The O&P Foundation recognizes and values the impact made by current and future clinician researchers on clinical practice and patient outcomes. Certified Orthotists and Prosthetists who choose to pursue a PhD, often no longer employed in clinical practice, frequently experience financial hardship in managing the expenses associated with professional engagement and maintaining of clinical credentials.
The O&P Foundation offers up to $1000 for up to (10) ABC certified CPOs, CPs, or COs actively pursuing a PhD. These funds serve to offset expenses associated with attending O&P conferences, maintaining professional memberships, and receiving CEUs.
Emily Dinelli
Emily Dinelli holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from West Texas A&M University and a Master’s in P&O from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She completed her prosthetics residency at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and conducted research at the Center for Bionic Medicine on the impact of prosthetic mass on energy expenditure for those with above-knee amputations. She completed her orthotics residency at HangerClinic and contributing to outcomes research with the Hanger Institute for Clinical Research & Education. She is a PhD candidate in the Health Sciences Integrated Program at Northwestern University and conducts research at Shirley RyanAbilityLab’s Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research. Her dissertation focuses on the social needs of Black individuals living with dysvascular amputation. Emily works part-time as a CPO for Hanger Clinic in Chicago, IL.
Myrriah Laine Dyreson
Myrriah Laine Dyreson is a third-year PhD student in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Minnesota and advised by Drs. Sara Koehler-McNicholas and Andrew Hansen. She is also a Research Prosthetist Orthotist in the Rehabilitation and Engineering Center for Optimizing Veteran Engagement and Reintegration (RECOVER) Program at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Her research interests involve enhancing engagement in important life roles and activities in lower-limb prosthesis users through evaluation of ecologically valid outcomes. Her dissertation work focuses on using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate the real-world user experience of different prosthetic feet with an emphasis on understanding how the feet impact the ability to participate, and satisfaction with participation in social roles and activities.
Kierra Falbo
Kierra Falbo completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Master’s degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics at Northwestern University. Kierra is currently a Research Prosthetist Orthotist with the Rehabilitation & Engineering Center for Optimizing Veteran Engagement & Reintegration (RECOVER) at the Minneapolis VA and a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota. Her dissertation work focuses on the systematic assessment of phantom limb pain after amputation to inform personalized treatment recommendations.
Brittany Moores
Brittany Moores is a Certified Prosthetist Orthotist and PhD Candidate in the Human Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences program at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Her current research is focused on clinical biomechanics, preference, and education with the goal of better understanding the relationship between patients and Certified Prosthetists. Brittany received her Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics from the University of Hartford. She completed her orthotics residency at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab and her prosthetics residency at a private clinic located in Alaska. She practiced clinically in Washington State and Alaska prior to moving to Boston.
Alyssa Petz
Alyssa Petz is a Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist and Mastectomy Fitter at the Orlando VA. She received her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University. She then went on to complete her Masters in Prosthetics and Orthotics at Northwestern University. She completed an orthotics residency at the University of Michigan Orthotics and Prosthetics Center and a prosthetic residency at the Orlando VA where she now continues to work as a clinician. Alyssa is pursuing a Doctor of Health Science through the University of the Pacific. She is in the education track where she hopes to be able to merge the worlds of education and healthcare with the goal of improving resident and clinical education. Alyssa hopes this recognition can inspire others to pursue their passions and make a meaningful difference.
Ciera A. Price
Ciera A. Price is a Research Prosthetist Orthotist at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine. She holds a B.S. in biology from Duke University and an M.S. in health science from California State University – Dominguez Hills. She is a first-year Translational Science PhD student at the University of Texas at Austin and a full-time research clinician at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center. Her research priorities include health policy, residual limb health, and exoskeleton development. Professionally, Ms. Price serves on several committees within the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP) and volunteers clinical care throughout Central and South America.
Rachael Rosen
Rachael Rosen is a PhD candidate in the Rehabilitation Science program at the University of Washington’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. Her clinical experience has directly informed her research, which focuses on evaluating health and mobility outcomes related to prosthetic and orthotic interventions. Rachael’s work also explores how big data and machine learning can be leveraged to improve health equity, reduce disparities, and address social determinants of health for individuals who have had, or are at risk for, amputation. Rachael has contributed to research teams developing and validating innovative outcome measures for lower limb prosthesis users. Recently, she joined the University of Washington’s ASPIRe (Advancing Health Services & Policy In Rehabilitation) lab, where her current work examines post-acute care outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries following lower limb amputation, with a focus on identifying disparities and predictors of hospital readmission.
Samantha Stauffer
Samantha Stauffer is a Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist working with Independence Prosthetics-Orthotics, Inc. As their Director of Research, she manages collaborations with university researchers and industry. She is a PhD Candidate at the University of Delaware in the Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, where her work with the Delaware Limb Loss Studies Lab focuses on understanding physiologic adaptations to amputation and improvement of post-amputation rehabilitation. She has presented her research findings nationally, and was recently awarded the 2025 Thranhardt Lecture Award.
Nicole Walker
Nicole Walker is a Research Prosthetist Orthotist in the Rehabilitation and Engineering Center for Optimizing Veteran Engagement and Reintegration (RECOVER) Program and a Grants Management Specialist at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. She is also a fifth year PhD Candidate in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Minnesota, where she is advised by Dr. Andrew Hansen. Her graduate research focuses on life participation among prosthesis users, including the development and implementation of technologies aimed at serving women with amputations. Nicole is passionate about understanding the unique experiences of women with amputations and aims to improve participation within this demographic of prosthesis users.
