O&P Rising

In this episode of O&P Rising, guest host Jiera Shears, an MSPO student at Kennesaw State University, sits down with Jessica Norrell, CPO, MBA, owner of Mozn Solutions, to explore the many career paths available within the orthotics and prosthetics profession. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in clinical care, business operations, and healthcare leadership, Norrell shares her jou...

In this episode, guest host Caitlin Bowman Martwinski, MSPO, a Board Eligible Prosthetist Orthotist with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, sits down with Michael McCauley, MS, CPO/L, FAAOP, an ABC-certified prosthetist/orthotist and National Clinical Leader for Pediatric Care Excellence at Hanger Clinic, to continue a conversation about navigating the uncertainty that often comes with the early ye...

In this episode of O&P Rising, recorded live at the 52nd Academy Annual Meeting in Nashville, guest host Fanny Schultea, MS, MSEd, CPO, LP, FAAOP(D), executive director of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Foundation for Education and Research, shines a spotlight on the inaugural 2025 Fuel the Future Scholars. Featuring Mariam El-Khatib, Kirsten Lucy, Annie Kramer, Elizabeth Ibata-Irens, and Jon A...

In this episode of O&P Rising, recorded live at the 52nd Academy Annual Meeting in Nashville, guest host Abbey Senczyszyn, CPO, of Bremer Prosthetic Design, sits down with Jonah Rhymer, MPO, CPO of Open Bionics, and Kathleen Carroll, MS, MSPO, CPO, FAAOP, of Hanger Clinic to explore how early-career professionals can grow and adapt in orthotics and prosthetics. Jonah shares how a single encoun...

In this episode, host Liz Morse, a prosthetic and orthotic resident at UW Health in Madison, Wisconsin, leads a candid discussion on residency stressors and the transition into clinical practice. She is joined by Kelley Berk, MS, CPO, LPO, of Shamrock Prosthetics in Athens, Georgia, and Julie Quinlan, MPO, MS, CPO, ATC, FAAOP, of Hanger Clinic and associate director of the O&P program at Drexe...

In this episode, host Noelle Medina, a newly certified prosthetist and orthotist at Eastside O&P in Portland, Oregon, leads a powerful conversation on activism and advocacy within the O&P profession. They are joined by Kyle Stepp, elite paratriathlete and national strategic partnerships lead for So Every BODY Can Move, and Nicole Ver Kuilen, disability rights advocate and Director of Impac...

In this episode, guest host Dottie Anderson, CO, a prosthetic resident at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, speaks with Megan Hodgson, MPO, CPO, clinical operations manager at Point Designs and a member of the Academy’s board of directors, for part four of the O&P Career Pathways series. Megan reflects on her transition from clinical practice to manufacturing and how working in both worlds sh...

In this episode, guest host Alex Jensch—a master's of science in prosthetics and orthotics student at the University of Hartford (UHart), Connecticut—talks with Duffy Felmlee, CPO, FAAOP(D), professor at UHart, Academy treasurer, and co-chair of the Fabrication Science Society, for part three of the O&P Career Pathways series. Duffy reflects on his journey from clinical practice to academia, o...

In this episode, guest host Julia Pines, certified orthotist and board-eligible prosthetist at OrthoPediatrics Specialty Bracing in Boston, sits down with Kiley Armstrong, MPO, CPO, research prosthetist-orthotist at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, for part two of the O&P Career Pathways series. Together, they explore the research pathway in orthotics and prosthetics—what...

In this episode, guest host Avery-Claire Littleton, resident prosthetist/orthotist at ForMotion Clinic in Alabama, kicks off a four-part O&P Career Pathways series with Trey Cimorelli, CPO at Next Step Bionics and Prosthetics in New Hampshire. Trey shares his journey from shadowing a local prosthetist to becoming a certified clinician, including his education at the University of Washington an...

In this episode, guest host Hannah Perkins, resident prosthetist/orthotist at Macy O&P in Guilford, Connecticut, talks with Stephen Charry, CPO, FAAOP, assistant professor at the University of Hartford, about building and using a diagnostic toolbox in the O&P profession. Together, they explore essential tools such as patient history, physical assessments, and outcome measures, and why this...

In this episode, guest host Anna Cook, a board-eligible prosthetist orthotist at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul, Minnesota, sits down with Chris Robinson, MS, MBA, CPO, ATC, FAAOP(D), clinical resource director for the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE). Together, they explore the newly introduced competency-based residency standards and what the...

