Welcome | O&P Foundation 2025-26 Board of Directors

Professor of Biomechanics and Prosthetics & Orthotics at Kennesaw State University. He also has faculty appointments at Georgia Tech and Georgia State University. Dr. Geil received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the Ohio State University. He helped create the world’s first entry-level MS degree program in Prosthetics and Orthotics while at Georgia Tech, which was recently transferred to Kennesaw State. Dr. Geil is a Fulbright Senior Specialist awardee, winner of the Thranhardt and Research Awards from the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists, Honorary Member of the Academy, and member of the Editorial Board of the JPO

Senior Research Scientist and co-Director of the Spine Research Program at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul, MN. She is an Associate Professor at both the University of Minnesota and the University of Washington. She is also an active volunteer in professional organizations, currently a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics.

With 13 years of service in the O&P industry, currently working as a Regional Vice President at Hanger, and prior to that as Chief Operating Officer for Scheck & Siress. Over his career, he has served in accounting, sales & marketing, business development, mergers and acquisitions, operations and general management roles. He has worked in start-ups and turnaround companies as well as Fortune 500 companies such as AT&T and Emerson Electric. He is currently a member of the AOPA Board of Directors. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management.

Co-founder of Great Lakes Prosthetics & Orthotics in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While managing his clinical practice, he mentored dozens of residents and students from nearby Eastern Michigan University. Chris previously sat on the board of directors for the American Board for Certification in Prosthetics, Orthotics and Pedorthics, serving as ABC’s President in 2016. He continues to volunteer as an examiner for the ABC Prosthetic and Orthotic clinical practical exams. Chris is currently the Treasurer of his state board, the Michigan Orthotic and Prosthetic Association.

Founder of Ability Prosthetics and Orthotics in 2004, growing it to fourteen offices across three states and pioneering outcome measures, patient-centered care, business analytics, adaptive programs, and comparative effectiveness research. He also co-founded Kinetic Revolutions, creator of the height-adjustable pylon, and established Lifenhanced magazine. After Ability’s acquisition by Ottobock in 2020, he served as VP of Clinical Operations and Director of Business Development until 2022. A graduate of Penn State, Spokane Falls Community College, and Northwestern University’s Prosthetic & Orthotic programs, Brandt completed residencies at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Lawall P&O. He is a recipient of the AAOP’s 2022 Distinguished Practitioner Award, and has served in leadership roles with AOPA, O&P academic programs, and national registry initiatives. An author and advisor in the field, he recently joined Hanger Clinics’ Products & Services Advisory Board.

Currently working in Global Downstream Marketing in the Neurovascular business at Medtronic, Nina graduated from The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania) with her MBA and a major in Health Care Management. Prior to business school, she worked as a CPO and Clinical Educator. She remains active in O&P in addition to her primary work in medical devices. Nina has worked across many facets of O&P, from advocacy efforts with So Every Body Can Move to working with Click Medical on pursuing several HCPCS codes, including L5783 and L7406 for RevoFit for lower and upper extremity prosthetic applications. She was named the 2022 O&P Woman of the Year for her contributions to the O&P community and profession.

Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Texas Christian University.  She directs the Limb Loss and Difference Lab, where her primary research directions are: 1) fall risk screening, 2) musculoskeletal health, and 3) perspectives on ethics, research, and technology.  She also teaches biomechanics and is on the Board of Directors for the O&P Foundation, where she serves on the Research Committee. She has mentored a wide variety of students in clinical research, secured competitive funding, published manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, and has been invited to speak at numerous national conferences.

Director of Prosthetics and Orthotics at the Hospital for Special Surgery, bringing her expertise to help guide and grow the department. Her responsibilities include clinical oversight and direction of HSS contracted Prosthetics and Orthotic providers, and services provided at HSS regional offices. Chrysta has a strong interest in clinical research and is currently involved with several projects and considered to be a subject matter expert in orthotic management for pectus carinatum.

Director of Partner Professional Education for Hanger, Inc, where she leads a team of passionate educational professionals in the development and dissemination of evidence-based education to healthcare partners around the world. Lily and her team work closely in collaboration with Hanger’s Clinical & Scientific Affairs team developing programs aimed at improving patient care.

Director of Research and Development at WillowWood Global LLC.  Wernke earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 2013 from the University of South Florida. Dr. Wernke has been the Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on federally funded grants from agencies such as the DoD, NIH, NIDILRR, and VA and received Thranhardt awards in 2015 and 2023. He has also led the commercialization of over a dozen products. He currently serves on the AOPA Planning Committee and Research Committee and Co-Chair of the Clinical Workgroup.