36 | JANUARY 28 • 2021 

amazed at how many people 
ended up volunteering: 31 
test subjects.
At one point, Serlin had 
a flare-up of her auto-im-
mune disease and had to get 
her IV infusion done in the 
middle of the testing pro-
cess. At some points, Serlin 
was trying to help people 
put on the devices while 
wearing a mask, gloves 
and the IV connection on 
the back of her hand, but 
her determination to help 
herself and, in turn, help 
others, encouraged her to 
persist. 
The test subjects did a 
series of walking tests for 
the device with Serlin mea-
suring the angles of their 
knees and ankles to see if 
there was a positive shift in 
the way they walked.
“Basically, for every per-

son, they shifted 10-20 
degrees toward 180 degrees, 
which was a great thing,” 
Serlin said. “You can see 
there is clearly an increase 
in stability with the attach-
ment for both people with 
and without arthritis.”
Serlin crafted three differ-
ent prototypes of the device, 
settling on the one with a 
strapping system as the most 
effective.
“It was the most support-
ive,” she said. “I tried it on, 
everybody in my household 
tried it on, even my dad. I 
had to test all different sized 

ankles.” 
Serlin has received lots 
of positive feedback on the 
device, with some of the tes-
ters without arthritis saying 
they liked the additional sta-
bility, and people who have 
arthritis saying it helped 
them with their ailment. 

HELPING OTHERS
Serlin is in the process of 
finishing her thesis right 
now, currently having writ-
ten 22 pages. Once that’s 
done, she hopes to possibly 
continue making the devices 
for people who both want 
and need them, even while 
applying for dental school. 
“I’ve had a lot of people 
reaching out asking if they 
can buy them,” Serlin said. 
“I’m looking into different 
avenues for maybe starting 
a potential business, but it’s 

not clear yet what I’ll end up 
doing.” 
Her goal is to help people, 
said Serlin, who spent more 
than two weeks volunteer-
ing at Israel’s Save a Child’s 
Heart children’s home in 
2019. 
“That’s all I want to do 
with my life. I’m going into 
dentistry; it’s to help peo-
ple smile. But, for this, it’s 
a whole other ballgame I 
never thought I’d be in. As 
somebody who has these 
problems, I never expected 
to be the one helping people 
walk better.” 

“A LOT OF RESEARCH WENT 

INTO THE DESIGN.”

— LEIA SERLIN

DANIEL SHERBERT, M.D. F.A.C.S.
Certifi
 ed by The American Board of Surgery, 
The American Board of Plastic Surgery & Fellowship 
Trained in Aesthetic & Reconstructive Breast Surgery

Specializing in Cosmetic Surgery &

Aesthetic & Reconstructive Breast Surgery

W est Maple
Plastic Surgery

(248) 865-6400

5807 W. Maple • Suite 177 • West Bloomfi
 eld

Awaken the 
Beauty Within...

Minimally Invasive LANAP Laser T
reatment 

for Gum Disease

The laser alternative to traditional gum surgery for treating 
gum disease.

Minimally Invasive 
Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation T
echnique™
Gives patients a minimally invasive option to treat gum 
recession, eliminates discomfort and improves the smile.

The Crown Lengthening Procedure

Improves a “gummy” smile by removing excess gum tissue 
for a pleasing, natural-looking smile.

Dental Implants

A replacement for a natural tooth root that has the same 
function, permanence, and appearance.

www.drnemeth.com

248.357.3100 | 29829 Telegraph Road, Suite 111 | Southfi
 eld, Michigan 48034

 Joseph R. Nemeth, DDS & Amar Katranji, DDS, MS

LET US CREATE YOUR 

BEAUTIFUL SMILE

Breakthrough Techniques and Impeccable Care for 

Gum Disease and Recession, Gummy Smile and Missing Teeth

®

continued from page 35
HEALTH

