Leadership
Paul Armstrong
President
Paul Armstrong, CP
Paul Armstrong received B.S. in exercise physiology from the University of Connecticut in 1992. He graduated from the Newington Certificate Program in 1996 and completed his prosthetic residency in Connecticut. Currently the practice manager for the Hanger Clinic in Vernon, CT, he is also the manager of the Market Fabrication Facility in Newington, CT, and Methuen, MA. Paul is an instructor in the University of Hartford’s Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics program for transtibial prosthetics, and is a member of the IPOCare team, specializing in Immediate Post-Operative Prosthetic patient care.
Andrew Wakefield, MD
Surgical Director
Dr. Andrew Wakefield, MD
Dr. Andrew Wakefield is a neurosurgeon with Hartford Hospital in Hartford, CT, who joined Dreaming & Working Together in 2006. His presence has enabled D&WT to expand its services and open doors we never thought were possible. In addition to his surgical skills, he has also donated thousands of dollars of surgical instrumentation that he no longer utilizes in his current practice to D&WT. Dr. Wakefield received his medical degree from University of Connecticut School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than twenty years.
SUBRAmani Seetharama, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Subramani Seetharama, MD
Dr. Subramani Seetharama is a physiatrist from Hartford Hospital who joined D&WT in 2007. He brought extensive education, new techniques and protocols to create the rehabilitative program dedicated to those patients having their surgery by D&WT team. Dr. Seetharama attended Armed Forces Medical College in India, interned at Ohio Valley Medical Center, and completed his residency at St. Francis Medical Center in Pennsylvania. He is an instructor in emergency medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.
Kara cougan
Communications Director
Kara Cougan, MSPO, CPO
Kara Cougan is an ABC Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist. She graduated from Syracuse University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science and a Minor in Psychology. She pursued a Masters of Science in Prosthetics & Orthotics from the University of Hartford and graduated in 2016. She completed a two year Orthotic and Prosthetic residency with Hanger Clinic in the greater Hartford area and now works as a CPO for Hanger Clinic in Wethersfield, CT. Kara's first trip to Peru with Dreaming and Working Together was as a Master’s student in 2016.
Abbey Downing
Finance Director
Abbey Downing, MSPO, CPO
Abbey Downing joined Dreaming and Working Together in 2013. She received her B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan in 2005 and graduated from the Newington Certificate Program in Orthotics and Prosthetics in 2009. She eventually went on to complete her master’s degree in orthotics and prosthetics with the University of Hartford in 2019. Abbey is currently working for Hanger Clinic as a prosthetic and orthotic clinician in Connecticut. She is married with an 18 month old girl. She enjoys everything outdoors, cherishes her family, and is honored to be a part of the DWT team.
Duffy Felmlee
education director
Duffy Felmlee, MSPO, CPO, FAAOP
Duffy Felmlee, MSPO, CPO, FAAOP is an Associate Professor for the Prosthetics and Orthotics Program within the College of ENHP at the University of Hartford. Duffy maintains practice as clinical and educational consultant for Hanger Clinic. Duffy has received his Master's of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics from the University of Hartford in 2010 and his Fellow of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists in 2019. Duffy is an Orthotic course instructor, Director of the Adult Balance Lab, Technical Director of the Cromwell MSPO Lab, and Associate Program Director for the MSPO program. Duffy’s research focuses on functional rehabilitation interventions for the veteran populations, which include investigation into submerged swimming prostheses and use of microprocessor knees to reduce falls. Additionally, Duffy serves as the national Chair for the Fabrication Sciences Society within the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists. Duffy has worked with the Dreaming and Working Together team since 2017 and coordinates student involvement related to the DWT mission and assists in curriculum development related to Rotary International funded projects.
Steve Charry
prosthetic lead
Steve Charry, MSPO, CP
Steve Charry is a Connecticut native who received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Hartford in 2010. He later graduated from the University of Hartford’s Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics program in 2013. He completed his prosthetics residency with Hanger Clinic in Wethersfield, were he continues to serve as a clinical prosthetist. Steve first joined Dreaming and Working Together in 2013 as a student, and has been participating ever since. Each year he looks forward to uniting with new and familiar faces in Peru!
He enjoys long walks on the beach and watching sunsets…
Ken Bruno
adult rehabilitation lead
Ken Bruno, PT
Ken is Site Director and Physical Therapist for Hartford Hospital Rehabilitation Network in Windsor, CT who joined Dreaming & Working together in 2016. He graduated from Sacred Heart University’s Physical Therapy program. Ken’s time with Dreaming & Working is focused on physical rehab. He was involved in the planning, education and collaboration of the Dreaming and Working together program. He is an avid Triathlete
Kim Koenig
pediatric rehabilitation lead
Kim Koenig, PT
Kim is a Pediatric Physical Therapist at Connecticut Children’s in Hartford, CT who graduated from University of Vermont's Physical Therapy program. Since graduating she has held several jobs over the years, but each job has focused on pediatrics. Kim joined the Dreaming & Working Together team in 2015 working with both the pediatric rehab and adult amputee groups.
Volunteers
Al Maciunas, CP
Graham Rech, CPO