On April 9, 2015, Dankmeyer, Inc. held its first-ever “Opening Day” celebration at its headquarters in recognition of Limb Loss Awareness Month, and to provide their customers as well as the public a chance to learn more about the custom prosthetic and orthotic devices the company manufactures, and hear from amputees about how they live most effectively using their devices.
The event, held the day before the Orioles’ Opening Day game, drew approximately 150 visitors to the Dankmeyer Linthicum (Baltimore area) facility and gave guests a glimpse into its operation that produces prosthetics for amputees and orthotics. The Opening Day festivities also included Dennis Oehler and Todd Schaffhauser, Paralympians and co-creators of the Amputee Walking School. Their program teaches amputees how to become more mobile and to learn how to perform desired activities to the best of their ability.
Erika Brannock talks about her experience as a Dankmeyer patient after the Boston Marathon bombing.
Erika Brannock, a Maryland native, was an unfortunate victim in the Boston Marathon terrorist attack in 2013, and as a result of her injuries, had to have an amputation of her left leg above the knee. Dankmeyer designed the prosthetic leg for Brannock after the attack, and continues to provide service to her. She spoke at Opening Day and shared her emotional and courageous story with other amputees, encouraging them to find a purpose after their personal struggles. Brannock said, “No one really chooses to be an amputee. Yes, you can make the choice to have [your leg] amputated, but you don’t choose the reason why.”
She went on to thank Mark Hopkins, CEO and President of Dankmeyer and his staff for providing “the best care possible, which is what I’ve gotten over the past two years.” Brannock also related a story about her goals as a preschool teacher, and what she hoped for after her recovery. She said, “The first time I met Mark, he asked me what he could help me with. I [told him] I just wanted to sit down, ‘criss-cross apple sauce’ on the floor with my students, and read them a story. Mark didn’t pause for a second, and said ‘no problem.’ And Mark kept his word.”
Mark Hopkins states “Dankmeyer, Inc. is very pleased for the opportunity to share our work and our passion for service to the community. As always, we make it our business to enrich the lives of all those we serve through prosthetics and orthotics patient care, teaching and research. We encourage our referral sources and all those interested who were not able to attend our open house event, to contact us for more information.”
Dankmeyer Inc. was founded in 1954 to provide prostheses and orthoses to patients in Maryland and nearby communities. The practice developed and has maintained an excellent reputation throughout the community and has relationships with all of the medical teaching institutions in the area as well as most of the private hospitals and insurers. The practice was founded on the principle of being sensitive to the needs of the community and providing services to meet those needs. We were founded by Charles “Herb” Dankmeyer, himself a bilateral below the knee amputee. Dankmeyer, Inc is now the largest provider of orthoses and prostheses in the State of Maryland.