Why Handspring?
Handspring is an ensemble of highly knowledgeable medical professionals who are focused on providing a holistic approach for patients needing specialized care in upper & lower limb prosthetic rehabilitation. Our uniquely experienced team of prosthetists, therapists, fabrication specialists, and insurance experts have worked with patients around the globe to provide innovative, highly customized prostheses that assist clients in living their daily lives to the fullest. Handspring’s clinicians are extremely familiar with a wide range of residual limb presentation. Our clinicians are uniquely trained and experienced in providing care to individuals with upper limb, multi-membral, and quadri-membral amputations or limb difference.
Unlike traditional O&P practices, our clinicians are experts and have specialized training in upper limb prosthetic rehabilitation; from partial hand and finger loss to shoulder and forequarter levels including bilateral amputations. Our experience, and our patients, have taught us that no single prosthesis will address the multiple deficits associated with upper limb absence or loss. For some people, the use of myoelectric arms and bionic hands may be the most appropriate, while for other patients, body-powered or activity-specific prostheses may create the best results. In many cases, a combination of prostheses best meet the individual's needs. By focusing on each person as an individual, every Handspring patient receives the device and the care that optimizes what they want to do in their own specific life.
The Clinical Team
Everyone is different. Each patient comes to Handspring with a unique body build, individual needs and very personal goals. The Handspring team provides excellent care centered around your goals. We work with physicians and physical and occupational therapists to cover all aspects of your care.
By listening to your thoughts and concerns, and combining them with our knowledge of the most current technologies available, we are able to meet your needs successfully. We focus on building a quality prosthesis, so you can focus on the things most important to you
Founder & CEO
Tom Passero, CP(E)
As the Founder of our companies and a semi-retired, non-practicing clinician, I could not be more proud of the impact we have made over the past 35+ years in providing prosthetic and orthotic care to thousands of individuals.
Looking back, I clearly see the trajectory of my own clinical practice and the mission that shaped our organization. These influences guided our focus, informed our methods, and helped build the collaborative relationships we now share with the many professionals involved in each person’s care.
A defining influence, of course, was my personal experience seeking prosthetic care for my own limb difference. After a traumatic lower-limb amputation at age 23, while still in college, I did not find the clinical care I needed, expected, or believed should exist. That absence redirected my life, steering me into the O&P field—a change for which I remain endlessly grateful.
From that moment forward, I committed myself to delivering the most contemporary, compassionate care possible. I embraced emerging technologies and pursued the elusive goal of a “plasterless” workflow. I invested in some of the world’s first CAD and CAM systems, and throughout the years continued integrating technology, science, and mathematics into the art of creating comfortable, safe, and functional devices. As a team, we have advanced this mission even further—adopting digital imaging, computer-aided modification, and 3D printing—to ensure our clients benefit from the most modern systems available.
My commitment to learning has taken me to clinics across nearly every continent, from Buenos Aires to Bologna, seeking and sharing knowledge to ensure that I understood as much as anyone practicing in this field.
I am deeply grateful to the clinicians, technicians, administrators, surgeons, physiatrists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and case managers who have partnered with us in a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to care. Their shared commitment to excellence has been essential to our success and professional satisfaction.
Although my Emeritus status with the American Board for Certification means I no longer treat patients directly, I continue to take great pleasure in witnessing the successes and innovations of our team. They now serve individuals from across the United States and around the world, people seeking the very type of care I once needed but could not find.
I remain profoundly thankful for all who have influenced, supported, and worked alongside me throughout this journey. And I am equally grateful to the current team, who continue to pursue the privilege of helping others while embracing contemporary methods and striving for exceptional outcomes.
With respect and appreciation for all those I have met along the way.
Managing Partner & COO
Laura Katzenberger, CP/L
Laura is the Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Handspring. She studied Biomedical Engineering at the University of Rochester and went on to Northwestern University to earn a Certificate in Prosthetics. Laura has nearly two decades of experience in upper limb prosthetics having worked for the manufacturer Touch Bionics, the developer of the world’s first multi-articulating hand and partial hand solution.
Laura has been an integral part of Handspring since its inception in 2012. She works with clients primarily in New York and Colorado while also educating therapists, physicians, and case managers about the impact that successfully created upper limb prosthetics can have on the lives of their patients. Laura lives in the Catskill Mountain region in New York where she spends her free time painting, hiking, biking as well as water, cross country, and alpine skiing.
Director of Clinical Services & Lab Manager
Chris Fink, MSPO, CPO
Chris studied Exercise and Sport Science at Ithaca College and received a minor in Nutrition and a specialty in Biomechanics. This multi-faceted knowledge base served him well at Georgia Institute of Technology where he obtained his Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics. He gained invaluable experience during his residencies and managing clinics in Atlanta, GA and Chattanooga, TN. He also taught at Georgia Tech’s Prosthetic & Orthotic Masters Program.
