"Orthotics" is the branch of medicine that works with prescribing, making and managing braces or orthoses; "prosthetics" is the branch of medicine that works with prescribing, making and managing artificial body parts or prostheses.

"My uncle lost his arm in a hang gliding accident in his young adult years," says Phil Stevens. "Growing up, I have vivid memories of watching him button his shirts and eat cornflakes with his prosthesis." 

That experience led Stevens down a path to becoming a practicing orthotist and prosthetist and eventually, president of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists. Today, Stevens works with patients who range in age from infants to geriatrics. He might see a child with spina bifida who needs external braces (or orthoses) to walk. He might see adults with disabilities, such as multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries. He also might work with patients who have sports injuries and who need braces to recover after a cast is removed. He’ll see patients who were born without a limb – or without part of a limb. Other patients might have had a limb amputated because of cancer, diabetes or another illness. 

Stevens says he might see eight to 12 patients a day, but if it’s an especially complicated case, it might be just one patient. When a patient comes to Stevens, he’ll work in conjunction with the referring physician to assess the patient’s physical abilities and interests. He then determines which type of prosthetic components or orthoses will be the best fit for his patients. Stevens describes his job as "matching the most appropriate technology with the needs and capabilities of the individual." In addition to determining the design of specific braces or prostheses, Stevens’ job entails applying them to the skin, or creating a socket or "custom interface that bears weight." 

The real magic happens in the finishing touches. In New Orleans in early 2015, Stevens gave a speech to a group of O&P professionals at The Academy Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium. There, he spoke about going the extra mile. "I’m really speaking of those extra actions that we take during patient encounters," he says. "When we look down and realize that if we took another quarter-inch off that foot plate, it would fit in the shoe a little easier, or when we ask for one more pass down the parallel bars and we give that wrench another quarter-turn to see if we can’t improve the alignment." 

The road to becoming an orthotist and prosthetist usually begins with a bachelor’s degree, or taking the necessary prerequisite courses for getting into an orthotics and prosthetics program. Most of these master’s degree programs take about two years to finish. Next, these professionals undergo a residency program in orthotics, prosthetics or both. Once finished with these, they can sit through a series of certification exams.