Prosthetic Residency at Optimus Prosthetics
An approved O&P residency site in Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati, Ohio.
Optimus Prosthetics is an approved residency site for prosthetic residents. We've been training residents for a decade. You'll carry your own caseload under direct mentorship, and you'll see the full arc of care: hospital bedsides, fabrication, fittings, and long-term follow-up.
What Your Residency Looks Like
The typical resident sees about 6 patients per day. Over the course of the residency you'll work with at least 10 upper limb prosthetic patients, and roughly 50% of your lower limb prosthetic patients will be K3 or K4 ambulators — a case mix weighted toward active, higher-function patients.
Because we're primarily a prosthetics practice, we partner with a pediatric-focused O&P practice based out of a local hospital so your training is well-rounded. Through that partnership you'll see at least 3 new cranial remolding orthosis patients and at least 10 new scoliosis orthosis patients, and about 90% of your lower limb orthotic patients will be pediatric.
Why Train at Optimus
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You'll develop a working understanding of design and manufacturing, not just fitting. Our lab is a two-minute walk from the Dayton clinic.
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Traditional clinics, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and rehab. Our clinicians attend surgical follow-ups as the patient's advocate — you'll go too. Most residents never see what happens between discharge and first fitting.
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PTs and PTAs in the building mean gait training and rehabilitation are part of your daily learning, not a separate discipline.
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Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati mean different hospital systems, referral patterns, and patient populations.
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Upper and lower limb, all amputation levels, pediatric through geriatric, including osseointegration.
Meet Your Mentors
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![Black and white photo of a smiling woman with short, curly hair wearing a light-colored top, against a blurred brick wall background.]()
Sara Goldberg
Program Director, Clinical Manager, CP, LP
Sara Goldberg is an American Board Certified and Ohio Licensed Prosthetist. Sara earned her BS in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine from California Lutheran University and a post-graduate Certificate in Prosthetics from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Sara pursued a career in the field of prosthetics because she felt that it was the perfect combination of art and science while getting to help people. She has moved across the country 6 times as an adult and loves exploring new places. Outside of work, Sara enjoys spending time with her husband and son and their 2 dogs. She likes playing nerdy tabletop games and exploring the outdoors. -
![A middle-aged man with light skin, light-colored eyes, and a full beard and mustache. He has light brown hair and is wearing a collared shirt under a zip-up jacket. He is smiling subtly and standing outdoors with a blurred brick wall background.]()
Mark Murka
CP, LP
Mark P. Murka an American Board Certified and Ohio Licensed Prosthetist. A fourth generation prosthetist, Mark laid the foundation for his career by earning his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Dayton, where he developed a passion for healthcare and helping others. Mark's journey continued at Northwestern University, where he earned a post-graduate Certificate in Prosthetics. One of Mark's distinctive features is his genuine dedication to working with veterans. Understanding the unique challenges they face, he has become a trusted ally in their journey to regain mobility and enhance their overall well-being. Outside of his professional life, Mark finds joy in spending quality time with his wife, son, and daughter. Mark's love for the outdoors is evident in his hobbies, where he enjoys kayaking, fishing, and golf. -
![A black and white close-up photo of a smiling woman with long dark hair, glasses, and a light-colored top, standing in front of a brick wall.]()
Shannon Thomas
CPO, LPO
Shannon Thomas is an American Board Certified and Ohio Licensed Prosthetist and Orthotist with a passion for patient-centered care. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Biology from Augustana College and earned her M.S. in Prosthetics and Orthotics from the University of Pittsburgh. She completed her residency and worked for several years in the Chicagoland area before moving to Dayton. Shannon is especially drawn to the problem-solving nature of the job, where every patient presents a unique challenge and opportunity. She is committed to making care approachable and empowering individuals to achieve their personal goals through customized support and innovative solutions. Outside of the clinic, Shannon enjoys spending time with her family, training her dog in a variety of dog sports, cooking, and going to live music concerts. -
![Close-up of a man wearing a formal tuxedo with a bow tie, smiling slightly, with a brick wall in the background.]()
Grant Parthasarathy
CPO, LPO
