Stand on Their Shoulders: Advice From O&P Graduates to Those Who Follow

For students who are considering enrollment in a master’s degree O&P program, the road ahead can seem daunting. There are so many unknowns that they may not even know what questions to ask. But like so many things in life, the best people to provide guidance are the ones who have been there, done that. To help pave the way for the future O&P clinicians starting on their journey, we asked second-year O&P students, graduates, residents, and new clinicians to share their experiences, advice, and what they wish they had known starting out. Their advice offers a glimpse into the perspective of this generation of practitioners.

Sydney Haynes, MSPO Orthotic resident California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) Class of 2021 The two pieces of advice that I would offer to incoming O&P masters’ students would be one, take full advantage of every opportunity presented to you in school, and two, make and keep as many connections in the O&P world as you can. At CSUDH, we had the opportunity to do various specialty projects. These were usually based around devices that you would not see very often in the O&P field. I made sure to take advantage of these and learn as much as I could. Thankfully this has paid off in my residency. For example, my company was contacted by a National Basketball Association (NBA) team who needed protective face masks made for players who had broken their noses but were continuing to play. Luckily, we covered protective facemasks in one of our specialty units in school, so I was asked by my company to take on this project. As a resident, I can say that I am successfully putting my skills to work for the NBA. On top of that, making connections in the O&P world is just as important. I highly recommend keeping in close contact with your fellow classmates, as well as any practitioners you have met. This has been crucial for me in my orthotics residency because there are cases that I have come across that leave me stumped. Being able to reach out to my fellow classmates for input has been very helpful. Also, keeping in touch with the previous professors, as well as practitioners who I had shadowed while in school, has been equally as helpful because they are able to share their vast amount of knowledge as well. Ryan Chidester, MSPO Prosthetic resident, board-eligible orthotist Alabama State University Class of 2020 Manage your stress and find your voice. Attending a graduate program is going to be stressful—whether it be finances, moving to a new area, handling the workload given to you, maintaining relationships inside and outside of school, or time management. You must be able to control it all. There will be days that will push you to a breaking point, but those times will further shape who you are professionally. This is your time to take advantage of what your professors and mentors teach you. This is the time you can teach and learn from your peers to help mold you into becoming the resident and future clinician that will ultimately change the lives of others. Schooling gives you the tools to become the professional you want to be. As a student you will make mistakes, and that is okay if you can learn from those mistakes. Find your voice by asking questions and responding to the questions being asked. Gaining confidence in your craft takes time and effort, so give it your full attention when you can. To maintain a lifestyle outside of school, you must be strict with time management, but make time for what you love and share that with your family and friends. Lastly, don’t be afraid to network with peers in the industry. Get your name out there so you can get the best opportunities for residency. Jace Briggs Second-year MSOP student Eastern Michigan University Class of 2022 I am just starting my last semester of O&P school and have already secured a residency position. Here are some things I had wish someone had told me as I was entering O&P school. Make your clinical shadowing hours before and during O&P school count—it will help prepare you for school and to be an excellent practitioner. Be an active thinker during all shadowing hours. Try to put yourself into the shoes of the practitioner you shadow for each appointment. Ask if you are able to get some medical history on the patient before you go into an appointment to be prepared. In appointments, you should try to think about questions you would ask the patient, tests or evaluations you would run, and treatment options based on what you see. Once you see what the practitioner is doing, think about what clinical judgement has led to the decisions they are making and if it lines up with what you thought. This should lead you to have second- or third-level questions ready to ask the practitioner about the patient case. Start your residency hunt early and put yourself out there. Find locations you are interested in and contact O&P companies in those areas as soon as you can. Companies will remember the students who were reaching out early and were ahead of the game. Also, do not be afraid to call companies as it allows you to stand out. You can also put yourself out there by creating a LinkedIn profile to market yourself. Kathleen Carroll, MS, MSPO, CPO, FAAOP Clinician Hartford University Class of 2016 What I wish I knew prior to starting residency: I think it’s safe to say that most of us leave our education programs eager to begin a career that will help others. We are excited to step away from the safety net of school and really make a difference. What I was not prepared for is the weight of the responsibility that comes with such an opportunity. Outside of the classroom, mistakes mean more than a lower grade; they have a direct impact on patient care. And unfortunately, as a resident, you are bound to make mistakes. Additionally, we are often working with individuals who are journeying through some of the biggest challenges of their lives. This combination can lead to some truly emotionally charged situations. We can go into each day with the absolute best of intentions and not end up with the happy clients we had hoped for. But don’t despair! With time, experience, and surrounding yourself with great mentors, you’ll learn strategies to minimize mistakes and to navigate difficult situations. Honesty, integrity, and showing up each day to provide the best patient care you can goes a long way. Cristalei