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NUPOC - Northwestern U. Prosthetics-Orthotics Center

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NUPOC - Northwestern U. Prosthetics-Orthotics Center

Dedicated to helping people affirm their lives with hope, independence and enthusiasm by advancing t

The Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center (NUPOC) is affiliated with the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University (Chicago campus). Located on the 11th floor of the historic 680 North Lake Shore Drive building in the heart of the Northwestern University Medical Center, NUPOC is three blocks from the Lakeside Community B

ased Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) of the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. NUPOC consists of Education and Research Programs that collaborate with consumers, researchers, and clinicians. NUPOC has collaborative education and research interactions with faculty throughout Northwestern University; and with other institutions, including the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), particularly with the Departments of Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinical Services, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy. NUPOC integrates Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) education and research within a premier university medical setting.

05/22/2026

🏀 Join Us for Northwestern Wheelchair Basketball!

Curious about adaptive sports or looking to try something new??? Come experience wheelchair basketball with the Northwestern Wheelchair Basketball Team!!!

📅 Saturday, May 30, 2026
⏰ 1:00–3:00 PM
📍 Henry Crown Sports Pavilion (Evanston, IL)
Lower Level – Court 1

This open event is designed for all skill levels. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or brand new to the sport. You’ll have the chance to:

- Learn the fundamentals of wheelchair basketball
- Play alongside current team members
- Be part of an inclusive, adaptive, and welcoming community

Sign up: tinyurl.com/NUWheelchairbball

We hope to see you there!!

05/19/2026

Join us this summer for NUPOC Open House!

📍 680 N. Lake Shore Dr., Suite 1100, Chicago, IL
📅 Friday, July 24, 2026
⏰ 1:00 – 3:30 PM

Explore the rewarding field of orthotics & prosthetics, tour our facility, connect with faculty and current students, and get your questions answered about the profession and our programs!!

🔗 Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/vJ44T7XmxY
📧 Questions? Contact: rachel.lyons@northwestern.edu

05/11/2026

The first weekend of May, we had a wonderful presence at Northwestern’s Alumni Weekend, including the Tea at the Historic Drake Hotel, where alumni, faculty, and students came together for an engaging conversation spanning the healthcare spectrum.

We were especially honored to be joined by Tina Hittenberger, one of our distinguished alumni. Tina shared how meaningful it was to connect with our students, noting how articulate, gracious, and insightful they were in speaking about NUPOC and their personal journeys. After the Tea, Tina joined us for a tour of the NUPOC suite, continuing the conversation and deepening the connection.

The afternoon was made even more special with the presence of Kendal Coldren, NUPOC alum (MPO Class of 2026) and this year’s Hittenberger Scholarship recipient, whom Tina was excited to meet in person. We were also thrilled to have our current MPO Class of 2027 students attend!

📅 Alumni, we’d love for you to join us next time! Mark your calendars now for April 30–May 1, 2027, and plan to be part of Alumni Weekend with us.

05/08/2026

🎓 Steven A. Gard, PhD, Delivers Keynote at IMSAloquium 2026

At the 2026 IMSAloquium Opening Ceremony, our very own Steven A. Gard, PhD, Executive Director of the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center, served as the keynote speaker.

IMSAloquium is the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy’s annual celebration of student exploration and achievement, showcasing research, internships, and independent projects across disciplines. This year, more than 225 students presented original research through IMSA’s Student Inquiry and Research (SIR) program, which prepares students to conduct authentic, meaningful investigations in areas they’re passionate about.

In his keynote, “Why I Study Walking, and How It Changes Lives,” Dr. Gard shared how biomechanics and mobility research translate directly into improving quality of life, bringing real-world context to the students’ impressive work.

Dr. Gard has mentored IMSA students through NUPOC research projects for the third consecutive year, and reflected on the experience: “The SIR program is tremendously rewarding, providing the opportunity to guide young scholars through meaningful projects while helping shape their academic interests and future career paths.”

05/07/2026

Hands‑On Orthotics Experience in Toronto: MPO 2026 Alumni at Boundless Bracing

During the last week of January and the first week of February, Kailene LeMieux and Victoria McFarland, recent alumni of the Masters of Prosthetics and Orthotics Class of 2026, traveled to Toronto, Canada, to volunteer with Boundless Bracing.

The experience provided immersive exposure to orthotic‑focused clinical care and technical fabrication. Kailene described the trip as “full of adventure, shocking discoveries, and so many firsts,” noting the opportunity to learn new modification techniques from “extremely talented and gifted technicians” and to deliver “our very first AFO.”

