Farewell Dankmeyer Interns!

Tara Tadimalla, Jordynn Gilbert and Alison Howard.

We said goodbye to our 2105-2016 class of three high school interns at the end of April.  You may have seen one of these three young women around the offices, as they were the latest of the interns Dankmeyer welcomes each year to get a good look at the Prosthetics and Orthotics fields.  Each intern was paired with a clinician, and designed a course of study that would culminate in presentations at their respective programs before graduation.  They successfully completed their requirements and graduated just a week ago, and we helped to send them off to further studies with best wishes, and hope to see them again soon.  These seniors each composed a few words to describe their experiences at Dankmeyer:

 

Tara Tadimalla

My name is Tara Tadimalla, and I have been an intern at Dankmeyer, Inc. for the past year. My experiences here have helped me confirm my passion for engineering, and I have gained much knowledge that will help me in my future endeavors. Dankmeyer, Inc. is an amazing place to be a part of, and I have constantly been surrounded by passionate and supportive individuals that are always willing to teach me and my fellow interns. Upon completion of my internship, this fall, I will be majoring in Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. I can't thank the staff enough for providing me with this invaluable experience! (Tara was paired with Angie Bryl, Dankmeyer Clinical Director.)

 

Alison Howard

Hi I’m Alison and I am a senior at Glenelg High School. I have been working with Ms. Sheryl Nathanson at both the Sinai office and the Linthicum office for the past year through the intern/mentor program at my school.  My experience at Dankmeyer has been the highlight of my year; I have learned so much about prosthetics and orthotics. On a typical day at Dankmeyer, I observe Ms. Nathanson when she sees patients and I help with adjustments in the lab. I also learned about coding, justifying, and recommending devices.  I have met so many amazing people through this experience from patients to physical therapists. Next year I plan to continue my studies in Prosthetics and Orthotics at the University of Hartford. 

 

Jordynn Gilbert                          

My name is Jordynn Gilbert, and I have been interning at Dankmeyer Inc. for one year. This is a fantastic facility and the entire staff is extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and inspiring. They have solidified my love for this career and have provided me with many skills that will help me along the way. As a result of my internship, I will be entering college at the University of Hartford, CT with a 50% scholarship this fall for the only 5-year  B.S./M.S.P.O. program in the country. I could not be more grateful for this experience! (Jordynn was teamed with clinician Mary Reedy.)

At the end of their terms with Dankmeyer, there were some celebratory goodies for everyone in a farewell party.  Jordynn brought some Oreo Truffles to share, and they were much admired.  She supplies the recipe here:

OREO TRUFFLES
-Ingredients:
One 8 oz block of cream cheese (best if whole fat, but can use less fat version)
One package of plain Oreos
One bag of chocolate chips

-Preparation:
Crush the Oreos as finely as possible - use either a food processor (easiest), rubber mallet, or some other method.
In a bowl, combine Oreo crumbs with cream cheese, kneading with your hands until it is thoroughly and evenly mixed.
Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet, refrigerating afterwards until they stiffen a little (this makes the chocolate coating easier).
Melt the chocolate chips (following instructions on package), submerge Oreo balls and coat completely, then place on another baking sheet. Refrigerate when done, and enjoy!

In order to get the best chocolate coating, I either use two forks or wooden skewers (like you’d roast marshmallows on)

#ShowYourMettle

April 23, 2016 is Show Your Mettle Day!  #ShowYourMettle!!  As part of Limb Loss Awareness month, the Amputee Coalition urges prosthetic wearers to show their mettle - that is, the ability to cope with difficulties or a demanding situation in a spirited and resilient way by showing their "metal" device or wheelchair.

On Friday, April 15, 2016, Angela Manning visited our Linthicum office representing the Amputee Coalition, where she distributed information about the organization's many programs, particularly Certified Peer Visitor training.  To kick off Dankmeyer's support of the Mettle campaign, along with another Dankmeyer client, she was happy to Show Her Mettle.   During the week, others soon joined in with their own mettle shots. 

Time for a Tuneup at our Sinai Office!

Spring is springing, and temperatures are warming up (soon we hope!) and maybe you would like to join us in our Sinai office for a spring tuneup.  This is an opportunity for you to come in, free of charge, and get an assessment of the current state of your prosthesis.  If it has been a while since your last visit, don't be a stranger.  You can call and make an appointment at 410-542-6500. or feel free to just stop in! 

Sheryl and Jeanne will be most happy to see you, and you might even find a treat waiting.

  • Wednesday, April 13, 20168AM - 12PM
  • Thursday, April 14, 2016 1PM - 4PM

 

Pigs and Glam! Dankmeyer Techs Enter Contest

UPDATE:  Shree Thaker takes 6th and Art Ross takes 9th in contest.

Dankmeyer technicians are very creative folks - not just in their every day work in fabrication of our patients’ devices, but in the design and development of other projects - like the Feet First Prosthetic Footshell Decorating Contest!

Now, what is foot shell, you may ask? Well, a foot shell is a cosmetic covering that looks like a foot.  The prosthetic foot fits inside the foot shell, and then that fits into a shoe.  There are many types of prosthetic feet, which are designed to meet the needs that fit the lifestyle of the patient.  

The Orthotic and Prosthetic Activities Foundation (OPAF) & The First Clinics asked for entrants into a contest to decorate a foot shell.  Fifty shells were donated by Kingsley Manufacturing, which entrants could request by January 8 and then decorate and return to OPAF by February 15.  These entries will be displayed at the OPAF booth at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists March 9 - March 12, 2016 in Orlando, FL.  These entries will be voted on at the meeting, with online voting March 1 - March 5.  After the winners are announced at the meeting, they will be auctioned off to support OPAF & The First Clinics.

VOTE HERE:https://feet-first.typeform.com/to/ttJhWg

Let's take a look at what our artists submitted:

Art Ross submitted his entry titled “This Little Piggy; Heavy Medal Edition”. In his video, he explains his inspiration.  His grandson likes to pull his socks off, and hear the nursery rhyme This Little Piggy. So, Art put little piggies on the foot shell, and also incorporated his own love of heavy metal music into the design.

 

Shree Thaker submitted her entry titled “Royal Glitz and Glam.” Shree saw a picture of a doll that a parent had disassembled to create a miniature prosthetic leg for his amputee daughter. This led her to think about adding a little glitz and glam that young girl amputees might like, so she took it to a bigger scale on the foot shell.  The result is a regal/royal take on a Greek style sandal.


Dankmeyer welcomes Kristen and Kevin to the team!

Please joins us in welcoming two new members to the Dankmeyer patient care team!  Kristen Beltran and Kevin Hughes recently joined Dankmeyer in different capacities.

Kristen is our new Resident Prosthetist Orthotist.  Kristen first became interested in P&O in high school, where she had a soccer coach who wore a prosthesis. While working in the therapeutic recreation field in Denver, CO, Kristen worked with adaptive sports and recreation programs. She comes to us after completing her Master’s in Prosthetics and Orthotics from Northwestern University.  Like all Residents, she will spend some time refining her fabrication skills before you see her in the exam room!

Kevin is our Patient Navigator, a newly-created role that will help to facilitate our Long Term Patient Care initiatives. Kevin is the go-to person for Dankmeyer's patients. He helps guide our patients through all phases of their care plans, providing assistance and connecting our patients with resources, to ensure the timely delivery of their treatments and follow-up care. Kevin also administers patient education to ensure a thorough understanding of the use and care of orthotic and prosthetic devices and to increase health literacy for our patients with chronic conditions.  Kevin is grateful to refocus his attention on a rewarding mission of patient care, after a long term consulting career with Fortune 100 companies.