West Virginia University (WVU), Morgantown, sophomore Katherine Bomkamp, who developed a Pain Free Socket to help amputees when she was 16, has been named a 2012 Newman Civic Fellow. The device aims to eliminate phantom pain in amputees using thermal biofeedback.
Bomkamp, a political science major, was selected as one of 162 college students from 32 states for the honor, which recognizes student leaders who have worked toward finding solutions for challenges facing communities. The fellowships are awarded by Campus Compact, a national coalition of 1,200 college and university presidents committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education.
In February, Bomkamp became the youngest person ever to present to the Royal Society of Medicine’s Medical Innovations Summit in London, England. Last year, she was named one of Glamour magazine’s 21 Amazing Young Women, and her innovation has received worldwide media coverage.