Polk, MSPO, CO/L Certified orthotist, prosthetic resident University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Class of 2019 I would encourage a student of O&P to enter the field with the plan to maintain the desire to learn. One of the most impactful ways to learn is to seek knowledge through mentorship. For me, mentorship is having someone ahead of you, with you, and behind you. The interactions as both a mentor and mentee look something like an open line of communication and the opportunity to share and set specific, attainable goals. Many schools encourage mentorship amongst the first- and second-year students to help ease the transition into graduate school. The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists’ Mentoring Program is another mentorship resource where students can interact and develop relationships with professionals in the field. Both mentorship opportunities have allowed me to grow individually and professionally. Using these mentorship opportunities is an invaluable way to improve communication skills, ask questions, and learn something new. But mentorship is not always an organized program, as it often begins with just asking. So do not be afraid to ask—seek out knowledge through engaging with others in our field. Bryce Dahl, MSPO Orthotic resident International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics Class of 2021 My graduate experience was one that was enriched with plenty of clinical demonstrations and patient model practice. Everything down to the basic hand skills I learned in school has given me all the confidence I need to be a great practitioner-in-training. Working in a children’s hospital for residency definitely has exposed my time-management capabilities. Working in a hospital setting each day has taught me how to focus on one task at a time and how to adjust or switch gears throughout the day to accommodate for each special pediatric patient presentation. Managing my time in school was challenging, however I do not feel like I prepared myself enough for the skills I needed when I started residency. In school, teachers and patient models exercise much patience of their own for students to learn and gain confidence in a clinical setting; however, when it’s time to start a residency, often it seems the job demands a higher discipline of time management from that student. Hand skills, anatomy understanding, and diagnostic intelligence are all important for students to learn while in school; however, every great practitioner has to maintain higher levels of time management to continue great practice. More time-sensitive styles of learning in student labs and classrooms could give students the early exposure to real stress that will make the transition into residency much smoother. Regan Hoelscher, MSPO, CPO Clinician Baylor College of Medicine Class of 2019 Before beginning my studies at Baylor College of Medicine, I had no idea how much I would learn about not only O&P, but communication techniques, compassion for others, and the importance of developing lasting relationships. One of the most important things I wish I would have known coming into the field is that O&P is a small field. Most clinicians have worked with or know of at least one other clinician in their area who now works for a competitor. Many clinicians have contacts across the country that they have developed over years of practice. Maintaining a reputation of hard work and dedication can go a long way in the job search and future endeavors. O&P is not always the newsworthy, flashy prosthetic patient that draws the attention of others. It is often challenging, problem-solving tasks, tears of frustration coupled with tears of joy in accomplishing goals, and work put in that is not appreciated outside the profession. It is a beautifully complicated occupation that requires patience and creativity. Don’t become discouraged if you face challenges; they are part of the learning process. Lastly, I would recommend to new students to be as involved as possible during the didactic portion of school and residency. Volunteer for local groups that work with amputees or people with disabilities. Attend the national conferences and begin building your own network. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and sign up to give a presentation or teach a class to a local school. Being successful in the field of O&P is quite an accomplishment. Being happy in your work is the ultimate goal. Find what fits you, where fits you, and run with it. Raul Ramos, MSPO Combined orthotic and prosthetic resident Alabama State University Class of 2021 An important aspect that often gets overlooked when finding a residency is identifying your ideal learning style and environment. I still remember the mixed excitement and anxiety that came with applying, interviewing, and attempting to find the “perfect” residency. I quickly realized that the geographic location or name behind the company played a very minor role in helping me reach the common goal we all share—of one day obtaining our certification. A tip more useful than a 4mm Allen wrench is to critically self-reflect and identify the following: How do I want to be mentored? Do I want to learn through observation, or would I like an environment that allows me to be hands-on? and What kind of CPO do I want to become? I encourage you to ask your potential mentor or residency site to elaborate on how they structure their residency program and what they expect from incoming residents. I am someone that really does not learn well from observation; I learn best when I am able to directly interact with patients or with the technical work. When I interviewed for my residency position, I asked my mentor if they would be able to provide a residency experience that would allow me to equally participate in both patient care and technical work. I have truly enjoyed the past six months of residency and am looking forward to the next 12 months. Remember that obtaining your residency is a huge milestone, but it is only the beginning of a journey that will challenge you academically, emotionally, and mentally. If you ever start to doubt yourself, take a deep breath and simply remind yourself why you embarked on this journey. Glen Thompson, MSPO, CPO Clinician Baylor College of Medicine Class of 2019 Graduate school, especially the didactic curriculum, was often a struggle. There were many days where the failures outweighed the