Congrats to Staff for Achieving Professional Goals!

This month we want to take note of some special professional achievements of our staff members over the summer of 2026. This summer, those happen to revolve around education. Education is a very important part of our mission. We educate many groups outside of Dankmeyer, we educate each other, and encourage our team members to take part in educational opportunities that they wish to pursue.

John Cavallero

This month we are happy to announce that John Cavallero has passed the exams required to make him a Certified Orthotist. He is now known professionally as John Cavallaro, CO, Board Eligible Prosthetist. John is in the process of taking the exams necessary to become a Certified Prosthetist. These exams are composed of both written material and hands on clinical evaluations by the examiners at the American Board of Certification. John did his dual program residency with Dankmeyer, and we are happy to see him complete these next professional steps. Congratulations, John!

Jocelyn Phillips

Another member of our team, Jocelyn (Diaz) Phillips, Patient Services Supervisor, came to Dankmeyer having started work on her Doctor of Business Administration. Jocelyn recently reached an exciting milestone in her doctoral journey by successfully defending her dissertation proposal for her Doctor of Business Administration degree at Keiser University. Her dissertation, “Financial Performance Differences by Ownership Type Among Orthotics and Prosthetics Providers, 2013–2020,” examines differences in revenue and operating margin within the O&P profession. The proposal defense represents the completion and approval of the first three dissertation chapters, which establish the foundation for the study and outline how the research will be conducted. Jocelyn is incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to attend her defense, offer encouragement, and show their support throughout such an important moment. Having so many familiar faces present made the experience even more meaningful. With her proposal successfully defended and IRB approved, Jocelyn has now moved into the final stages of her dissertation, where she is completing and interpreting the results of her research. What a great accomplishment! Congratulations, Jocelyn!

Julianna MacNeir

Dankmeyer also hosted a summer intern. The Summer Internship program at Dankmeyer is extremely popular and competitive. Many college students apply so they can learn about prosthetics and orthotics first hand. Their stay with us usually includes shadowing practitioners, working in the lab, documenting procedures and organizing tools and space. Julianna MacNeir joined us for a six week session and had this to report:

“During my 6-week internship at Dankmeyer, I gained hands-on experience that expanded my technical skills and approach to patient care. I routinely observed and assisted with patient evaluations, practiced clinical tasks, and learned to operate a lot of lab equipment. In addition to getting clinical exposure, I completed two projects during my time here. First, I developed a formal donation procedure to help make the device donation process more efficient and official. Second, I completed an "Alignment Tools Project," where I cut, shaped, and riveted plastic components, so they functioned as models of lower extremity joints. The project not only helped to reinforce my hand-skills but also provided models to help educate patients on joint biomechanics- such as demonstrating normal flexion and extension versus hyperextension. While my time at Dankmeyer flew by, the skills I developed and the exposure to the field have certainly laid a solid foundation as I prepare for graduate school and reinforced my love for the profession.”

Claire Vallery

We did our share of teaching outside of Dankmeyer. Dankmeyer team member Claire Vallery, CPO, is currently a PhD student at the University of Delaware in the Delaware Limb Loss Lab with a focus in clinical outcomes research. Claire took a primary role in both organizing and teaching all the lab work for some summer course work for University of Maryland Baltimore Physical Therapy students. We teach this course annually, with Mark Hopkins usually taking the lead and other Dankmeyer staff joining him as lecturers. Claire took over from Mark when he found himself on short notice jury duty! Thank you and congratulations, Claire, on a job well done.

Welcome to Dankmeyer, Desiree Kelly!

Desiree Kelly is an Insurance Authorization Specialist at Dankmeyer. She began her career in a physical therapy office, where she handled insurance coordination and helped manage the day to day operations of the clinic. Desiree writes:

Throughout my time with the PT practice, one thing remained constant—my passion for helping people. I found fulfillment in making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Today, in my role at Dankmeyer, I continue to use my experience to help patients navigate insurance approvals and access the care they need. I take pride in making what can often feel like a complicated process as smooth and stress-free as possible. That same commitment continues to drive me. I bring a strong foundation in organization, problem-solving, and client support to everything I do, always with the goal of helping others.

Outside of work, Desiree enjoys spending time reading, trying new foods, traveling with her partner, and spending time with their dogs.

We are happy to welcome Desiree to the team! Say hello when you see her!

We Say Goodbye to Retiring Team Member Barbara DeLorenzo

After 41 years of service, long time Dankmeyer team member Barbara DeLorenzo retired in March 2026. We held a reception for her to celebrate her contributions to Dankmeyer and the communities we serve. Attended by co-workers, other business colleagues and family members, we shared food and drink and stories about her 41 years’ experience. In her time at Dankmeyer Barbara has seen a lot of changes in prosthetics and orthotics. We asked Barbara to share her story here.

When I applied for a job as bookkeeper at Dankmeyer Inc. in 1985, I never imagined that I would be retiring from Dankmeyer almost 41 years later.  I worked several different types of jobs prior to arriving at Dankmeyer.  I was trained as a Dental Assistant, worked as a clerk in a gift shop and at a department store. I was a bookkeeper for a chemical company and the owner of a gift shop.   But my favorite career was working at three radio stations. I enjoyed meeting all kinds of people, being in the know about what was happening in the world and in the little towns where I was broadcasting.  I was an on-air personality, interviewed individuals and wrote local news, sold advertising, and wrote and recorded radio ads. I even dressed up as an Easter Bunny one year and handed out bumper stickers on a street corner.  I was able to use my voice, creativity and be funny!   

