When Advocacy Meets Action: A Story from Indiana

Published in Orthotics & Prosthetics on September 24, 2025

By Jeff Kessler, Director, OPGA

Advocacy is tireless work. It’s a lot of educating and re-educating. Then once you’ve done that, you educate some more. Often it seems that after you develop a friendship, establish some trust, or build a personal relationship, you lose that connection and have to start the education cycle all over again. This is the reality of advocacy and why I say it’s tireless, and perhaps why some are not as involved as they wish they were. It takes time and energy, the former being a precious commodity for an O&P practice. However, despite the barriers, real champions of change find ways to participate, recognizing the greater cost of not sharing their story.

Off the heels of the inaugural NAAOP-led congressional fly-in was a request from Senator Banks' Indiana office to see a clinic in their district firsthand. VGM made the connection with an OPGA member in the area, and Christi Hudson, Business Manager at Prevail Prosthetics & Orthotics, answered the call.

Joining Christi was Kristoffer Kail, CP and owner of Prevail O&P, as well as Alicia Carver, past NAAOP Breece Fellow, prosthetic user, and patient advocate. Together they led informed and expert discussions about the impact of specific orthotic legislation that impacts their portion of the patient care continuum. They also took the time to provide a big picture overview of an O&P practice, describe the critical role clinicians play in patient progress, and the technical skill required of O&P professionals.

With action items, new connections, resources, and a better understanding of O&P, Senator Banks' Field Representative left the visit equipped to tell our story and impact positive change for our industry, all thanks to efforts of a handful of individuals. It wasn’t hard, but it took time and intention.

O&P advocacy at Prevail Prosthetics & Orthotics

OPGA would like to recognize and thank Prevail Prosthetics and Orthotics for hosting an impactful visit. Thank you to Christi, Kris, and Alicia for their willingness to pause their full schedules and slow down for a little show and tell. They set a high bar for advocacy in action, where patients and other practices benefit from their efforts. High tides truly raise all ships.

O&P advocacy at Prevail Prosthetics & Orthotics