I entered the O&P profession more than two decades ago. At that time, nearly every device in the lab was fabricated through hands-on plaster work or traditional metal and plastic fabrication techniques. The workflow was almost entirely manual, and the lab environment revolved around plaster casts, positive molds, and technician-driven modification.
My entry into the field was not glamorous. Like many people who find their way into O&P, I started doing the basic work that keeps a laboratory running. After school, I spent a few hours each day emptying trash bins in the lab, pouring plaster molds, breaking apart casts, and helping wherever I could. It was typical grunt work, but it provided an early introduction to the fabrication side of the profession.
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