Our Team
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Roger Gonzalez, PhD, PE FOUNDER AND CEO Dr. Roger Gonzalez is Chair and Professor of Engineering Education and Leadership at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and holds graduate degrees in Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering. He earned his PhD and MS in Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso. He was awarded a prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Research Service Award (NRSA) for his postdoctoral work in neuromuscular control and musculoskeletal biomechanics on children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, while working as a research scientist at Northwestern University Medical School and the premier Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. His scholarly efforts with students have focused on musculoskeletal modeling, dynamic modeling of human movement and neuromuscular control with applications to upper extremity neuroprosthesis and on the effects of knee ACL-deficiency on osteoarthritis. Dr. Gonzalez is an Elected Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineerrs (ASME) and the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). More than 125 publications detail his research endeavors having received multiple National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Education research grants, including support from various foundations for his international humanitarian endeavors. He has also received the American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE) Teaching Award, the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation Award for 2008, and LeTourneau University’s top research and scholarship award. He also serves as an engineering program evaluator for ABET (Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology), which is the sole U.S. entity for accrediting engineering programs throughout the United States. As Founder, CEO and President of LIMBS International, Dr. Gonzalez has worked with students in Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and Latin America on various international engineering research and humanitarian projects. |
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Oscar Gonzalez-Montoya
PRESIDENT From a very young age, Oscar wanted to help the poor in his native country, Mexico. After earning his degree in aircraft maintenance and mechanics, Oscar joined MAF as a Maintenance director and Public Relationships coordinator. Oscar had the opportunity to oversee a fleet of aircraft that served the poorest of the poor in Oaxaca, Mexico. Oscar then moved into leadership with family life as a national director with the focus of strengthening families throughout Mexico. Afterwards, Oscar was invited to be part of the National Leadership Team for Campus Crusade for Christ in Mexico, where he served for two years. Oscar has served nonprofits for more than twenty years in different capacities. Oscar is married to Silvia for 19 years, and they have a daughter at college age. |
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Aaron Nystrom
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Aaron Nystrom is the Director of Engineering Operations for LIMBS International. He spent his childhood in the Peruvian Amazon jungle and through that experience developed a longing to be a blessing to people in the developing world. Aaron has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from LeTourneau University. Following his graduation from LeTourneau, Aaron worked as an engineer in Southern California for 10 years designing seismic restraints for HVAC systems. During that time he also earned a Master’s degree in Bible Exposition from Talbot School of Theology. His role at LIMBS is to direct and coordinate all engineering activities, including student research, new product development and the manufacturing of current prosthetic components. |
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John Burger, CPO
LIMBS PROSTHETIST AND ORTHOTIST John Burger is an American Board Certified CPO. He did his post graduate studies in prosthetics and orthotics at New York University Medical Center. He received his Master’s Degree in O&P from the University of Connecticut in 2002. He lived and worked as a CPO in Turkey for 10 years. He most recently worked at New England Orthotic and Prosthetic Systems as a manager and practitioner for the past 10 years. During that time he volunteered with Physicians for Peace to help establish a prosthetics center and O&P school at Dicle University in Diyarbakir, Turkey. He also volunteered with LIMBs International and went to Nairobi, Kenya to help train prosthetists who want to use LIMBs Relief 4 bar knee for above knee amputees. He most recently started full time working with LIMBS International to use the prosthetics center in Diyarbakir, Turkey for many Syrian and Iraqi refugees who experienced limb loss due to the war. A number of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) centers are also being planned to help the amputees learn how to use their prosthetic devices properly. |
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Kelsi M Oyler
PROGRAM COORDINATOR Kelsi was born and raised on a farm in southwest Kansas. She moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 2013 where she studied Family Life Development at University of Central Oklahoma. Before moving to El Paso in 2016, Kelsi taught in a daycare and worked at Mardel Christian and Education Supply as an Education Specialist and Sales Associate. Kelsi works as the Program Coordinator for the organization. |
