

Michele D. Bickford, PT is a physical therapist with more than 35 years of clinical experience across a wide range of rehabilitation settings, including inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, outpatient, and home health. A graduate of Northeastern University, Michele has devoted her career to serving patients throughout Boston’s South Shore and brings a comprehensive understanding of the rehabilitation continuum. She has over 15 years of experience in home care, including the treatment of individuals with limb loss, and has been a valued member of Mass General Brigham Spaulding for more than nine years. Currently practicing in the outpatient setting, Michele treats a diverse caseload of neurological, orthopedic, oncology, and surgical patients. Her broad clinical background provides a unique perspective on the patient journey from acute care through community reintegration. Michele is passionate about helping individuals achieve their goals and considers it a privilege to support patients throughout their recovery and rehabilitation journey.

Katherine Breen, PT, DPT is a physical therapist with 4 years of inpatient rehab experience at SRH Charlestown. Since earning her DPT from the MGH IHP in 2022, Kate has worked on the comprehensive rehab unit with a special interest in limb loss and prosthetic training and treating individuals with multi-traumas, burns, and vestibular disorders. Kate is also a member of Spaulding’s Amputee Special Interest Group.

Kathleen M Buzzeo PT, DPT, CBIS is a Senior Clinician at Spaulding Rehabilitation’s outpatient clinic in Hanover, MA, specializing in neurologic, vestibular, and limb loss rehabilitation. She earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Quinnipiac University. Kathleen is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) and an APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor. She completed the BOOST Mentorship Program in Boston, an advanced training program for clinicians treating individuals with limb loss. An active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) since 2011, Kathleen serves as an Alternate Delegate to the APTA House of Delegates and an APTA Key Contact, advocating for patients and the profession at both the state and federal levels. She is passionate about combining clinical excellence, evidence-based practice, mentorship, and advocacy to advance physical therapy and improve patient care.

Victoria Misitano, PT, DPT is a Physical Therapist with over 6 years of experience specializing in the rehabilitation of individuals with limb loss. After earning her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the MGH Institute of Health Professions, she joined Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital as an inpatient physical therapist in 2021 and became an Advanced Clinician in 2023. She treats patients on the Comprehensive Rehabilitation unit, with expertise in acute limb loss management, pre-prosthetic rehabilitation, and prosthetic gait training. Victoria also serves as a lab instructor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, teaching in the limb loss and prosthetics curriculum, and has experience in Spaulding’s multidisciplinary outpatient Limb Loss Clinic. She is passionate about educating clinicians on evidence-based limb loss management and promoting successful transitions to home and community-based care to maximize functional independence.

Sarah Welch, PT, DPT is a Senior Physical Therapist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital specializing in lower extremity limb loss rehabilitation. She has extensive clinical experience caring for individuals undergoing traditional and advanced amputations, including Agonist-Antagonist Myoneural Interface (AMI/Ewing) procedures, and works as part of multidisciplinary teams advancing innovative approaches to amputation care. Dr. Welch is an active clinical collaborator on multiple funded research initiatives focused on improving prosthetic control, proprioception, and functional outcomes after limb loss. She has presented nationally on AMI rehabilitation and regularly teaches prosthetics, orthotics, and rehabilitation through lectures and laboratory instruction across multiple Boston-area Doctor of Physical Therapy programs. Her clinical, research, and teaching roles are dedicated to advancing evidence-based rehabilitation for individuals with limb loss.