When Caitlin took a career aptitude test in seventh grade, she didn’t know the results would change her life. The test suggested a career as a certified prosthetist orthotist (CPO). Curious to learn more, she contacted a neighbor who worked as a CPO. After talking to him and shadowing at his clinic, Caitlin realized she had found the perfect career for her, as she always wanted a mix of her parents' careers in nursing and engineering.

Caitlin completed her undergraduate degree in human nutrition, foods and exercise at Virginia Tech, while working as a research assistant. She fell in love with the research process and decided to dedicate her career to finding new, evidence-based ways to improve patient care. She completed her master’s in orthotics and prosthetics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Caitlin is now completing her residency at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where she researches how picture books can help children who use orthotics to understand and adapt to their devices. She loves working with kids and the added challenge of having to consider how their growth can affect their devices. This problem-solving and puzzle-like career path pushes her to think of new ways to ensure the device fits the patient’s needs, and she is excited to continue researching solutions to advance POP care.