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.
The O&P Foundation is thrilled to announce the Spring 2025 Microgrant recipients.
Jennifer Richards, MA, CPO, is a certified prosthetist orthotist with a master’s degree in education. She’s been in the field of O&P for over 20 years. She’s practiced in both private practices and at large institutions in five different states. She’s taught Orthotics students at Northwestern University and DPT students at the University of Maryland and the University of Wisconsin and she currently teaches a Clinical Gait Analysis course in the Kinesiology Department at the University of Michigan. She’s been doing clinical outcomes research for five years and has published her work in both the Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics and in Prosthetics Orthotics International. She was awarded the Howard R. Thranhardt Lecture Award in March of 2024 for her clinical outcomes research on cranial remolded orthosis treatment.
Treatment Outcomes Following Orthotic Interventions for Pectus Carniatum
“We are grateful to accept this grant in support of our pectus carinatum research. The funding will be used to purchase adherence monitors, allowing us to better understand treatment adherence and improve patient outcomes.”
Christopher Hovorka PhD, MS, CPO, FAAOP is an Assistant Professor in Baylor College of Medicine’s Orthotics and Prosthetics Program. In his role, he is evaluating the use of simulation-based training to enhance learners’ clinical skills in lower limb orthotics and prosthetics. He also teaches courses in lower limb orthotic management, health research methods, pathophysiology, ethics and practice management. Over his career, he held multiple teaching and research faculty positions at institutions such as the Center for the Intrepid / Brooke Army Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech and Emory University School of Medicine, to name a few. In roles as PI, co-PI and consultant he was awarded over 30 grants from agencies such as the Department of Defense, National Institute of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Education and the O&P Foundation for Education and Research. Outside of work, he enjoys adventure travel, trekking, cycling and visiting family in the Southwestern U.S.
Effectiveness of a Novel Amputated Limb Simulator for Teaching Clinical Skills in Prosthetics
“The Orthotics and Prosthetics profession is undergoing rapid evolution from a device-centric to client-centric framework as it continues to align with national healthcare priorities. But this has a cost, and support for research and education is needed to continue our profession’s journey to clarify our value with rigorous evidence. Hence, I am grateful to the O&P Foundation for taking the lead in providing much needed funding to support advancement in these areas.”
