Breaking Barriers: Women in Prosthetics Transforming Lives

By Donna J. Bell

Director of Communications

Office of Integrated Veteran Care

Each year an essential first stop for Veterans skiing in adaptive equipment at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic is the Seating, Prosthetic Limb and Boot Fit room. It’s here that a team of specialists ensure each Veteran is individually fitted for their adaptive equipment. The team plays a vital role in maximizing comfort, stability and performance – whether it’s adjusting a prosthetic limb, fine-tuning a sit-ski for better comfort or customizing boots to prevent pressure points.

Last year, Rebecca Fagan, a Certified Prosthetist and Orthotist (CPO) from the Syracuse New York Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), was the only female prosthetist at the event, held each year in Snowmass, Co. This year, two more women joined the ranks, and she is thrilled to see more diversity.

“It’s exciting to see more women in this role,” Fagan said. “Last year, I was the only one here, and now there are three of us. It shows that change is happening, and that’s inspiring.” Fagan’s passion for prosthetics was shaped by her upbringing—her father was a 20-year military veteran, and her mother worked in physical therapy. “Helping people regain mobility was something I grew up around. Seeing my parents' dedication to service and rehabilitation made me want to be part of this field,” she said.

In a profession historically dominated by men, a growing number of women are making their mark in prosthetics combining science, craftsmanship, compassion and power equipment to change lives. CPOs play a vital role to help patients regain and improve mobility and function by designing, fabricating, and fitting prosthetics for those who lost limbs to injury, illness, or congenital conditions.

The work of a prosthetist is both highly technical and deeply personal. It begins with understanding each patient’s unique needs, lifestyle and goals. The work is physically demanding—casting a limb, shaping materials, and fitting prosthetics require strength, precision and endurance. It is an art as much as a science, where skillful hands craft devices that become integral parts of their users' lives.

The physical process of creating a prosthetic begins with an intimate and hands-on step: casting the residual limb. This requires the prosthetist to create plaster mold, ensuring every detail of the limb is captured to achieve a perfect fit. Then comes the modification phase, where the mold is refined, sometimes requiring long hours of sanding and shaping. The socket, which connects the prosthetic to the limb, must be durable yet comfortable—a balance that takes years to master. Finally, the prosthetic is assembled, using cutting-edge technology and durable materials, to create a limb that restores mobility and independence.

CPO Tessa Braun, from the Seattle VAMC, shares her excitement about following Veterans throughout their journey. “It’s incredible to be there from the beginning, helping them get fitted for a prosthetic, evaluating their progress, and seeing them regain mobility. I get to witness firsthand the resilience of those who have served.”

Braun feels the field has traditionally appeared male-dominated, partly because of the heavy-duty tools. “There’s a lot of grinding, big band saws, and other machinery,” she said.

Looking toward the future of prosthetics, Braun is optimistic. “I see prosthetics becoming more efficient and 3-D printing and scanning are already being used to create customized parts for better fit and safety.”

Hailing from the Minneapolis VAMC, CPO Emily Zoltai shares a deep passion for adaptive sports and the power of providing resources to individuals with disabilities. “I love adaptive sports—I love seeing what people can do if you give them the resources. This world is not made for people who are not able-bodied, so being able to adapt is impactful.”

Zoltai is also inspired by the collaboration between prosthetics research in universities and VA, which helps push the field forward. Like her colleagues, she acknowledges the industry's male dominance. “It’s seen as a field where you need to be strong because of the tools we use, but that doesn’t mean women can’t excel in it,” she said.

Women in prosthetics are not just creating limbs; they are breaking barriers by proving that skill, dedication, and heart—not gender—define excellence in prosthetic care.

From the workshop to the slopes of the Snowmass, these women are changing lives—one step at a time.