Daemen University’s Kennedy Institute: Advanced Rehabilitation Technology

By Annette Pinder 

For people living with neurological conditions, serious injuries, or other mobility challenges, regaining the ability to move can mean regaining independence. The Timothy M. Kennedy Institute for Mobility Innovation & Technology is making that possible.

Opened in April 2025 by Daemen University and Buffalo Rehab Group, the 6,000-square-foot facility, located within the Villa Maria College Athletic Center, integrates patient care, research, education, and advocacy. In July 2025, the Kennedy Institute was dedicated in honor of U.S. Congressman Timothy M. Kennedy, a licensed occupational therapist who helped secure critical funding for the project. The Institute serves individuals affected by stroke, spinal cord injury, brain trauma, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, orthopedic conditions, sports injuries, and other mobility challenges.

The Institute’s sophisticated equipment includes the Hocoma Lokomat® robotic exoskeleton for walking rehabilitation; the AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill™, which uses differential air pressure to reduce body weight during exercise; and Bioness Vector® systems that support walking, balance, coordination, and functional recovery.  

“But technology is only part of the mission. Built around the CARE pillars—Clinical Care, Advocacy, Research, and Education—the Institute also offers opportunities for Daemen and Villa Maria students, healthcare professionals, researchers, and community members to learn and collaborate,” says Dr. Greg Ford, Founding Dean of Daemen’s Scott Bieler College of Health Professions and Executive Director of the Kennedy Institute. He adds, “In addressing mobility limitations and expanding what is possible, we are helping patients regain function, confidence, and greater independence, while advancing accessible rehabilitation care across Western New York.”

To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Thomas Danat, Jr., PT, DPT, NCS, Clinical Director of the Kennedy Institute, call 716-566-7800 or email kennedyinstitute@daemen.edu. Also, visit their website at bit.ly/DaemenIMIT.