Sarah Chaikind was first drawn to the field of Orthotics and Prosthetics in high school, as she needed to utilize AFOs for her own mobility. She became fascinated with the technology, as well as the impact these types of devices could have on patient lifestyles. She went on to study Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech with the intent of working in a patient care setting.
Before pursuing further education, Sarah gained hands-on experience working as an Orthotic Fitter. In this role, she was able to work with patients in order to enable them to return to activities that they enjoy. Sarah continued her education at Baylor College of Medicine and graduated with an M.S. in Orthotics and Prosthetics in 2020 after completing her residency at MCOP. In her time as a resident, Sarah was able to work with patients in several clinical settings, including private practice clinics of varying sizes and a large children’s hospital.
Sarah is now one of the main clinicians at our Fairfax office working with both orthotic and prosthetic patients. Here, she enjoys helping her patients maximize their mobility and independence. Her favorite aspect of the field is learning about her patients’ individual needs in order to help them achieve their goals. The most rewarding part of work for her is when patients share with her that they are able to return to an activity that was important to them prior to needing an orthosis/prosthesis.
Sarah has a strong interest in cranial remolding orthoses and recently presented her thesis, A New Normal: An Examination of Modern Cephalic Index, at the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association meeting in Boston and is currently working to publish. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys being outdoors whenever possible, and can often be found hiking, camping, or biking and with her dog, Bluebell, at her side.