Over the past two months, I have had the privilege of volunteering at three different events! From football to foot screenings, each experience has strengthened my passion for this field. Through volunteering, I’ve gained valuable interpersonal and clinical skills while giving back to the community and profession I hope to serve one day.

The first event was with Move United Wheelchair Football. I spent the morning watching intense football games and getting to know players from all over the country. Volunteers had a variety of tasks, and I was lucky enough to be assigned as a statistics tracker—front row for all the action! The athletes were competing to improve their national rankings, with hopes of qualifying for the annual Wheelchair Football Championship, or “Super Bowl.”

The second event was held in coordination with the Special Olympics West Coast Regional Fall Classic. Fit Feet, a program through the Healthy Athletes organization, provides free foot screenings, professional podiatry evaluations, and complimentary insoles and measurements. Throughout the day, I used Brannock Devices to take accurate foot measurements and distributed free insoles, educational pamphlets, creams, and powders. We were able to screen over 200 athletes in a single afternoon!

The third and final event I attended was with Hanger Clinic at Dick’s House of Sport for a community field day. Over 100 athletes of all ages and abilities registered to participate in a range of activities. I volunteered at the ball hockey station with the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation staff, and I had an amazing time spending the afternoon outdoors playing ball hockey!

I am so grateful for these volunteer experiences. The meaningful connections I’ve made with attendees and fellow volunteers are just a small part of why I love spending my weekends serving the community!

This past week, I had the privilege of attending the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) National Assembly. Although I am very new to the field (3 weeks exactly!) I wanted to take this chance to fully immerse myself and network as much as possible. I was able to meet practitioners, department heads, NCOPE and ABC representatives, researchers, and amputees who are all passionate about advancing the field of orthotics and prosthetics

I learned so much about the latest technologies, patient-centered approaches, and the future direction of the profession. I was also able to attend various presentations that were incredibly informative and only furthered my excitement about pursuing a career in orthotics and prosthetics.

One highlight of the conference was meeting Dr. Toyokazu Takeuchi. I had previously come across a research article published by ALPS, a major US liner, sleeve, and suspension company. His article, ALPS PROSTRIDE PROSTHETIC KNEE COMPARATIVE STUDY compared the ProStride® microprocessor-controlled knee to a conventional mechanical knee in a long-term prosthetic user, ultimately highlighting the clinical importance of microprocessor knees in enhancing patient mobility and quality of life. Dr. Takeuchi is among the few doing vital research needed to the further the field of O&P. It was an honor to meet and get to speak with Dr. Takeuchi.

I am grateful for the conversations, mentorship, and insights I gained — and I look forward to applying this knowledge as I continue on my professional journey!

Various sockets, foot attachments, femoral extensions, knee joints, and synthetic components from the conference