Orthotics & Prosthetics
General News
She calls it nothing more than being able to “tag along and get recognition at such a high level.” Still, Mary-Kate Dennis ‘26O&P played a significant role in winning the 2025 Professor Hans Georg Nader Digital O&P Care Award with her mentor, Cara Negri, BSME, MEd, CP, LP, FAAOP.
The two were presented the award at the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) National Assembly in Orlando, Florida, in the Fall of 2025. The award is given by Ottobock — one of the largest and oldest companies in the Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) profession — and is in honor of Professor Hans Georg Nadar and his many contributions to the O&P profession.
“The purpose is to prepare the O&P profession for the future as digital care and innovations in technology continue to lead the direction of patient care,” said Dennis, who graduates this year from the Master of Science in the O&P program in the College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP), Drexel University’s Elkins Park campus.
Dennis and Negri presented at the AOPA assembly called “Integrating Traditional and Additive Manufacturing in Prosthetic Residency.”
“We discussed how we utilized, designed, and created devices while providing a quality residency and giving the residents experience with all techniques, but also preparing them for any location and type of fabrication they will run into,” said Dennis.
She added an award like this helps showcase the direction the O&P profession is moving and prepares her for “any type of patient and processes that will be taken to provide care and devices.”
Dennis completed her undergraduate work at Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky, graduating with a bachelor's degree in biology. She chose to go into O&P because of the mix of patient care, art, and science, and was attracted to Drexel’s O&P program because of its faculty and integrated residency component.
It was during the first nine months of residency that she met and was mentored by Negri, the lead prosthetist at Gainesville Prosthetics in Gainesville, Florida.
“Cara has taught me so much. She has encouraged me to ask questions, think outside the box, and hone my clinical skills. I admire her attitude when attacking appointments, problems, and life,” said Dennis. “I think I can speak for every resident she has ever had when I say that Cara not only helped us find a place in the field but made space for us. I am so glad that I was placed at GP because of the opportunities, knowledge, and people.”
The Munfordville, Kentucky, native is excited to be graduating and looks forward to finding her own footing in the O&P profession. “As far as a plan, I'm waiting to see where the wind will blow me and what opportunities I can find,” she said.
