Jeff Henderson, CPO

 I graduated with a degree in elementary education, driven by a passion for working with youth and supporting the community. After several years in education, I developed a growing interest in health and fitness roles within the community. My wife, a physical therapist, encouraged me to explore a career in healthcare, combining my educational background with a focus on physical rehabilitation and sports. Her advice led me to discover the orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) profession. While gaining experience as a physical therapy aide, I encountered a patient using a complex arm device, sparking my curiosity about such technology. My lifelong interest in building, nurtured by helping my father with home and deck projects, further fueled my desire to enter the O&P field. I eventually shadowed at an O&P clinic in Virginia, gaining valuable experience, and was later accepted into the Orthotics & Prosthetics Program at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL.

Over the past 15+ years, I have dedicated myself to O&P patient care, helping individuals with physical disabilities both in and out of the clinic. In 2016, I began grassroots volunteering with amputees in the community, which led to the founding of the Blue Ridge Area Amputee Group (BRAAG), a non-profit organization supporting their return to recreational and sports activities. My family has been deeply involved in the non-profit, and my three children have created many fond memories with the adaptive community. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute my time and resources to help others lead active lives despite their physical challenges, and I look forward to many more years of volunteering.