Reflecting Patients, Improving Care 

Ciera A. Price, MS, CPO/L, FAAOP.

How long have you been in the profession? I started volunteering at Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento, CA in 2011.

What is your educational background (college through certification)? I graduated from Duke University with a BS in Biology and concentration in Anatomy, Physiology, and Biomechanics. I then earned a certificate in Orthotics Technology at Spokane Falls Community College to develop hand skills and confirm that O&P was the right career path. Finally, I completed the MSOP program at California State University, Dominguez Hills, followed by a dual residency with Hanger Clinic in Houston, TX, and earned my O&P certifications in 2020.

What are your professional affiliations?  I’ve been active in the Academy since 2016 and currently serve on the Clinical Content Committee. Over the past two years, I’ve also been deeply involved with the So Every Body Can Move initiative and their Medical Research and Advisory Committee. Outside of O&P, I also remain active in Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Why did you choose this profession? At 15, a sports injury led me to physical therapy and inspired a Google search for careers in rehabilitation. That search introduced me to O&P, and I was immediately captivated by its unique blend of medicine, engineering, and artistry. Volunteering at Shriners and witnessing the joy of someone taking their first steps after amputation confirmed that this was the field for me.

What has changed most about the field since you first became a practitioner? The growth in high-quality research and the increasing emphasis on evidence-based practice.

What has been most satisfying about your decision to go into the field? Knowing I have the opportunity to help give someone their life back. Seeing patients regain mobility and independence remains incredibly rewarding.

What has been the most frustrating? Insurance limitations! Also, the fact that O&P research is so often led by people outside our profession, which limits its translation into clinical practice.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? Over the past year, I’ve been balancing full-time work while completing my PhD in Translational Science at UT Austin. I’m especially proud because, in addition to managing that workload, I secured a grant to conduct research that will directly support the So Every Body Can Move initiative, and I believe this work has the potential to make a real difference for patients and the entire O&P community.

If you were speaking to high school or college students, what would you say to encourage them to choose this profession? I would tell students that O&P is a uniquely rewarding profession. You’re not just providing devices. You’re helping people reclaim their independence and guiding them through life-changing milestones. Every patient you work with gives you the chance to make a real, lasting impact on their life.

How has your Academy membership been valuable to you? The Academy’s greatest value is its community. Being surrounded by passionate professionals keeps me inspired, helps me stay on top of the latest technologies and advancements, and reminds me why I love this work. I always leave the annual meeting energized and motivated to make an even greater impact for my patients.

In an effort to get a sense of what your interests are outside of O&P, what do you like to do when you are not working?  When I’m not working, you’ll find me traveling, baking, or cheering at a sporting event, especially Duke basketball. I also love playing tennis, and right now I’m training for the Golden Gate Half Marathon!

What’s one thing that people in the O&P industry would be surprised to know about you? During grad school, I spent my weekends as a bridal consultant, so I can fit a wedding gown just as well as a prosthesis.

How does diversity enhance the O&P field? Our patient population is incredibly diverse, and having a clinician base that reflects that diversity enhances patient care. Diversity in O&P brings a wider range of experiences and perspectives, improves our ability to empathize and connect with patients, and ultimately supports the delivery of culturally competent care.

What has changed most about the field since you first became a practitioner? 

Angela: Insurance requirements and documentation.

Stephanie: I would say the consolidation of clinical care providers and the integration of clinical care with prosthetic component manufacturers.

What has been most satisfying about your decision to go into the field? 

Angela: I continue to grow as an individual. Every client I work with teaches me something, and therefore I am constantly learning! This field has also given me a perspective on life that I am forever grateful for.

Stephanie: Seeing someone regain their mobility, find new mobility pathways, or return to the parts of themselves that were defining for them originally never gets old.

I also appreciate the smallness of the industry and the many incredible people I have gotten to know along the way.

What has been the most frustrating? 

Angela: Probably limitations to accessing the most appropriate care for an individual.

Stephanie: The opportunities for those of us who are interested in the manufacturing side are limited with a less defined path for how to make the shift.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? 

Angela: Helping pass the So EveryBODY Can Move bill in Colorado, so individuals with limb loss and limb difference can have one less barrier to accessing prostheses for physical activity.

Stephanie: I have gotten to be a part of the development of products like the Empower ankle, the new Kinterra and the ShockWave foot that I hope have provided a greater quality of life for prosthetic users. With my current focus on the digital side of the business, I am excited about the opportunity to help ease the transition into what I see as the future of our industry.

If you were speaking to high school or college students, what would you say to encourage them to choose this profession? 

Angela: I tell them that there are few professions as rewarding as ours. We truly get to help improve people’s lives while also learning/growing from that same journey.

Stephanie: Ours is one of the few healthcare professions where you can create long-lasting relationships with the people you are caring for and get to see the fruits of your labor firsthand.

How has your Academy membership been valuable to you? 

Angela: The Academy has been an amazing academic resource as well as a community of top-notch practitioners looking to provide the highest level of care. I’ve enjoyed meeting other practitioners and collaborating on projects.

Stephanie: The Academy provides an opportunity to stay connected to other clinicians and colleagues that I see less often in my day-to-day life; in addition to continuous learning opportunities that help me grow my skills and stay current with the latest scientific findings and clinical best practices.

In an effort to get a sense of what your interests are outside of O&P, what do you like to do when you are not working? 

Angela: I love spending time with my family and friends! I have an incredible wife and two awesome kids who remind me what life is all about. I love the outdoors and exploring our beautiful state of Colorado as well as traveling to learn about cultures different than our own. At home I’m always looking for something to build or fix and in my community, I like to be engaged in anything from advocacy to the quirky keep-Boulder-weird traditions. I love to surround myself with art and music but am also a sucker for all things athletic.

Stephanie: When not working, I love travel, live music, hiking, cooking and doing any of those things with my family and friends.

What’s one thing that people in the O&P industry would be surprised to know about you? 

Angela: In my life before O&P I was a competitive heptathlete. I was the top in the country, trained at the Olympic Training Center and received a full college athletic scholarship. My athletic career was cut short by a pole vault accident in which I broke my back. As devastating as this was to me, it ultimately played a role in my discovery of the O&P field.

Running the So EveryBODY Can Move bill in Colorado was truly a full circle moment for me to talk passionately about prosthetics and the benefits of movement!

Stephanie: I was a collegiate soccer coach prior to joining the O&P industry.

How does diversity enhance the O&P field? 

Angela: Diversity enhances EVERYTHING. The more access we have to people with different life experiences, the better we are at providing care to all kinds of people. As a minority, I often look for examples or even role models of people proving what is possible. I think diverse representation not only benefits the perspectives in everything from clinical care to education and research but also can serve as an example to younger generations of what is possible.

Stephanie: An environment that supports diversity draws from a breadth of life experience, which in my opinion, builds greater empathy, encourages an openness to new perspectives, and inspires a willingness to battle through difficult times; all of which becomes the foundation for stronger connection and a higher level of care.