Deepening Professional Understanding through Volunteerism

Four of my classmates from Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center (NUPOC), Chicago, Illinois, and I recently volunteered at Advanced O&P Solutions, Hickory Hills, Illinois, with the Range of Motion Project (ROMP). We sorted, cataloged, and packaged approximately 900 donated O&P components for shipment to the ROMP clinic in Guatemala. ROMP aims to provide high-quality O&P care to those who need it, regardless of their socioeconomic situation, and to do so in a way that communities can sustain the effort without external aid. A mere five hours of our time, combined with our desire to enable patient care abroad, has made ROMP’s vision that much closer to reality. (Author’s note: For more information about ROMP, visit www.rompglobal.org)