“The patient’s success is always the ultimate goal” says Stokosa, shown with AK amputee Craig Harris.

For nearly five decades Jan J. Stokosa, CP, has been touching people’s lives with his work in prosthetics. A life of hard work, commitment, and a desire to help others has provided much joy for him, the people he works with, and many amputees and their families.

His career got an early start at age seven, when he began sweeping floors-prosthetic sockets were carved of wood then-at his practitioner father’s office. He learned fabrication procedures,
assisting his father during his adolescent and teen years. “I was about 10 or 11 when my father began schooling me in anatomy and
physiology, testing me on the skeletal, muscular, and nervous
systems after dinner,” he recalls. By age 14, he was shadowing his
father, assisting with patients who were willing to be “guinea
pigs” for the aspiring assistant.

In 1967, Stokosa graduated from the first class of a pilot
prosthetics program at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
He now practices in Okemos, Michigan, seeing patients from all over
the world and specializing in amputees who cannot get comfortable
wearing their prosthesis. His patients have ranged from six months
to 94 years.

Knowledge Key to Practitioner Success

“Success is much more than just being a good technician,” he
asserts. “To be successful as an independent practitioner today,
you need a thorough understanding of human anatomy, physiology, and
biomechanics. This includes being knowledgeable in materials
technology and being able to design the structure of the prosthesis
to meet the particular needs of the patient.”

Career Highlights

Stokosa’s dedication to his patients was showcased in the book
Whole Again by William G. Barr and Lee Whipple. His accomplishments
have been profiled in numerous newspaper and magazine articles, as
well as on many television and radio stations throughout the
country. But, “The patient’s success is always the ultimate goal,”
Stokosa maintains.

Stokosa has taught and lectured at the University of Michigan,
Michigan State University, University of California Los Angeles
(UCLA), Northwestern University, and others. He is a member of the
American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP) and has
received the Academy’s Distinguished Practitioner Award. He is a
board member of the National Association for the Advancement of
Orthotics & Prosthetics (NAAOP) and vice president of the
Michigan Orthotic & Prosthetic Association. He also received
the 1982 Outstanding Young Michigander award.

Working with Distributors…

Stokosa also believes today’s practitioner must be a good
businessman. To Stokosa that means finding and working with
dependable suppliers, such as O & P distributor PEL Supply
Company of Cleveland, Ohio-another family-owned independent
business.

Stokosa’s relationship with PEL Supply began in 1961 and
continues to this day. “PEL touches the patients indirectly,” he
says. “We’re always looking for the highest quality and durability
in products, with delivery ASAP, and PEL consistently provides
this.”

He notes that recently some manufacturers have moved away from
distributors, selling direct instead. But he prefers to stick with
buying through his distributor of choice. “They know who we are,”
Stokosa says, “and they don’t make their recommendations lightly.”
For example, when a liner manufacturer recently dropped
distributors to sell direct, Stokosa says his PEL representatives
recommended comparable quality products and more. “They provided
training, conversion charts,

literature, and special pricing on alternative products. “Thanks
to PEL, we’re now using the Ohio Willow Wood Alpha Liner, and we’re
very successful with it,” Stokosa says.

In fact, Stokosa wholeheartedly recommends the benefits of
buying through a distributor for prosthetists starting a new
practice. “They provide more than just materials, components, and
equipment; they also provide good advice.” He and his staff use
this distributor connection to stay informed about new products and
industry trends. “A distributor’s customer service reps usually
have firsthand knowledge of the industry and what’s happening
before it comes down to the practitioner level,” Stokosa says.