successes. While these times were challenging, they taught me a lot about myself and who I was to become as a clinician. One of my first pieces of advice would be to establish a network of relationships with fellow colleagues, manufacturers, and other healthcare professionals during both your didactic and residency curriculums. The field of O&P is small. Connecting with as many people as possible will provide you with valuable relationships when it comes to job hunting, clinical troubleshooting, and overall peer mentorship. I would encourage you to be involved with professional organizations and attend national meetings when possible. These entities will really give you the chance to grow your network. Second, I would encourage you to focus on progression and not perfection while in school and in residency. If you’re anything like me, you want to be the best at what you do, and that can be challenging when just starting in this field. There are so many ways of doing things, and the best outcomes are often generated with endless amounts of practice and refinement of methods that you can consistently replicate. I am a firm believer in the 10,000-hour rule, so I think it is important to consider growth over results and always view mistakes as learning opportunities. Perspective is everything and maintaining the right attitude will go a long way as you embark on your new professional journey. Alexander Miller, MSPO Combined orthotic and prosthetic resident International Institute of Orthotics and Prosthetics Class of 2021 I loved my time in the master’s O&P program and was happy to find success. I learned my most important lesson from my first professor, Dr. Alicea Orbea. When it came to our first exam, I did not achieve the grade I thought I had worked for. After talking with Dr. Orbea about the subject, she asked about my studies outside of the classroom and how I structured my self-teaching. I told her honestly that I started studying about a week before the exam and was focused on the areas I thought would be on the test. That is when she told me that I should not be focusing on what the exam will ask, but I should be digesting everything I hear in class. I was in graduate school for my future career, something I really care about, so why would I not strive to learn as much as possible for all our material? After this meeting, I shifted my focus and attempted to comprehend every subject we talked about for each lesson, then went over my notes every day after class, even if it was brief. When it was time for our exam, my goal was to not just pass the exam or do well, my goal was to receive a 100 percent. By the end of the semester, I had two exams with perfect scores, something I was very proud of. For the following semesters, I carried out the same mentality and found myself with a 4.0 in the program. I was very happy with this outcome, not because it looks good on a resumé, but because I felt more prepared for my board exams. So far, I have passed the combined written O&P exam on my first attempt, and I truly credit this to the way that I have changed my focus when studying. So, my advice for new students is to try and learn every little thing you talk about in school, try to understand all of it. This will make you a great student, and eventually a great practitioner. Scott Pittman, MSPO, CO Certified orthotist, prosthetic resident Alabama State University Class of 2020 After I was well into the first semester of O&P school, I began to notice a trend. Most people working in O&P discovered their interest in the field long after the time when society deems it necessary to choose a life path. Like me, many even change careers completely after learning of O&P. In this case, preparedness can feel minimal. There are some key lessons of my experience that I want to share with those who are starting school or residency. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Residency is a unique phase of training intended to help you grow, and growth can sometimes be uncomfortable. This is when you will perform many tasks for the first time, and success rarely happens on the first try. Making mistakes will be a certainty. The key here is to take note of what went wrong in your process and adjust it so that you’re more equipped the next time. Sometimes this means admitting to yourself that you need to prepare more. Do not underestimate the power of preparation. If you know that you will be seeing a patient the next day for an assessment to manage his or her prosthetic needs, you need to start with preparation. Study the chart and history of your patient. Identify the parts of the patient’s current device and study the things which are unfamiliar. This will establish a method to investigate areas where you can focus your learning. Another effective way to ensure improvement is to seek out opportunity to practice. The best way to practice is with repetitions. Say yes to seeing any and every patient that you have time for. If you have seen ten patients for an AFO casting in the past week, you can still learn more from another one. As you gain independence, you will start seeing patients without your mentor there to cue your next move. Again, mistakes will happen, and you might forget to ask an important question or forget to measure a value. Be candid with your mentor about your mistake. Never lie about information for fear of being perceived as incompetent. Good mentors foster open communication for these very times when you make a mistake. Thank them for helping you and move on to the next task. This approach builds your mentor’s trust in you, and eventually your patient’s trust. Remember: Give yourself some grace when you make mistakes, work daily to improve your skills, soak in the knowledge of those who teach you, and have fun. The O&P EDGE would like to thank all those who contributed their advice for incoming O&P students. For more information on approved O&P educational programs, visit the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education website at ncope.org. Editor’s note: An invitation to participate in this article was sent to all NCOPE-accredited master’s programs.

Stand on Their Shoulders: Advice From O&P Graduates to Those Who Follow

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Editor’s Message–March 2022

Hanger Reports Year-end, 4Q Financial Results

Hanger Reports Year-end, 4Q Financial Results

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