From an early age, Calvin Ngan was inspired by a deep desire to serve others—a purpose that would shape his career. His passion for engineering, design and research led him to Holland Bloorview, where he and his team are designing prosthetic and orthotic solutions for children with disabilities.
Calvin’s journey at Holland Bloorview began in 2013, when he discovered the work of Dr. Jan Andrysek, a senior scientist at the Bloorview Research Institute, who was designing affordable prosthetic knee joints for individuals in low-income countries. Inspired, Calvin pursued a master’s degree under Dr. Andrysek’s mentorship, spent four years in the industry and later returned to Holland Bloorview to complete his PhD and continue working at the PROPEL Lab.
Calvin (right) with Dr. Andrysek
Now leading innovative projects in the PROPEL lab, Calvin and his team are integrating digital tools into clinical practice and developing solutions like a gait training mobile app to advance prosthetic and orthotic technologies. But beyond the technology, what drives him most is seeing the lasting impact of their innovations—whether it’s a child running with a new prosthetic knee or the joy of someone seeing their full arm for the first time.
Read on to discover more about Calvin’s journey:
Can you share a bit about your role?
My role as the research manager at PROPEL Lab is all about supporting the team, mentoring younger team members and collaborating with our partners. Together as a team we aim to advance our research beyond theory and research papers, to something that truly makes a positive impact on people’s lives, something we can all be proud of.
What attracted you to work at Holland Bloorview?
What stands out to me the most at Holland Bloorview is the incredibly collaborative environment. I think that everyone that I have the pleasure of working with shares the same goal, which is to make a difference. You can see this in the smallest moments, like in the elevator, staff smiling at kids and families in the elevator and offering a friendly ‘hello’. It speaks volumes. There’s a Chinese saying I’ve always liked: “small details can reveal a bigger truth"—how people treat others in the little things says a lot about who they are.
Can you share some of the exiting projects happening at the PROPEL Lab?
Some members of the PROPEL Lab team demonstrating the prostheses they are designing.
We are working closely with the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) department to integrate digital technologies, such as 3D scanning and 3D printing, into their clinical practice, and the Transradial Prosthesis Assessment System (TPAS) is also now being used to assist clients at their clinical appointments. The prosthetic knee we designed has seen over 4,500 units shipped globally, including to many low- and middle-income countries, thanks to our work at LegWorks Inc.
Further, we are also working on a novel algorithm that aims to automate the digital prosthetic design process.
Another project we are excited about is a gait training mobile application designed to track a person’s walking in real time and provide feedback based on how they walk. It’s being tested at Holland Bloorview and at seven hospitals and clinics across the GTA. The goal is to bring rehabilitation training outside the clinic, empowering users to train anytime, anywhere.
The PROPEL Lab team with Calvin (second right)
Can you share an example of a project that has had a significant impact?
We designed a pediatric prosthetic knee joint for a 10-year-old. The knee has a novel locking mechanism that makes the knee more stable so the user will be less likely to fall. The child came back and shared how they were able to run around with friends at school and even play dodge ball. To me, that means the world.
Similarly, we developed the TPAS (Transradial Prosthesis Assessment System), which is a tool to help clients to test their upper-limb prosthesis. One child, who had never had a prosthesis before, saw themselves in front of the mirror with a “full” arm for the first time. The smile on their face, how excited they were as they started moving their arm around and wanting to see what it can do, makes this work so meaningful.
What motivates you beyond your professional life?
My biggest passion outside of work is volunteering. I am fortunate to be involved in several initiatives, and one of the most exciting projects is to support several children feeding programs in Kenya. Last year, I went to Kenya as a group and visited families living in rural areas and the slum, as well as children in multiple children’s homes. It was a life-changing experience. What struck me the most was how, despite living in challenging conditions, the children’s energy and joy were overwhelming. Their eyes were full of life, it was both humbling and inspiring. Now, our team is working with a Canadian-based charity and the local organizations in Kenya to support their school feeding programs. I am hopeful I will be able to visit those children again.
Photo credit: Tim Fraser
