Speaker

Peeraya Ruthiraphong

CEO and Co-Founder

Mahidol University – Rehab Happy Walk

Peeraya is a rehabilitation doctor (physiatrist) specializing in gait analysis and neurorehabilitation, with a particular focus on Parkinson's disease. With a background in Biomedical Engineering and extensive experience working directly with Parkinson's patients, she intimately understands the challenges they face, including difficulties in movement, unpredictably freezing of gait, falls, and subsequent fear of walking. Motivated by her passion for improving the quality of life for those living with Parkinson's, Peeraya gathered a multidisciplinary team comprising physical therapists, engineers, product designers, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and most important, caregivers and patients themselves as stakeholders. Together, they have developed this innovative device that could enhance mobility and independence for individuals with Parkinson's. The design and usage of the device were primarily shaped by feedback from patients and caregivers.