In this episode, guest host Molly Winget, CO and prosthetic resident at Boston O&P, talks with Chelsey Anderson, Pediatrics Research Fellow at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, about the critical role of shared decision making in prosthetic and orthotic care. They explore the difference between simply offering choices and genuinely involving patients and families in the care process. The convers...

In this episode, guest host Caitlin Peters, CPO, a board-certified prosthetist and orthotic resident at Shriners Hospital for Children in Greenville, SC, sits down with Shree Thaker, Director of Communications and Partnerships at the Amputee Coalition. Together, they explore the Coalition’s powerful evolution—from a grassroots peer support group to a national organization offering robust resources...

In this episode of O&P Rising, recorded live at the 51st Academy Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium in Atlanta, host Abbey Senczyszyn, CPO, of Bremer Prosthetic Design, chats with Adrienne Hill, CPO, LPO, FAAOP, program director of Kennesaw State's O&P Master's Program. Together, they explore the vital role of mentorship, personal branding, and networking in shaping successful caree...

In this episode of O&P Rising, recorded live at the 51st Academy Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium in Atlanta, host Kaleigh Neely, CPO, chats with Sheryl Sachs, CPO, of Dankmeyer Prosthetics & Orthotics. They explore the critical role of advocacy in the O&P profession, Sheryl’s journey into policy work, and why young professionals should get involved. The conversation also high...

In this episode, guest host Denise Hull, CPO, a newly certified prosthetist/orthotist at Wheeler O&P, chats with Gerry Stark, PhD, CPO/L, FAAOP(D), director of clinical and technical operations for BionIT Labs and president-elect of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists. With over 30 years in the field, Gerry shares invaluable insights on mentorship, professional development, and...

In this episode, guest host Amani Weekes-Daniel, a board-eligible prosthetist/orthotist at Active Life in Los Angeles, sits down with Leigh Davis, MSPO, CPO, LPO, FAAOP(D), from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, to explore the vital role of mentorship in the O&P profession. Together, they discuss how persistence, goal setting, and consistent communication can build meaningful and impactful men...

In this episode, Anna Cook, an orthotic and prosthetic resident at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul, Minnesota, takes on hosting duties. She’s joined by Steve Fletcher, CPO, Director of Professional Credentialing for the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics, Inc., to discuss ABC's move to require dual certification for future practitioners...

In this episode, Cassandra Delgado, CPO, an early career orthotist-prosthetist and Clinical Director at Prosthetic & Orthotic Associates in Middletown, NY, takes on hosting duties. She’s joined by Maggie Baumer, Leader of Enterprise Patient Advocacy at Hanger Clinic, and Dr. Chad Duncan, Orthotics and Prosthetics Program Director at Drexel University, for an engaging discussion on building a p...

In this episode, we continue the conversation with Kaleigh Neely, CPO of the P&O Group, and Abbey Senczyszyn, CPO of Bremer Prosthetic Design, joined by Nate Kapa, CP and president of Bremer Prosthetic Design. Together, they explore the challenges O&P residents face and the support systems that are crucial to their success. Highlighting the residency period as a vital investment in both fu...

In this episode, we continue the conversation between Kaleigh Neely, CPO, a certified orthotist-prosthetist at Geauga Rehabilitation Engineering and Abbey Senczyszyn, a certified orthotist prosthetist at Bremer Prosthetic Design. They discuss financial challenges faced by rising orthotists and prosthetists. The conversation emphasized the importance of advocating for better compensation and suppor...

In this episode, we hand over the hosting duties to Sophia Marinucci, MS, MSOP, an orthotics resident at Yanke Bionics. Sophia sits down with Kristin Carnahan CPO, FAAOP, and DeAnna Chapman, CPO, FAAOP, to discuss managing expectations in the O&P profession. They explore the importance of effective communication, setting realistic expectations, and maintaining strong professional relationships...

In this episode, we hand over the hosting duties to Kaleigh Neely, CPO, a certified orthotist-prosthetist at Geauga Rehabilitation Engineering. Kaleigh sits down with Abbey Senczyszyn, a certified orthotist prosthetist at Bremer Prosthetic Design, to discuss managing finances as rising professionals in the O&P field. They explore the financial challenges of pursuing a master's degree and resid...

In this episode, we hand over the hosting duties to Trey Cimorelli, an orthotist prosthetist at Next Step Bionics and Prosthetics. Trey sits down with Nathan Kapa, CPO, president of Bremer Prosthetic Design and vice president of the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics.  They dive into the world of state and federal advocacy, discussing how unified efforts can lead...