While volunteering, Kailene and Victoria collaborated to fabricate custom AFOs for a patient with a spinal cord injury, with each alum responsible for one device. Victoria shared, “I made the right AFO and Kailene made the left,” and emphasized the value of training in a setting dedicated solely to orthotics. Because “Boundless Bracing only provides orthotics,” the experience allowed learning from professionals who have finely tuned their skills on the orthotic side of care. The two also fabricated foot orthoses for each other as part of the hands‑on learning experience.

In addition to clinical work, they had the opportunity to shadow P&O professionals at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, gaining insight into interdisciplinary and pediatric rehabilitation care.

05/06/2026

2026 NUPOC Biennial Symposium: German Traveling Fellows Visit

Last Friday, May 1st, NUPOC hosted our Biennial Symposium German Traveling Fellows Visit, a day of international collaboration, learning, and dialogue in orthotics and prosthetics.

Thank you to our visiting colleagues from abroad for traveling to be with us and for sharing their expertise, research, and clinical perspectives. Their presentations sparked thoughtful discussion and highlighted innovative approaches across the continuum of care:

German Traveling Fellows Presentations:
- Sebastian Benner, MD – Microprocessor-controlled Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses (KAFO)
- Svea Kutsche, Orthopedic Technician Master – Optimized Outcomes Through Early Post-Stroke Intervention
- Gerfried Peternell, MD – Assessment and Review of Exoprosthetic Treatments
- Katharina Schultz, MD – Clubfoot: How we do it
- Alexander Truschkat, MD – Beyond the Finish Line: The Journey from Amputation to Sport

We were also proud to showcase presentations from our staff, faculty, and students:

NUPOC Presentations:
- Gloria Lee, MSPO, CPO – Mapping EPAs in O&P education: A path to Competency-Based Assessment
- Kiley Armstrong, MS, MPO, CPO – Investigating Biases of O&P Educators Toward People with Disabilities
- Christian Maron, MPO-R 2026 – The Effect of Prosthetic Foot-ankle Stiffness on Rollover Shape Radius and Energy Return in Individuals with a Unilateral Transfemoral Amputation

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this symposium such a success. Events like this reinforce the value of global partnerships and shared knowledge in advancing patient care, education, and research in O&P!!

05/05/2026

MPO 2026 Travels to Ecuador for the Range of Motion Project ✈️

Recent alumni from our Masters of Prosthetics and Orthotics Class of 2026 traveled to Ecuador to work with ROMP (Range of Motion Project) following their graduation this past April.

Over 5 clinic days, the team supported 32 patients and delivered 34 prosthetic devices, including care for 2 patients with bilateral limb involvement. Each device represented increased access to mobility, independence, and daily life.

ROMP operates fully integrated prosthetics clinics in Ecuador, producing devices with 95% recycled components and providing mobile and community‑based rehabilitation to ensure long‑term, sustainable patient care.

Founded in 2005 by David Krupa (NUPOC ’03) alongside Eric Neufeld and Josh Kaplan, ROMP has developed a care model that is now being shared worldwide! We are so proud to see MPO 2026 alumni supporting work that centers on patients, sustainability, and dignity in prosthetic care.

05/04/2026

Job Opportunity: Research Prosthetist Orthotist - Salt Lake City

For more than a century, Ottobock has helped people with limb loss or mobility challenges regain freedom of movement through innovative prosthetic, orthotic, and wheelchair solutions, along with a strong focus on patient care. With over 10k employees globally, Ottobock continues to invest in its people, services, and the advancement of the O&P industry.

Ottobock’s Research Hub in Salt Lake City, Utah, is seeking a Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist to join a collaborative team developing impactful mobility solutions. The ideal candidate is an experienced clinician with research experience, an engineering-related background, & a passion for advancing human mobility.

Duties & Responsibilities
- Participates as a key contributor on cross‑functional research teams focused on prosthetic and orthotic device innovation
- Collaborates with clinicians to identify unmet clinical needs, challenges, & relevant research opportunities
- Establishes well‑defined problem statements and contributes to the design of experiments to address research questions
- Contributes to early‑stage prototyping and iterative feedback
- Utilizes existing products, configurations, and targeted modifications to evaluate hypotheses and answer research questions
- Manages and supports user testing to evaluate functional benefits compared to state‑of‑the‑art technologies
- Contributes to research collaborations with academic & external partners.
- Communicates project objectives, progress, results, & task status to key stakeholders, including international colleagues
- Maintains current knowledge of clinical and technical advances through continued education

Qualifications:
- Certified Prosthetist Orthotist with current ABC certification
- Bachelor's or master's degree in biomedical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
- Minimum of three (3) years post‑graduation experience with demonstrated involvement in clinical care, research, and engineering activities

