In this episode, recorded live at the 52nd Academy Annual Meeting in Nashville, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), is joined by Kiley Armstrong, MS, MPO, CPO, research prosthetist/orthotist at Northwestern University, for a conversation on the role social determinants of health play in orthotic and prosthetic care. Armstrong shares her journey into a leadership role with a soccer organization for individuals with amputations before previewing her session, “Considering Social Determinants of Health to Elevate O&P Care and Outcomes.” The discussion explores how factors such as education, economic stability, social environment, neighborhood conditions, and access to healthcare can significantly influence patient outcomes, often extending beyond the clinical intervention itself. Armstrong highlights real-world barriers including transportation, childcare, and insurance challenges that can contribute to missed appointments and interrupted care, while emphasizing the importance of trust building, awareness of implicit bias, and open communication in the clinician-patient relationship. She also shares practical strategies for addressing disparities, including leveraging community resource tools, developing referral networks, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and clinic leadership to better support patients.

O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.