Chris joined our team in 2020 and manages complex lower and upper limb prosthetic fittings. He looks forward to helping those who use upper and lower limb prostheses to achieve their best possible outcomes and not feel limited by their limb difference. Outside of work, Chris enjoys spending time with his wife, daughters, and 3-legged dog.
Clinical Specialist
Middletown, Poughkeepsie & Milford
Macy Oteri, MSPO, CPO/L
Macy, a New Jersey native, earned her bachelor’s in exercise science from the University of Delaware, where she gained research experience in the Delaware Limb Loss Studies Lab under Dr. Jaclyn “Megan” Sions. This sparked her passion for orthotics and prosthetics, leading her to pursue a Master’s at Eastern Michigan University.
She began her career in South Jersey/Philadelphia, working in diverse clinical settings, including hospitals, therapy clinics, and home care. Dedicated to patient-centered care, Macy prioritizes understanding each individual's goals to achieve the best outcomes. She has experience with all levels of orthotic and prosthetic devices, with a special interest in upper limb prosthetics.
Outside of work, Macy enjoys spending time with loved ones, gardening, hiking, skiing, and rollerblading.
Clinic Manager
Salt Lake City
Tim Bump, MSPO, CPO
Tim studied kinesiology as an undergraduate at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA and obtained his Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics from Georgia Tech. He gained invaluable patient care experience while serving those with limited access in Colombia and during his residency in Tennessee which focused on upper limb prosthetics.
Tim joined our team in 2020 and transferred west to manage the Salt Lake City clinic in 2022. He has focused on cultivating the clinical team’s capabilities in advanced digital imaging and 3D printing. In his down time, he enjoys being outdoors, including hiking, snowboarding, and SCUBA diving, as well as traveling.
Occupational Therapist
Debra Latour, OT, PP-OTD, M.Ed., OTR/L, FAOTA
Dr. Latour ensures the success of Handspring clients through her guidance in the application of prosthetic technologies. She graduated from Tufts University with a BS in occupational therapy (OT), Springfield College with a Master of Education, and A.T. Still University with a Doctorate of OT. She is the owner of Single-Handed Solutions, LLC, and an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at Western New England University.
She has received multiple awards for excellence in research and teaching. In her free time, she is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, and enjoys nature and motorcycling with her husband. She is an active member of the Amputee Coalition and author of three patents for prosthetic technologies.
The Technical Team
Digital Technician
Salt Lake City
Brian ClydE, MSME
Brian studied Mechanical Engineering at Brigham Young University and obtained a Master’s degree in the same field at the University of Utah. His Master’s program focused on anatomy and wearable robotics, part of which included designing an example prosthetic hand.
Though not a clinician, Brian joined the team in 2026 to take over the digital work of designing prostheses for patients. His skills allow us to further advance our rapid-fitting programs to bring better, more personalized prostheses to patients in a smaller timeframe than traditional fabrication allows for.
Outside of work, Brian enjoys hobbies such as ballroom dance, tennis, and reading.
The Administrative Team
Brittney Lujan
Office Administrator
Julie Palmer
Practice Manager
The Handspring team is committed to our single mission:
To provide world-class care.
This singularly focused mission and its resulting Core Values, drive how we operate every day. We track a variety of metrics each month to ensure we are reaching our goal of providing World-Class Care.
We all enjoy the advances of technology in our everyday lives.
Our practitioners take this same idea and strive to put the latest advances in prosthetics to work for you. The Handspring team uses leading-edge technology throughout our clinical process from measuring patients using computer-aided-design (CAD) choosing components and materials which take advantage of improvements in engineering and design. Handspring has utilized CAD technology for over 10 years, and our practitioners regularly pursue additional certifications in the field.
Our practice is at the forefront of using telemedicine, which provides access to clinical experts nationwide and leverages the benefits of electronic medical records. We are also a leader in the orthotics and prosthetic profession in the implementation of patient outcome measuring tools.
If you are a patient in the hospital, we strive to meet with you before you leave. We believe that this initial meeting is an opportunity for you to learn how we can help you and for us to answer any questions you may have. But even when this hospital visit is not possible, our intent is for you to feel cared for whenever our staff is given the opportunity to serve you.
Whether you require routine attention or are able to return to an active life without continual need for our services, we are there for you for life
Why Prosthetics Matter
While there is always an option to not wear a prosthesis, finding the right prosthesis for you can make a significant impact in your life, physically, mentally, and socially. Even just the loss of a single digit can have a significant effect on impairment and ability to complete activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, cooking, and hygiene.
Recent studies have shown the increased level of daily activity that patients maintain when they consistently utilize a prosthetic device. The multi-disciplinary team at Handspring makes sure to meet you where you are in your rehabilitation to determine what prosthetic options are best for you, whether that’s the most state-of-the-art prosthetic technology or something more basic that gets you back to work.