The day that I interviewed for the job at Dankmeyer, I was offered a job at a radio station in Baltimore, but decided that as the mom of a 5-year old, I needed a job that did not require the possibility of working nights, weekends and holidays.  I was looking for a stable job with mom-friendly hours.  Being a bookkeeper was easy for me as I am detailed oriented and good at math.  After my job interview, I walked away knowing that the job at Dankmeyer would be perfect for me.  The company had been in business for over 30 years, was family owned, and they cared about their patients and employees.  When I got the job, I was thrilled and figured I could always get back into radio at a later time.  On my first day on the job, I got to witness firsthand how well the staff related to each other like family and I witnessed how much they cared about the patients.  

I met Joe DeLorenzo my first day at Dankmeyer.  He was my go-to person when I had questions about suppliers, parts, invoices, and timecards.  Joe was a technician and fabricated prostheses, along with doing purchasing.  I learned a lot about prostheses and braces by watching the technicians make the devices for our patients.  When I had questions, Joe was willing to explain parts and processes to me so I could understand how we made those arms, legs and braces.  Four years later, Joe and I were married.  We worked together at Dankmeyer for over 39 years before Joe retired.  Now we will be enjoying our retirement together.

When I came to Dankmeyer, the office was located at 2010 Maryland Avenue, just north of North Avenue in downtown Baltimore.  The office moved to Linthicum in December 1994.  I remember the big move to a new location, the packing up of everything in the building and then the unpacking in our brand new, much bigger space.  

As the bookkeeper in 1985, my work was done by pencil and paper.  Patient accounts were kept in a large ledger book with a page for each patient.  Notes about the patient visit and the list of components were handwritten by the practitioner, then cut and stapled into the patient file.  There was a brown paper file for each patient.  Over the years as we embraced technology, the notes were then typed on a computer and put into the file and eventually we moved to an EMR – Electronic Medical Record system.  The bookkeeping tasks also changed with the times and reports and records became digital.  A lot of the components and processes that were used in the making of arms, legs and braces have also changed over the years.  When I came to Dankmeyer, some of the legs were made out of wood.  No one would have even imagined parts made on a 3D printer!

Although much has changed in my 41 years at Dankmeyer, a lot has stayed the same.  Dankmeyer still makes artificial limbs and braces.  Dankmeyer is a good place to work, with kind and compassionate employees who care about each other and our patients.  I am so glad that I am a part of the Dankmeyer family and to have worked for a great company.

Barbara is an avid gardener and also a crafter who is going to have more time to work in her gardens and crafting space. She and Joe have also hinted at some future travel, as their daughter and grandchildren are not local. We will miss her expertise and her unfailing kindness to everyone she met. She’s on speed dial, so we know we can rely on her for feedback when we need it! Thank you, Barbara for all your hard work and devotion. Enjoy your retirement!

Welcome to Dankmeyer, Jocelyn Diaz!

Jocelyn Diaz is the Patient Services Supervisor at Dankmeyer, where she plays a key role in overseeing patient administration and supporting clinical operations. Originally from Baxley, Georgia, Jocelyn holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Georgia Southern University. She later earned a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Keiser University and has completed all academic coursework toward her Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), with only the dissertation remaining. Her research focuses on healthcare operations, financial performance, and patient-centered outcomes.

Jocelyn’s professional background spans healthcare administration, business operations, and patient services, equipping her with a strong foundation to support organizational efficiency and enhance patient care delivery. She is passionate about advancing her career in business leadership at Dankmeyer, and aspires to become a part-time professor, combining her practical experience with scholarly research to guide students in bridging the gap between academia and real-world experiences.

Outside of work, Jocelyn enjoys spending time outside with her husband, Elijah, their daughter Juliana Elise, their Yorkie, Royce Alexander, and their Doberman, Duke Remington. A full house! 

We are happy to welcome Jocelyn to the team! Say hello when you see her!

Mark Hopkins Receives Clinical Commitment Award

Mark Hopkins, PT, CPO, MBA and CEO of Dankmeyer Inc, was awarded the Clinical Commitment Award at the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP) annual meeting February 2026. This award recognizes members who have quietly demonstrated a commitment to improving the professional image of the orthotic and prosthetic profession to patients, co-workers, and colleagues.

Mark is a Certified Prosthetist Orthotist and a Licensed Physical Therapist, who has been with Dankmeyer since 1992. He completed his MBA at The Johns Hopkins University.  He is currently adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine School of Physical Therapy and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Mark became CEO of Dankmeyer in 2012 when he became an owner upon Charles Dankmeyer’s retirement. Mark is a huge advocate for our residency program and an important part of all of Dankmeyer’s annual professional education programs.

Also in attendance at the AAOP meeting in Nashville, TN were Dankmeyer practioners Sheryl Sachs CPO, Helena Ringer CPO, Cole Branche CPO and Claire Vallery CPO. Claire is a Dankmeyer team member who is currently a PhD Student at the University of Delaware in the Delaware Limb Loss Lab with a focus in clinical outcomes research.  Claire was a presenter at the meeting, sharing her research on falls from her paper called "Baseline Fall History and Multisite Pain Predict Future Falls Among Adults with Lower-limb Amputation."

Congratulations to Mark for this well deserved award. Congratulations to Claire on her presentation. We are happy for them both and proud to have them represent Dankmeyer at this important professional meeting.