Grant is an American Board Certified Prosthetist and Orthotist from Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas State University and his Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. His clinical experience spans various settings, including Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, as well as pediatric clinics. Grant’s passion for medicine began early, shadowing in a physical rehabilitation practice and prosthetic clinic in Highschool. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys woodworking, ice hockey, softball, and outdoor activities like hiking and camping with his wife, daughter, and their two dogs. -
![Close-up black and white photo of a smiling man with short hair wearing a suit and a checkered shirt, against a brick wall background.]()
Jerry Wilch
CPO/LPO
Jerry is an American Board Certified and Ohio Licensed Prosthetist and Orthotist. He received his Bachelor of Science degree at Wilmington College in Ohio. He continued with his Orthotics and Prosthetics Certificate at Shelby State in Memphis, TN. Having been in the Prosthetic and Orthotic industry for more than 34 years, he has worked in various parts of the United States. He returned to the Cincinnati area from Houston, TX, where he was working at the VA Medical Center for over 10 years. He has a passion for helping people achieve their goals after they first receive a prosthesis. He also enjoys working with new technology as the industry has evolved over the past decades. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, playing with his dog, tennis, mountain biking, and gym workouts. -
![Close-up black and white photograph of a smiling middle-aged man with short white hair, wearing a checkered shirt under a zip-up sweater, outdoors with a blurred brick wall background.]()
John Brandt
Owner, CPO, LPO
John Brandt is an American Board Certified and Ohio Licensed prosthetist/orthotist. In 1990 he received a B.A. degree from Wright State University. He continued his education at Northwestern University and received his post-graduate certificate in Orthotics and Prosthetics. John has provided prosthetic care in the greater Dayton area for over 30 years. As a prosthetist, he enjoys working with his hands and interacting with people to provide them with care that helps them to maximize their potential. John and his wife, Kim, have been married for 34 years, spending the bulk of their married life raising their 10 children. Following the activities of their two teenagers and remaining involved in their local church keeps them busy. They travel the country often to celebrate weddings, college graduations, and births of grandchildren (7 so far). In the little free time that remains, John makes room for yardwork, woodworking, and an annual snowmobiling trip, all of which he finds incredibly relaxing.
Living in Dayton
Your residency is based in Dayton, in southwest Ohio. It's a city that surprises people. Small enough that it’s not an overwhelming city-vibe, but big enough to have a real food scene, live music, and more outdoor space than most cities twice its size.
See what we love about living in Dayton below.
Why You’ll Love Dayton
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Your Money Goes Further Here
Cost of living in the Dayton area runs well below the national average, and housing is a fraction of what you'd pay in most metros with a comparable residency. For a year when you're just out of a master's program, that matters more than almost anything else.
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The Great Outdoors
Five Rivers MetroParks runs a park system that's genuinely one of the best in the country, and the Miami Valley's paved trail network is among the largest anywhere — you can ride from downtown to Yellow Springs without touching a road. Caesar Creek and John Bryan State Park are both under an hour, and Glen Helen's gorge trails in Yellow Springs are a standard weekend for people here.
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Downtown Dayton
The Oregon District is Dayton's historic entertainment strip — bars, restaurants, live music, and a bookstore that's been there since the seventies. Second Street Market is the Saturday morning institution. Riverscape hosts free concerts and an ice rink in winter, and the Levitt Pavilion runs a free outdoor concert series all summer.
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Things You Can Only Do Here
Dayton is where powered flight was invented, and the city hasn't forgotten it. The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is the largest military aviation museum in the world, and it's free. Carillon Historical Park has the Wright brothers' original 1905 Flyer. The Dayton Art Institute is free too.
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Day Trips and Weekends Elsewhere
Cincinnati and Columbus are both about an hour away, so major concerts, pro sports, and airports are easy. Indianapolis is two hours. Hocking Hills, Red River Gorge, and the Smokies are all doable long weekends.
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The Food Scene
Dayton has one of the most diverse populations in Ohio, and it shows up in the food — Turkish, Ahiska, Ethiopian, Salvadoran, Vietnamese — mostly in unassuming strip malls that locals will point you to. The brewery scene punches above the city's size, and the Dayton Dragons sell out a minor league ballpark downtown all summer.
