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Brad Matear, who oversees central fabrication for Shriners Children's hospitals, shares insights on the technical side of O&P, highlighting the critical shortage of trained technicians and pathways for advancing the profession.

• Shriners Children's central fabrication serves approximately 19 facilities nationwide, dealing with complex pediatric cases that require exceptional technical skill
• The field faces a serious technical talent shortage with 15-16 clinical schools but only 4 technical schools producing graduates
• Technician compensation and recognition are crucial factors in retention, with approximately 30% attrition rate compared to clinicians
• Digital fabrication including CAD/CAM and 3D printing represents the future for technicians, requiring new educational approaches
• The Assistant Credential offers a promising middle path between technical and clinical roles, similar to the PT/PTA model
• Technical education must evolve to include both traditional hand skills and advanced digital techniques
• AOPA 2025 in Orlando will feature hands-on technical education including custom fabrication and alignment techniques
• Proper disposal and recycling of materials remains a challenge, particularly for foam products used in fabrication

Please recycle your plastics as best you can and if you're an engineer with ideas for recycling carving foam, the industry needs your solutions to reduce landfill waste.

Special thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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Rich Dubin, CEO of LER Expo, shares his journey creating digital educational platforms that foster cross-disciplinary learning for healthcare professionals in the lower extremity market. We discuss how bringing together specialists from different fields—from podiatry to orthotics and prosthetics—leads to better patient outcomes and more innovative approaches to care.

• Founded LER Expo in 2019, perfectly timed before COVID shut down in-person educational events
• Created an engaging digital conference platform that recreates the in-person experience with lobbies, exhibit halls, and networking spaces
• Uses innovative approaches like tournament-style presentations to keep audience engagement high
• Emphasizes the importance of cross-disciplinary education across healthcare specialties
• Discusses concerns about the rising cost of O&P education with master's programs approaching $200,000 in total costs
• Highlights the critical value of mentorship and hands-on experience versus academic credentials alone
• Shares practical advice for clinicians wanting to present at virtual conferences
• Believes collaborative care across disciplines leads to better outcomes for patients
• Encourages professionals to look beyond their specialty silos to find new connections and innovations

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We explore the exciting intersection of engineering, biomechanics, and 3D printing in prosthetics with our guest Ashton Stoop, who shares his journey from mechanical engineering student to designing 3D-printed prosthetic limbs in Mexico.

• Ashton's background in mechanical engineering and his path to O&P through biomechanics research
• The importance of both functionality and emotional integration in prosthetic design
• How custom prosthetic covers serve as tools for patient acceptance and identity
• Using Rhino and Grasshopper software to create automated workflows for socket design
• The balance between maintaining clinical control and leveraging AI automation
• The potential for 3D printing to democratize the prosthetics industry
• How small clinics can compete with larger corporations through innovative technology
• The critical importance of clinical evaluation and fitting despite technological advances
• Challenges in biomechanical understanding of complex structures like feet and ankles
• Community initiatives like the Digital Limb Collective that share knowledge and best practices

The field of prosthetics needs professionals from all backgrounds – you don't have to be a clinician to make a difference in people's lives. If you have design skills and a passion to help others, there is room for you to contribute to this meaningful work.

Special Thanks to Advanced 3D for sponsoring this episode.

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