Skills & Abilities:
- Strong understanding of prosthetic and orthotic clinical practice, including gait analysis and human movement
- Hands‑on experience with fabrication and modification of prosthetic and orthotic interfaces.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to translate clinical insights into engineering requirements and engineering concepts into clinical applications
- Demonstrated use of an engineering skillset to support analysis, problem‑solving, and product evaluation
- Experience working within the medical device industry or a similarly regulated environment is preferred

To apply, check out the official job listing: https://jobs.ottobock.com/job/Salt-Lake-City-Research-Prosthetist-Orthotist-UT-84101/1387616333/

04/30/2026

Job Opportunity: Pediatric Orthotics, Greater Phoenix Area (Arizona)

Goal Pediatric Orthotics is a specialized team of pediatric clinicians with expertise in child development and pediatric neurological conditions.

The company is committed to delivering the highest quality care to children through a collaborative approach, working closely with other healthcare professionals to achieve optimal outcomes.

Its focus is on improving the mobility and quality of life for the children it serves. This is an opportunity to join a dedicated team making a meaningful difference in pediatric care.

Role Description:

Goal Pediatric Orthotics is seeking a full-time Certified Orthotist/Prosthetist to join its team in the Greater Phoenix Area. Responsibilities include evaluating, designing, and fitting orthotic and prosthetic devices for pediatric patients, collaborating with healthcare teams to develop tailored treatment plans, providing patient education, and maintaining detailed clinical documentation.

Clinicians are offered the flexibility to create an ideal schedule that works for their lifestyle and situation (3, 4, or 5 days per week), along with above-average compensation and strong administrative support to help remove stress from the clinician’s workload.

The role offers the opportunity to work with a wide range of cases in a supportive, team-oriented environment focused on patient outcomes.

Qualifications:

- First and foremost, a passion for pediatric care and a love for working with awesome kids!!
- Proficiency in evaluating, designing, and ensuring the proper fit of orthotic and prosthetic devices
- Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, families, and caregivers
- Strong communication and educational skills for working with pediatric patients and their families
- Knowledge of pediatric pathologies, anatomy, biomechanics, normal and pathological gait, and advanced bracing technologies
- ABC or BOC certification as an Orthotist/Prosthetist
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics or completion of an accredited Orthotics and Prosthetics program
- Residents are also welcome to apply
- Commitment to staying updated on industry advancements and best practices
- Experience with pediatric patients is preferred

Apply today! Email your resume to Tyler@GoalPediatrics.co

04/29/2026

NUPOC is excited to highlight Claude Wei Zhang, our Spring Artist Feature.
Claude is an artist and lighting designer from Beijing and Evanston, IL. Through exploration of print, fiber, oil paint, and light, their work centers on storytelling and the expression of personal themes and lived experiences, particularly through portraiture. By rendering themself on paper, Claude develops a deeper understanding of their identity and their relationship with the world around them.

Currently, Claude is studying Theatre, Art Theory & Practice, and Asian American Studies at Northwestern University, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective to both their artistic and design practices.

Want to see more of Claude’s work? Check out claudeweiz.com

04/24/2026

At NUPOC, we often say that our alumni are making a difference across the country, but every so often, a story comes along that illustrates this in an extraordinary way.

In Alabama, three NUPOC alumnae are leading the So EveryBODY Can Move Alabama (SEBCM AL) initiative, a statewide effort to expand access to prosthetic and orthotic care through legislative change.

Ruth Guinness (’18) and Beth Ruehl (’20) serve as Co-State Leads, and Emily Hanson (’19) serves as the team’s Lead Advocate and Fundraising Liaison. Ruth mentored Emily during their time at NUPOC, and Emily later mentored Beth. All three now serve together on the SEBCM Alabama leadership team, where they coordinate statewide efforts related to prosthetic and orthotic access.

Their work includes:
- Meeting with state legislators to secure sponsorship for upcoming bills
- Coordinating with national SEBCM leadership to align strategy
- Engaging patients, advocates, and community partners
- Building public awareness and preparing for fundraising efforts

The team plans to introduce legislation in October for the 2027 session requiring Alabama insurers to cover specific prosthetic and orthotic devices when prescribed by a clinician. They are currently drafting bill language, coordinating with state legislators, and preparing the groundwork needed to move the proposal through the legislative process.

We are proud to recognize Ruth, Emily, and Beth for their leadership and the significant contributions they are making through SEBCM Alabama. Their work reflects the expertise, commitment, and professionalism that NUPOC alumni bring to our field, and it underscores the meaningful impact our graduates continue to have on clinical practice, policy development, and patient access nationwide.

Address

680 N Lake Shore Drive, Ste 1100
Chicago, IL
60611

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

http://www.nupoc.northwestern.edu/

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