Orthotics & Prosthetics
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Of all the “firsts” the eight students in the inaugural cohort of the University’s Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) program experienced, one of the most memorable may have been the “first pour.”
The “first pour” is the first time students receive instruction and get the opportunity to mix plaster and pour it into molds they will eventually use to design orthoses for their patients.
It can be quite messy. And, a lot of fun.
“It was chaos. I don’t even remember what we were pouring, a leg, or what the casting was. We were all figuring out how to mix plaster for the first time and we were using this long drill bit to mix it,” said Casey Evans ‘25O&P. “There was just plaster splashing everywhere and it was just a hot mess.”
Now Evans and her classmates - Stephanie Maltez, Amber Lewis, Antonio Butler, Nicholas Ruppenthal, Molly Luckinbill, Isabelle Mugnier and Victoria Page, all ‘25O&P – will walk across the stage next week at the 130th Commencement Ceremony to receive their diplomas and mark a historic milestone as the first graduating cohort for the O&P program.
“Seeing students graduate is always an honor. However, launching a program from the ground up, with faculty guiding the initial cohort, who themselves play a critical role in shaping the program's direction and future, and witnessing those first graduates cross the stage is going to be uniquely rewarding,” said J. Chad Duncan, PhD, CRC, CPO, director of the O&P program in addition to being the individual entrusted with building the program and infrastructure from the ground up and successfully launching it in 2022.
Dr. Duncan refers to the program’s first graduates a the "Great 8," recognizing them as the pioneers who laid the foundation and set the course for the trajectory of the program.
“It's akin to parenting, but on a greatly accelerated timeline. There are challenges and triumphs, joyous milestones and heartbreaking moments but when you finally see their proud smiles at graduation, every struggle fades away,” said Dr. Duncan. “In that moment, I’ll have happy tears in my eyes, and my greatest hope is for their continued success and happiness, knowing they're equipped to positively impact countless lives.”
The responsibility of being the first graduates of the program isn’t lost on the students. Being in her residency for the past 18 months, Stephanie Maltez ‘25O&P said she hasn’t had much time to reflect on it until closer to commencement.
“I’m super-proud to be part of it and proud of myself for getting to where I’m at,” said Maltez, who earned her undergraduate degree in psychology at Montclair State University in New Jersey before completing the Salus at Drexel Post-baccalaureate program, setting the stage for her to be a member of the first O&P cohort. “When I first went into the program, I did feel a little bit behind. Then I met these amazing people and they seemed so natural at it. That’s another thing that I liked about the program – no one ever made me feel like I was behind. Not just the professors, but the students were so helpful. They made me feel like I belonged.”
According to Dr. Duncan, the University's integrated clinical education model is both distinctive and impactful. As only the second program nationally to implement such an approach, we offer a structure that sets our students apart. Learners participate in either three six-month rotations or two nine-month rotations.
“These formats have been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from our clinical partners,” he said. ”These extended, immersive experiences enable students to engage deeply with the clinical environment, concentrating on their professional growth without the added pressure of meeting monthly productivity quotas.”
Dr. Duncan added that a unique feature of the model is the dedicated weekly time set aside for independent study, reflective practice, and mentorship with faculty. He said his intentional space fosters academic support, promotes adaptability, and allows for timely course corrections as students’ progress through their training.
Maltez said the students in the inaugural cohort clicked right from the first time they met, even before new student orientation week.
“It was my first time meeting everyone and I was scared. Everyone just looked so intimidating, so secure like they knew what was going on,” said Maltez. “But right after that, the next time we met up, we were all friends and laughing together.”
Both Evans and Maltez said they feel a certain responsibility to the O&P program as its first graduates, and the importance of that is growing for them as their commencement date approaches.
“Giving feedback to the instructors on what went right and what didn’t, and being able to provide insight as a student, I think that was important,” said Evans, who graduated from West Chester University with a degree in exercise science with a concentration on occupational therapy and a minor in psychology. “We have connections with the other cohorts and we all stay in touch and root for each other. O&P is such a small niche field, so I don’t think we’re going to end up getting too far from each other no matter where we end up.”
Evans said over the course of their studies, the first cohort became an intimate group with a shared common goal, to be the best clinicians they could and to offer their patients the best care they could.
“O&P is patient care, it’s bio-mechanics, it’s hand-on artistry, using your hands and tools and feeling empowered in so many different aspects of the profession,” said Evans. “I wouldn’t have changed anything about my experience here with these classmates.”
