Playing Forward is passionate about solving mobility issues for children and bringing therapeutic practices to every body. We are doctors, entertainers, health care professionals, technology experts, partners, parents, and friends.
A Team of Game & Health Experts
Brian Bertha, JD
Victor Talbot, MD (aka Dr. Mooves)
Entertainment veteran with 20+ years experience as producer, executive producer, and distributor of movies and entertainment for learning, specifically focusing on cognitive functioning in 3-6 years old children; former medical doctor, pediatric psychology.
John Attard
Academy Award™ winning, visual effects (for Gladiator); extensive Film/gaming experience including Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Disney); The Jungle Book (Disney); Superman vs. Batman (Warner Bros.); Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (Marvel); and Avengers 3 (Marvel).
Darren Hocking, PhD
Lead Scientific Advisor
Expertise in cognitive neuroscience and pediatric movement disorders, and more than 13 years of experience in the development of experimentally-driven motor assessments and games technology-assisted interventions for improving attention, motor and multitasking in children with developmental disabilities. Dr Hocking has authored numerous scientific publications on the dynamic interplay between executive functions and motor control across neurodevelopmental disorders and typical development.
Hassan Farhat
AI Specialist
Harout Mardirosian
Lead Unity Developer
Chris Nentarz
Clinical Science Advisor
Chris Rencinos
Lead Unity Developer
Yudhi Sharma
Production Manager
Anita Srivastava
VP of Marketing
Shannon Stappenbeck
Global Catalyst
A Growing Partnership - Characters Coming Soon!
We have renewable access to many Nickelodeon characters, including Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Nickelodeon has been entertaining and inspiring children for decades, and they want to provide their most engaging characters to benefit kids with movement disabilities.
How do we know these characters relate to kids? Well, Dora has been exploring with kids for over 20 years. SpongeBob is one of Nickelodeon’s most iconic characters and is the second most popular show of all time on Nickelodeon. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have always inspired movement and promoted physical training.
These beloved characters will join in on a child’s therapy adventures and help them engage with and maintain their motion therapy play.
Nicklodeon is truly our strategic partner, and we’re excited to be able to use characters that kids can relate to and engage with easily and that parents will know and love too!
Strategic Partner
The Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles has recognized Playing Forward as a winner in over 100 contenders for innovative medical technology. We’ve been asked to test with their motion therapists and we’ll join a multi-hospital POC trial in 2021.
Investigative Partner
Our work with Columbia University includes the completion of a formally structured investigative review board study that confirmed strong patient and parent acceptance of the Playing Forward platform and interest in using it in the future.
Collaborations Partner
Health Innovation Technology Lab (HITLAB) works to shape the future of healthcare and improve lives worldwide by working with companies who are using technology to disrupt and innovate the healthcare industry. Playing Forward is proud to be working with them!
Innovation Partner
Playing Forward has been chosen by NVIDIA to be part of their exclusive Innovation Program. They’ve recognized our outstanding work in the field of Artificial Intelligence, and, in addition to the many benefits of the program, they’ve awarded us $100,000 to continue our work.
