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At Winnipeg Prosthetics and Orthotics, we are fortunate to have Jodie, an experienced and compassionate Orthotist who joined our team in 2024. With a family legacy in orthotics, Jodie is a second-generation professional, having followed in her father’s footsteps.
Growing up in the Bahamas, she had the unique opportunity to work side-by-side with her father at his clinic. From the very first summer she began helping out in 10th grade, Jodie witnessed the powerful impact that her work had on patients’ lives. The joy of seeing people leave the clinic feeling better and more confident than when they arrived was a driving force behind her decision to pursue a career in orthotics.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet Jodie yet, she was gracious enough to answer a few questions for us. |
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Jodie, you came to Canada last year from the Bahamas. What do you miss most about the Bahamas?
The warm weather and the clear blue ocean beaches.
What inspired you to follow in your father’s footsteps and become an Orthotist? Was there a moment when you knew this was the career path you wanted for yourself?
I would always go to his office after school and seeing patients come in and leave happier made me interested. Once I started working with him during my summer breaks in high school, I knew this was the field I wanted to be a part of.
Can you tell us a bit about the journey you took to become an Orthotist and how it ultimately led you here, to Winnipeg and WinPo?
I went to school in the US and got my Master’s degree in Orthotics and prosthetics. Once I finished my residency I went home and gave my country 7.5 years of service. I decided I wanted to go somewhere different, new, where I can make a name for myself outside of my father’s name. Once I started looking and found Winnipeg, everything started working out for me to relocate here.
What has been the greatest challenge or struggle in your journey to becoming an Orthotist?
Going to college for so many years when I just wanted to start helping people. I went to three different colleges in seven years then completed an 18 month residency in both Orthotics and Prosthetics. It also took time for me to realize that Orthotics was more of my passion in comparison to Prosthetics.
Can you share a specific moment or patient interaction that made you feel proud of your work as an Orthotist?
During my residency, I fit a patient with an AFO and she cried happy tears and said to me “You have no idea what you just did for me”. That melted my heart and confirmed this was the correct path I was on.
What do you believe is the most rewarding part of being able to help someone regain mobility or comfort?
My absolute favorite thing is knowing I am assisting people to get back to doing things they loved doing before their injury.
Did you practice orthotics prior to moving to Canada in 2024?
I did. After my residency, I worked for 7.5 years in The Bahamas practicing both Orthotics and Prosthetics.
We are proud to have Jodie as part of our team, bringing her expertise, vivacity and commitment to every patient she serves. If you would like to contact Jodie, she can be reached via email at jodie@winpo.ca.
Jodie Lewis, MSOP, CO is a certified Orthotist practicing in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Jodie’s credentials include: O&P Associate (Oklahoma State University, 2019), B.S. in Kinesiology (Avila University, 2012), Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics (Loma Linda University, 2015) and became an American Certified Orthotist in 2022.