The United States National Member Society of the International Society for Prosthetics & Orthotics (US ISPO) successfully completed two service-learning trips in 2024. Under direct supervision from experienced mentors, the service-learning trips provided valuable educational and clinical experience to four O&P students/residents selected through a streamlined application process conducted by US ISPO.

The first trip, to Crimal Clinic in Queretaro, Mexico, in association with Hughes International Clinics, took place August 24-31, 2024. O&P clinicians Jon Batzdorff, CPO; Josh McNeill, CP; Aarti Deshpande, CPO; and technician Mike Rice, led by Jim Hughes, CP, served as mentors for O&P residents Gillian Munro, Bianca Hill, and Kristen Wan, CO.
Every clinician mentor had the opportunity to work with patients with different levels of amputations and prosthetic components. Along with the local rehabilitation team members, the mentors and residents were able to formulate treatment plans for the patients, overcome fitting challenges, and achieve optimum outcomes for 24 patients. The residents got hands-on experience with patient casting, modification, fitting, alignment, and troubleshooting. Helping to provide prosthetic devices that enhance patient’s abilities to be active members in the community was meaningful and motivating for all volunteers.
The second trip was a weeklong service-learning trip to Ortopedia Centro Bionico in Guatemala City, Guatemala, that took place in September 2024, under the able guidance of Eddy Fuentes, CPO, a US ISPO board member, who welcomed and mentored residents Lauren Smith and Audra Koopman.
During the week, they were able to see a variety of patients for transtibial and transfemoral prostheses, partial hand devices, orthoses, and spinal bracing.
“I really enjoyed the different types of patients we saw and how they all felt comfortable to communicate with us and allow us to help them find solutions,” Koopman says.
The residents were able to see O&P patient care in a new cultural and environmental setting.
Smith says, “I really enjoyed learning about the diverse patient population and the beautiful culture of Guatemala.”
Join us at the 51st Annual Academy meeting in Atlanta on Thursday, February 27, for our organized session, “Ethical Considerations in Global Orthotics & Prosthetics.”
Aarti Deshpande, CPO, FAAOP, and Corin Shirley, CPO, are US ISPO board members. They can be contacted at [email protected] and [email protected].