Nina Bondre Named 2022 O&P Woman of the Year

WATERLOO, Iowa (October 7, 2022)—Nina Bondre has been selected as the 2022 O&P Woman of the Year. Orthotic Prosthetic Group of America (OPGA) presented the award to Bondre during the AOPA National Assembly in the OPGA booth on Thursday, Sept. 29.

“I am so grateful and honored to receive the O&P Woman of the Year award,” said Bondre. “Being recognized for my work in O&P is very special to me as this field, and my many mentors, have shaped who I am. This award reinforces my goal to become a bridge between clinicians and corporations to improve care for our patients.”

Nina Bondre is an education specialist with Ottobock Healthcare. As a certified prosthetist/orthotist (CPO), Bondre witnessed firsthand the startling inequities in the U.S. health care system. These experiences inspired her to cofound a diversity council at Ottobock, where she has started a mentorship program and led an inclusion workshop for Ottobock’s North America executive team. 

Her clinical and educational experiences have shown her how important patients and clinicians are to the innovation process. Most recently, she has been exploring design thinking and its applications to the patient experience. Having completed her Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Neuroscience at Duke University and Master of Prosthetics & Orthotics at Northwestern University, Bondre is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She hopes to become the bridge between clinicians and corporations to improve care in orthotics and prosthetics (O&P).

“On behalf of everyone at OPGA, we want to congratulate Nina on winning this year’s O&P Woman of the Year award,” said Adam Miller, president of OPGA. “Nina’s commitment to furthering her own education, while at the same time being committed to making O&P care more inclusive and attainable for patients, represents everything this award is about. Her contributions are helping move our profession forward—not just now, but into the future. Nina, thank you for all you do, and congratulations again on this well-deserved honor.”

The O&P Woman of the Year award was developed by OPGA, a division of VGM & Associates, and is open to all women who work in the orthotic and prosthetic profession. A selection committee of four O&P professionals review nominations and select finalists by considering the nominees’ contributions throughout their careers to patients, the community and the O&P profession.

For more information about the award, follow OPGA on social media or
visit vgm.com/oandpwomanoftheyear.