Endeavor Public Service Scholarship

I am determined to make a meaningful contribution to the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) field and improve healthcare in Louisiana by developing technologies that enhance patient outcomes for amputees and those with musculoskeletal disabilities. Weighing roughly 16.68% of its owner’s body weight and spanning 47.9% of their height, the amputated leg in my hands symbolized more than a lost limb—it marked the beginning of my interests in biomechanics. As a specimen processor in Ochsner’s pathology department, one day, I received something unexpected: a large, heavy, red, and limp surgical bag. The leg was cold and firm, with the outline of a bony knee clearly discernible through the packaging. While receiving and handling amputated limbs isn’t a typical introduction to biomechanics, for me, it hallmarked my initial interest. It wasn’t until my work with Magnolia Medical that I realized the depth of potential in orthotics and prosthetics. I began shadowing in February 2022, and by my third visit, the clinicians let me grind down some old sockets. As a summer intern, I fabricated prosthetic legs and test sockets, laminated covers, and modified molds using cast saws to cut sockets. I also developed detailed prosthetic life care plans and calculated lifetime costs for prosthetic equipment and maintenance in collaboration with attorneys. My O&P mentors also taught me that sometimes, patients need a friend, someone to lend a hand (or a leg), to support them mentally as well as physically. As an LSU undergraduate research assistant, I conducted interviews with prosthetists and orthotists, insurance directors, and an orthopedic surgeon to explore how biomechanical data can assist the O&P field. Working with a markerless motion capture system, I developed a strong interest in analyzing internal muscle forces and motion data. My experience at Ochsner's Therapy and Wellness Center in Baton Rouge has reinforced my goal of improving data analysis for healthcare providers. I coded a MATLAB program that reduced a seven-hour data analysis process to just four minutes. Inspired by this experience, I aim to make data analysis quicker and more accurate for healthcare facilities, saving them time and resources while improving patient outcomes. My immediate goal as a graduate student is to compare OpenCap (markerless motion capture) data and traditional measurements from foot force plates and marker-based systems. I will analyze the joint angles and ground reaction forces to develop a normative model for amputees performing sit-to-stand movements. I hope to provide clinicians with more accurate data specific to amputees, improving patient care and decision-making. I am deeply committed to staying in Louisiana and strengthening the state’s healthcare system, particularly in the O&P field. With Louisiana ranking among the lowest in healthcare nationwide, there is a clear and urgent need for improvement, and I want to be part of that effort. Many talented professionals leave the state for better opportunities, but I believe we need to retain that talent to build a stronger future for Louisiana. Through my work, I hope to enhance the state’s healthcare landscape by fostering a collaborative community of researchers and clinicians dedicated to advancing patient care. My goal is to help bridge the gap in O&P care by providing affordable, timely, and high-quality care to underserved amputee populations, particularly in low-income communities and those dependent on disability services. Through data-driven innovation and biomechanical analysis, I am committed to improving patient outcomes, streamlining insurance authorization, and supporting clinical documentation, all while strengthening and elevating the O&P field in Louisiana.

Losing a parent to suicide generated a push toward pursuing psychology to learn proper crisis interventions. My stepfather passed away when I was sixteen. Losing him was not all my mother and I lost. We eventually became homeless due to the majority of our finances being supported by my stepfather. It was essential to have people and resources available to help in our time of need. These resources inspired me to pursue a degree in Psychology with a concentration in child development at the University of Maryland Community College (UMBC). I was the first on my father’s side to graduate from college. I strive to assist those who have faced similar challenges and provide them with proper education regarding mental illnesses. I am currently getting my master’s in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at McDaniel College. My goal is to become an LCPC and continue to develop new skills that will positively prepare me for work as a counselor. My mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) when she was thirty. The Covid-19 pandemic played an extra part in my mother’s mental health. After episodes of paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations my mother was hospitalized for 8 months. It was not until February of 2023 that she was given the diagnosis of vascular dementia. With no other person suited to take on the responsibility of her early-onset dementia, I had the obligation of becoming her legal guardian at twenty-five. This new responsibility made me have to become a full-time caretaker while working and also getting my graduate degree. I have had to become extremely organized with my calendar, have to keep important notes from doctors and lawyers, and have a schedule to be able to contact the doctors weekly, and make appointments. Between losing my father figure and gradually losing my mother I have felt very alone at times due to my special circumstances. Unfortunately, my mother passed away on December 8, 2023 with me by her side. I devote my hard work and educational accomplishments in honor of my parents who have passed and supported and encouraged me to help others. I have found two wonderful support groups that have connected me with other young adults who have a parent with early-onset dementia. I am a part of YES! (Young-Onset Dementia Education & Support) and Lorenzo’s House. These past few months I became an ambassador and also on the planning committee for Lorenzo’s House. I have donated and walked in the following walks: The MS Walk, Out of the Darkness (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Mental health needs to be addressed publicly in order to bring awareness to others. Resources need to be more readily available to help those who may be in crisis. I support pro bono counseling opportunities because a person should not have to worry about money to get the help they deserve. I have taken advantage of pro bono counseling services when I was in a depressive state. When the time comes, I will initiate free counseling for those who need it. In the end, I hope to make an impact in my career, my family, and my friendships.