The Orthotics and Prosthetics Foundation for Education and Research

The people of Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, Inc. continue to give back to the Orthotic and Prosthetic profession with their support of The O&P Foundation Tamarack Award for Outstanding Contributions to Orthotic Practice & Education, which includes an unrestricted $10,000 award. This award recognizes and honors individuals who have significantly impacted Orthotics practice through their dedication to innovation in patient care, orthotic device development, and sharing their knowledge in these areas with the O&P community.

Annual scholarships supporting and recognizing incredible O&P Clinician Masters students. Designed to fuel the future of the O&P profession, the program offers five $20,000 competitive scholarships. Scholarship recipients will receive complimentary registration and a speaking opportunity for both the 2026 American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP) Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium and the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) National Assembly.

The O&P Foundation along with generous support from The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC) offers a scholarship to honor the legacy of Chester Haddan to support individuals pursuing a clinical Master's degree in orthotics and prosthetics (O&P). The Chester Haddan Scholarship includes a $2,500 cash award*. One Chester Haddan Scholarship is given annually to a deserving O&P master’s program student.

The O&P Foundation's Early Career Research Grant Program supports clinically-relevant, investigator-initiated research in orthotics and prosthetics (O&P). The Early Career Research Grant is a one-year award in the amount of $30,000. This award is intended to help early career investigators initiate lines of research that will be competitive for larger funding opportunities through funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), or the Department of Defense (DOD). The Early Career Grant is awarded annually, and awards are based on the scientific merit of the proposed research project.

The O&P Foundation's Carlton Fillauer Award for Outstanding Contribution to Prosthetics Science and Practice, sponsored by the Fillauer family, recognizes prosthetists who have actively engaged in clinical care, research, and publication. The Carlton Fillauer Award will include a $5,000 unrestricted cash award in recognition of the recipient's history of clinical care, scientific research, and peer-reviewed publication in the prosthetics profession.

The O&P Foundation's Mentored Pilot Grant is a one-year award in the amount of $5,000*. This award is intended to help trainees (e.g., masters/doctoral students, orthotics and prosthetics residents) or orthotics and prosthetics clinicians to complete a research project with the guidance of an experienced research mentor. The Mentored Pilot Grant funds are intended to be used for the conduct of the proposed research project. The Mentored Pilot Grant is awarded annually, and awards are based on the scientific merit of the proposed research project.

The O&P Foundation's Microgrant Program is designed to spark clinically relevant scholarly work in the field of orthotics and prosthetics (O&P). This program awards one-year grants of $2,000* to support clinically relevant activities and projects. These microgrants aim to empower health professionals, researchers, students, and residents to pursue projects and activities that may contribute to clinical care in O&P, such as investigator-initiated research, career development opportunities, or quality assurance and/or improvement projects. The Microgrant Program is awarded biannually, once in the spring and once in the fall, and awards are based on the scientific merit and clinical relevance of the proposed activity/project.

The O&P Foundation recognizes and values the impact made by current and future clinician researchers on clinical practice and patient outcomes. Certified Orthotists and Prosthetists who choose to pursue a PhD, often no longer employed in clinical practice, frequently experience financial hardship in managing the expenses associated with professional engagement and maintaining of clinical credentials. The O&P Foundation is offering an annual award of up to $1000* for up to (10) ABC certified CPOs, CPs, or COs actively pursuing a PhD. These funds serve to offset expenses associated with attending O&P conferences, maintaining professional memberships, and receiving continuing education units.