I completed my Master’s in Prosthetics and Orthotics from Mobility India, and I’m an RCI-certified Prosthetist and Orthotist.
At present, I’m working with the Association of People with Disability (APD), where I lead the Assistive & Adaptive Technology Unit. My role is a combination of clinical work, team coordination, service delivery, and also working on new technologies and improving the way we provide O&P services.
What do you claim is your speciality – your O&P passion?
I would say my main interest is in community-based O&P and making good-quality services more accessible to people who may not have easy access to specialists. I have also developed a strong interest in digital O&P. I’m currently exploring technologies such as 3D scanning, CAD/CAM, and 3D printing and how we can use them to make the process more efficient and consistent.
For me, it is exciting to see how technology can support clinicians rather than replace the clinical decision-making that is so important in O&P.
What do you like most about practicing O&P?
What I like most is that O&P is not just about making a device. Every person comes with a different lifestyle, expectation, and challenge, so we must understand the person first before thinking about the solution. I really enjoy that combination of clinical knowledge, problem-solving, creativity, and working directly with people.
The most satisfying part for me is seeing the change in a person after they receive the right device. Sometimes it is not even a big physical change. It could simply be that they become more confident, start doing something independently, or return to work. Those moments are very meaningful to me.
What frustrates you about O&P?
I think one of the things that frustrates me most is that many people still don’t have access to good-quality O&P services, especially people living in rural or underserved areas. Sometimes the technology or expertise is available, but reaching the person who needs it becomes the biggest challenge. There can also be limitations related to funding, resources, follow-up, and availability of trained professionals.
But I try not to look at these only as frustrations. They also make me think about how we can improve the system. That is one of the reasons I became interested in digital technologies and models that could help us reach more people without compromising the quality of care.
What is your greatest patient story in O&P?
One patient story that is very close to me involves a beneficiary working with Titan Company who became a bilateral amputee after a train accident. When she first came to us, she was very worried. She had very limited expectations about prostheses and was not sure whether she would be able to walk independently or return to her work and normal life. I remember spending time with her during the assessment and explaining the prosthetic options, what we could realistically achieve, and what she would need to do during rehabilitation. We also had funding limitations, so we had to find the best possible solution within the resources available. Eventually, we provided her with one transfemoral and one transtibial prosthesis, along with proper training and rehabilitation.
What makes this story really special to me is what happened afterwards. She gradually became more confident, got married, and eventually returned to her job at Titan. Even now, she and her family sometimes come to meet us and greet us, and they remember the support they received from our team. For me, that is one of the most fulfilling parts of being an O&P professional. It is not just about making or providing a prosthesis. It is about helping someone believe in themselves again and supporting them to get back to the life they want. Seeing her return to work and move forward with her life is something I will always be proud of.
How do you build rapport with patients in your care?
For me, rapport starts with listening. Before I start thinking about the device, I try to understand the person, what they do, what their daily life looks like, what they are worried about, and what they actually want to achieve. I also try to communicate in a simple way rather than using too much technical language. I want the patient to feel that they are part of the decision-making process and not just someone who has come to receive a device. I’m also very honest with patients about what we can and cannot achieve. I think that honesty helps build trust. And I believe rapport doesn’t end when the device is delivered. Following up, listening to their problems, making adjustments when required, and simply being available when they need support are all important. Over time, that is how I build a good relationship with my patients.