Hanger, Inc.’s Post

We wish everyone a safe and Happy Fourth of July with family and friends!

It's not often that we get to help a donkey get back on his hooves!   After an accident on the farm caused his right front leg to be amputated, Dale the donkey was introduced to the #HangerClinic team in Fort Dodge, IA to help him regain his mobility.   Over a two-month span, prosthetist Kurt Oetken, along with technician Rick Lein and resident Ray Lee, worked in consultation with a veterinarian to fit Dale with a custom prosthetic device that would take the pressure off his remaining front limb and allow him to walk and run without pain.   Last month, Dale was officially fit with his new leg and now spends his days happily roaming the farm, causing mischief with his goat friends. Check out this video to see Dale in action! #EmpoweredCareers

We're still beaming over the incredible turnout from the third annual Adaptive Activities Day at Salus University on June 22! Our greater Philadelphia area #HangerClinic team partnered with #OandP students and staff from the university to facilitate this awesome event. Nearly 30 participants of all different abilities participated in various adaptive activities including basketball, golf, pickleball, and more.   Special thanks our sponsors and partners, including IM ABLE Foundation, EASTERN AMPUTEE GOLF ASSOCIATION, Jefferson Health Moss-Magee Rehabilitation, ALPS South, and EM13RACE Adaptive Clothing, as well as all the team members and volunteers who made this event a success. It's always exciting to see attendees try something new – and help participants feel a sense of community and support. #EmpoweredCareers

It was a big week for the O&P community as East Tennessee State University (ETSU) celebrated the launch of their Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics program and held a ribbon cutting for the new Karl Fillauer Learning Center on campus.   The center is named for Karl Fillauer, former board chairman of Fillauer Companies, in honor of his contributions to the O&P community. It will serve as a hub for students to learn to use state-of-the-art equipment to craft custom #oandp devices.   “As the CEO of Fillauer and a proud member of our family-founded company, we are so grateful to ETSU for recognizing my father and his invaluable contributions to the industry by naming the learning center in his honor,” said Michael Fillauer. “It is an exciting time to be in O&P, and with ETSU becoming one of only 14 pivotal O&P programs across the country, this milestone provides a new generation of young people an opportunity to do rewarding work in a field that continues to grow.” Program applications are open until September 1, and the first cohort of O&P students will arrive in January 2025. Read more about the program launch and the dedication of the Karl Fillauer Learning center: https://lnkd.in/geE9TpnM

In recognition of #NationalScoliosisAwarenessDay, we spoke with scoliosis expert and #HangerClinic Naperville, IL clinician Kristin Wendell about her background and favorite part about working in #OandP. “My interest in treating scoliosis began during my last residency rotation. We worked to optimize braces, making them as thin and low-profile as possible, while still being effective to increase compliance and wear time. It was there I began to understand the value orthotists can provide to patients by making a lasting impact on their spinal alignment, as well as confidence in their bodies.” Kristin’s favorite part of working with scoliosis patients is celebrating a win, saying “I can provide a great orthotic brace, but the patients are the ones putting in the hard work of wearing the brace consistently. I get the fun part of showing them that because of their effort, they are now more centered or have less rotation.” For those wanting to expand their knowledge on scoliosis, Kristin recommends the Scoliosis Research Society and Scolios-us, both of which have great resources. Thank you for your passion and dedication to the field, Kristin! #EmpoweredCareers #ScoliosisAwarenessMonth [Pictured: Kristin and her scoliosis patient Hailey.]

Nigel is an energetic 12-year-old who loves music, sign language, and hanging out with his brother Colin. Born with ataxic cerebral palsy, he has been a patient at the Roseville, CA #HangerClinic location for the past nine years. There, clinician Dan Munoz CO fit him with bilateral custom SMOs (supramalleolar orthoses) which help keep his ankles and feet stable. Recently, when Colin got some cool new Nike shoes, Nigel naturally wanted to match! Nigel won a pair of prototype FlyEase adaptive shoes through a giveaway, and he excitedly tried them on for the very first time during an appointment with Dan. Thank you, Dan, for helping Nigel enjoy an adventure-filled summer with his brother! #EmpoweredCareers

As we near the end of #PrideMonth, we’re proud to feature Surestep's Director of Education and Research, Katie Toth, as she reflects on her journey and how she defines Pride. Katie celebrated the month by attending her city’s parade and supporting locally owned #LGBTQ+ businesses, saying there’s always a different level of comfort when she sees a Pride flag on the door of a business.   “Pride is as simple as living as my authentic self, knowing that gives permission for someone else to live their truth, too. Pride doesn’t always need to be loud – it’s not always about rainbow flags and parades. It’s about choosing to wear the clothing that makes you feel the best, styling your hair the way you want to – even if it’s against gender norms, and being able to love who you want to love as freely as the person next to you. I grew up in an area where being gay was not exactly accepted, and attending my first Pride parade in college opened my eyes to the opportunity to be myself." "Everyone should have the freedom to do that for themselves. Pride Month is a reminder of how far I’ve come in my own journey as well as how far society has progressed, and it’s a chance to reflect on how much work still needs to be done as well.” 

What does #Juneteenth mean to you? We asked Hanger HR Business Leader Audrey Specht, to share her perspective, and how she plans to commemorate the significance of the day. “I will celebrate Juneteenth by honoring our enslaved ancestors, civil rights leaders, and the everyday ‘ordinary’ African Americans such as my parents who never let me forget the freedom we enjoy today came with a price…never forget, never take it for granted, do your very best in life, and always give back to your community. I want to encourage all of us to be curious about things we are not familiar with and seek to understand people who do not appear to be ‘like us.’ Then we can learn to respect, appreciate, and value everyone.” Audrey plans to attend an annual community-wide event in her childhood hometown that includes guest speakers, local officials, and more. For those wanting to learn more about Juneteenth, she recommends visiting the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. for meaningful information on the observance and beyond.

In 1978, at the age of 34, Michael George was flying a small airplane from Seattle, WA to Anchorage, AK when his avionic system lost function, forcing him to make an emergency landing on a deserted island. Michael remained under a tree for 10 days with little hope for rescue—until a fishing boat unexpectedly docked near him, saving his life. As a result of the weather conditions he endured, Michael suffered from severe frostbite on his feet, which led to bilateral amputations at the ankle. In the decades since his ordeal, Michael, now 80, has never let his challenges stop him from pursuing his dreams. For 56 years, he thrived as a home developer until his recent retirement, and to this day, he remains remarkably active—cycling, engaging in strength training, and collaborating closely with his prosthetist Matt Uellendahl at the #HangerClinic in Phoenix, AZ (pictured here with Michael and wife Cheryl) to meet all his goals. Shoutout to Matt for helping Michael accomplish his goals! #EmpoweredCareers