The O&P Foundation’s Microgrant Program awards one-year grants of $2,000 to support clinically relevant activities and projects.
These microgrants aim to empower health professionals, researchers, students, and residents to pursue projects and activities that may contribute to clinical care in O&P. The grants are awarded based on the scholarly merit and clinical relevance of the proposed activity/project. The Microgrant program awards biannually, once in the Spring and once in the Fall.
Nicole Walker MS, CPO, Microgrants Program Manager shares –– “The Microgrants team was pleased to receive so many thorough and high-quality applications this cycle. Applications covered a range of topics, from measurement and clinical implementation of orthotics and prosthetics treatment strategies to education and professional development looking toward the future of O&P care. We were especially excited to receive applications from individuals in various stages of their O&P careers, as a primary goal of the Microgrants Program is to support meaningful work for O&P professionals across the span of their career. The Microgrants team would like to express a special thanks to our peer reviewers for their dedication and thoughtful reviews, and for members of The O&P Foundation who supported the success of the Fall 2025 Microgrants cycle”
Amanda Kemper is a Certified Prosthetist and current Orthotics Resident at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago who completed her prosthetics residency at the University of Michigan. She earned her Master of Prosthetics and Orthotics from Northwestern University, along with graduate coursework in clinical investigation that strengthened her foundation in study curation and driving evidence-based practice.
Amanda is passionate about clinical research and is looking forward to contributing to clinical outcomes research in Orthotics and Prosthetics. Amanda was awarded the 2024 ABC Orthotist and Prosthetist Scholarship, and she is grateful to the O&P Foundation for supporting her continued growth as an early career clinician–researcher and for advancing research that improves patient outcomes across O&P.
Age of Initial Treatment of Pectus Carniatum on Treatment Duration
“The continued growth of evidence-based practice in our profession relies on steady, collaborative contributions, and this award enables us to add meaningful findings to that collective effort. I am especially appreciative of the mentors and researchers who have guided my development and fostered my commitment to thoughtful, patient-centered inquiry. Their example has shaped the way I approach research, and this grant offers an invaluable opportunity to continue that work and contribute to improved clinical decision-making and patient outcomes as a new clinician entering the field.“
Brittany Moores CPO, is a PhD 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.
Understanding Clinical Phrases from Patient and Prosthetist Perspectives
“I am thrilled to receive the 2025 Microgrant from the O&P Foundation. This funding will support my study which examines how medical jargon may create communication barriers between prosthetists and patients. By identifying these gaps, I hope to contribute to more effective, patient-centered communication practices in O&P care.”
