The Orthotics and Prosthetics Foundation for Education and Research (The O&P Foundation) named the recipients of its 2025 Doctoral Training Awards.
Certified orthotists, prosthetists, and pedorthists who pursue doctoral training often step away from direct clinical practice and face unique challenges in maintaining professional engagement and credentials. These awards provide up to $1,000 to support up to ten ABC-certified CPOs, CPs, COs, or CPeds currently enrolled in a doctoral program, helping them remain connected to the profession while building the future of OP&P research and care.
The winners are:
Emily Dinelli is a doctoral candidate in health services and outcomes research within the Health Sciences Integrated Program at Northwestern University. She conducts research with the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Her work focuses on improving employment outcomes for people with physical disabilities and examining social determinants of health among individuals living with lower-limb amputations.
Myrriah Laine Dyreson completed her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering at the University of Minnesota and her master’s degree in O&P at Concordia University, St. Paul. She is a doctoral candidate in the rehabilitation science program at the University of Minnesota and a research prosthetist/orthotist at the Minneapolis VA within the Rehabilitation & Engineering Center for Optimizing Veteran Engagement & Reintegration. Her dissertation work focuses on improving understanding of social participation and modifiable barriers to reintegration following the provision of a lower-limb prosthesis.
Brittany Moores, CPO, is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences at Northeastern University. Her research integrates clinical biomechanics, preference, prescription, and communication to better understand the relationship between prosthetists and their patients to improve prosthetist satisfaction, patient outcomes, and clinic efficiency.
Kristin Perrin, MPO, CPO, completed her Bachelor of Science in biological engineering at the University of Arkansas and her master’s in O&P at Northwestern University. She is currently a doctoral candidate in movement science at the University of Michigan and works as a part-time prosthetist/orthotist. Her dissertation research examines factors influencing the successful daily use of lower-limb prostheses, specifically the combined effects of neuromuscular factors and socket type on functional mobility.
Claire Vallery, CPO, is with Dankmeyer O&P, Maryland. She is a doctoral student in biomechanics and movement science at the University of Delaware. She is a member of the Delaware Limb Loss Studies Lab, where her research focuses on improving health outcomes after limb loss.
