Maximizing Practice Efficiency: The Power of Assistants

Cara has over 25 years working in the prosthetics profession. She serves as the Gainesville Practice Manager, Lead Prosthetist, and Residency Director. Cara’s education started with a Mechanical Engineering Degree with a concentration in bioengineering from Kettering University. She is a graduate of The Northwestern University Prosthetics Program. She spent her first eight years in patient care, gaining experience in technical fabrication, patient care, and patient education. She then worked for major prosthetics manufacturer in clinical services, research and development, product management and marketing, in the US as well as Australia. Cara has traveled the world working with practitioners on patient care best practices. Cara specializes in using video movement analysis for the orthotic and prosthetic profession. While working with clinicians globally, she found video to be a common language that she could use to show others her clinical decision process. This work now helps to show and quantify the care we provide to our patients and their physicians. Cara also received a Master’s Degree in Education, which helps to serve patients and the community by providing educational content that is fun and interactive.

Erin O'Brien is a CPO and Fellow of the Academy that works for Hanger Clinic's Clinical and Scientific Affairs as a clinical educator. She graduated from University of Washington's Prosthetics and Orthotics program in 2008 and worked in clinical practice until 2024, when she transitioned to a fulltime role with CSA developing and providing education for clinicians, referral sources, and leaders in the field.

Kimberly Hanson is the Director of Reimbursement at Ottobock. Kimberly has been at Ottobock for over 12 years. Kimberly and her team manage all coding, coverage, and reimbursement strategies for new and existing products at Ottobock which include Orthotics and Prosthetics. Prior to joining Ottobock, Kimberly was the Director of Operations for a Hospital system and 6 patient care clinics. She managed all scheduling, billing, collections, and business development for the clinic system. Kimberly is a member of the DME MAC Advisory Councils for all 4 regions and recently became certified as a Consultant for Policy and Reimbursement for Healthcare (CPRH).

Daniela Valentina Perez is the Patient Care Coordinator at Gainesville Prosthetics. She is a proud alumna of the University of Florida, where she earned her B.S. in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology. In her role, Ms. Perez focuses on coordinating patient services, managing communications, and enhancing the overall patient experience by addressing individual needs and ensuring timely access to care. She plans to continue her education in Orthotics and Prosthetics school with the goal of becoming a skilled provider and contributing to improving patient mobility and independence.