Learn more about the lower-limb orthoses offered by Boston Orthotics & Prosthetics, including profiles of the clinicians that fabricate and fit our lower limb orthoses, the conditions that can benefit from treatment with lower limb orthoses, and patients that are achieving their dreams through the use of orthotic devices.
Todd Kirwan joined Boston Orthotics & Prosthetics in 2018, and calls orthotics and prosthetics a rewarding field that is a “great mix of art and science.” In this Q&A, Todd discusses how he chose the field of orthotics and prosthetics, why he particularly likes working with kids, and his biggest professional goal.
Amy Carbungco’s 7-year-old daughter, Tessa, was born with myelomeningocele spina bifida. She has no feeling from the ankle down and has been wearing braces on her legs since she was a baby.
Gavin Wells sidles up to his sister on the couch, “Oh, baby sister, so cute. Hold hands.” He loves to cuddle with her, says his mom Brigid, “But then, if you put her in his lap, he says, ‘So big.’”
At 27-inches tall and just under 20 pounds, 3-year-old Gavin is almost the same size as his 7-month-old sister Ananda.
David Benedict, CTPO, is a technician in the Peabody, Mass., clinic. He fabricates braces, from pouring to modifying all the way to finishing and strapping, so practitioners have the quickest and most efficient fits possible. He's always available to drop what he's doing to assist with fits and adjustments when needed.
Kasey Zaleski has a bright future ahead of her. This finish technician, who has been with Boston O&P for the past year, would love to one day become a prosthetist/orthotist. For now, though, she's focused on supporting the fabrication team in any way she can.
Kaden has spina bifida, and needs an AFO on one leg and a KAFO on the other in order to walk and stand. Kaden and her mom have been dealing with different orthotists and various devices since birth, but never found one that did more than the bare minimum. Then they found Craig Edmunds, a certified orthotist and the clinical director of the Pittsburgh region for of Boston O&P, and that changed everything. This is Kaden's story, as told by her mom.
Gary Mathis joined Boston Orthotics & Prosthetics as a technician in June 2017. He specializes in fabricating, altering, and repairing braces and orthotics, and has also performed repairs and made some adjustments on prostheses.
Gary obviously loves what he does...he's been in the O&P profession for 35+ years and works in our Cleveland (Westlake) office.
The first time Michael O’Hearn won an alpine skiing medal he slept with it for months. Peculiar? Maybe. But by all accounts, the freckle-faced 16-year-old shouldn’t be standing on a mountain, let alone skiing down one.
Born with a rare…