The O&P Foundation’s Microgrant Program is designed to spark scholarly work in the field of orthotics and prosthetics (O&P).
This biannual program awards one-year grants of $2,000 to support clinically relevant projects that aim to empower health professionals, researchers, students, and residents to pursue activities that may contribute to clinical care in O&P, such as investigator-initiated research, career development opportunities, or quality assurance and/or improvement projects.
Abby Citterman
Integrating Digital Technology into Orthotic Fabrication Workflows to Optimize Patient Satisfaction Outcomes
First-year orthotic & prosthetic resident at Gillette Children’s and a research fellow with the Utah Neuro Robotics Lab. Her research interests include developing and validating novel rehabilitative technologies for individuals with neuromuscular disabilities. She has a specialized interest in the convergence of engineering, O&P, and design. Abby is especially passionate about helping bridge the gap between cutting-edge innovation in academia and the most optimal, personalized patient care.
“I am deeply honored to be selected as a recipient of the O&P Foundation Microgrant in support of my resident research project at Gillette Children’s. This grant will enable us to explore the efficacy of integrating digital technology into orthotic fabrication workflows, aiming to improve patient satisfaction outcomes and enhance the efficiency of care. The support from the O&P Foundation is invaluable as we take this next step in our research journey. I am sincerely grateful for this partnership and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our study participants, patients, and the field as a whole”
Julie Ferrell-Olsen
Understanding Lower Limb Prosthesis Users’ Lived Experience with Fatigue
PhD candidate at the University of Illinois, Chicago in the department of Kinesiology and Nutrition. She is a member of the Locomotor and Rehabilitation Lab at UIC and her research aims to bridge the gap between qualitative and biomechanics research, using lived experiences to motivate in-lab studies.
“I am honored to receive this grant to support our understanding of lower limb prosthesis users’ lived experiences with fatigue, and how that may impact their safety and mobility.”
