Caitlin Bowman Martwinski
Background
Caitlin Bowman Martwinski, MSPO, CO, Board Eligible Prosthetist, is a Prosthetist/Orthotist with UNC Health Prosthetics and Orthotics. Her journey as an Orthotist/Prosthetist is driven by a passion for research and commitment to our patients and the profession.
Caitlin holds degrees from Virginia Tech (BS, 2021) and the University of Pittsburgh (MSPO, 2024). She completed her prosthetic and orthotic residencies at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Orthotics and Prosthetics in Atlanta, GA (2024-2026) and has a clinical interest in pediatrics.
Why did you apply?
As an O&P student, finances were a very real stressor in my life, and did have a significant impact on my ability to complete my education. During my second year of my master’s degree, my now husband (fiancé at the time) was laid off his job, and I was working two jobs as a research assistant and technician on top of being a full-time student to make ends meet.
Having to defer a year to save money was a very real conversation we were having, but I did not want to have to lose momentum in my career and education so close to the end of the program. I applied to the scholarship, not expecting much, but the scholarship was life changing and allowed me to graduate O&P school on time!
During my residency, I applied to the Larry Lange Award to assist funding travel to present research I had been conducting during O&P school and my residencies. This award allowed me to travel and present at AAOP, AOPA, and ACPOC, which I would not have been able to do if not for this funding. I actually ended up winning awards for my research on bibliotherapy including the AOPA Becker Award (2024), ACPOC New Investigator Award (2026) and was able to present to the Academy in 2026! I would not have had the confidence to submit without the ability to travel and present, and this award gave me the confidence to submit without fear of finances!
How did the funding help you meet your goals?
ABC O&P Scholarship – helped me finish my MSPO degree, I graduated April 2024.
NCOPE Larry Lange Award- got to go to the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetist Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium, the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association’s 2026 Policy Forum, and the Association of Children’s Orthotic and Prosthetic Clinics conference in 2026 with help from this grant to cover travel expenses. The networking at these events was key in helping me determine my next career move as a newly certified clinician!
How did the funding impact your career?
These awards were life changing. I have made so many relationships and grown my professional network through both of these awards and would not be where I am today without the opportunities that this assistance has helped open doors to.
A recent example- I went to the AOPA policy forum and met a lovely member of the Academy. We got to chatting, and three weeks later I was hosting an episode of the AAOP O&P Rising Podcast where I got to meet even more amazing people in the profession. These relationships will continue to shape my career and impact my patients for years to come.
What did the funding mean to you personally?
I cannot say enough thank you’s on behalf of myself, but truly I want to say thank you on behalf of my patients, both current and future.
I am a better provider because of the lessons I have learned, support I have been given, and resources I have access to moving forward because of the impacts this funding has made on my career. At the end of the day, it is my patients who are the biggest stakeholders in my professional development and growth.
I would not have grown as much as I have in the last 3+ years without these awards during my training phase. I have been able to become involved with research and advocacy to be a better voice for my patients and promote better outcomes for patients through these opportunities, and my patients will benefit from it. At the end of the day, I want to leave the profession and what my patients have access to better than when I started working in the field, and this funding has allowed me to take tangible steps to actualize that goal.
What may have been a few thousand dollars has appreciated into invaluable experience, and for that I cannot thank everyone enough.
