Interview with Tara Wright: My 3D Printing Journey in O&P

Oct 24, 2025

Tara Wright is a certified and licensed prosthetist-orthotist at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul, Minnesota, with over 10 years of clinical experience. She earned her Master’s degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics from Eastern Michigan University in 2014 and was recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists in 2022. In addition to her clinical role, she serves as Team Lead of Quality, where she bridges clinical expertise with fabrication techniques to advance orthotic practices within the organization. Tara is a passionate advocate for integrating evidence-based principles to elevate orthotic and prosthetic care. Tara will be speaking at the upcoming 3D Printing for Orthotics and Prosthetics event.

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When was the first time you encountered 3D printing?

Tara: The master’s program I attended had a desktop fused filament fabrication (FFF) style printer. A small group of students primarily used it to print novel items, such as keychains, to introduce them to the technology. 3D printing was beginning to gain steam in the field of Orthotics & Prosthetics, but I thought the industrial-style printers used in research were out of reach for clinicians, and desktop printers were underpowered to influence clinical care truly. At that time, it was more of a dream and a wish than a reality.

What inspired you to start your journey?

Tara: When I began my career at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in 2016, we already had a commercial FFF printer on-site. It was primarily used to print models of infant heads from scans for the fabrication of cranial remolding orthoses that are used to treat deformational plagiocephaly. It also printed cup holders for wheelchair lap trays, some pre-surgical modeling, and prototyping.

In 2020, the Lower Limb Orthotics Society of the American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists (AAOP) was soliciting topics for an upcoming publication. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to get some info on the current state of 3D printing in lower limb orthotics?” and was promptly asked to author an article answering my question. That was the beginning of my deep dive into the evidence base of 3D printing in O&P, and my questions just grew from there.

Who inspired you the most along this journey ?

Tara: Our former Technician Team Lead, Jonathan Zeibol, spent a lot of time with me while I was learning the basics of “What is 3D printing?” He was excited to expand the use of additive manufacturing at Gillette Children’s, introduced me to our printer manufacturer partners, and shared his vision for our department. Jon eventually left the department to take another role within the organization, so I was charged with continuing his work in partnership with our first fully digital technician. Around this time, I was introduced to Dan Blocka, a certified orthotist and the owner of Boundless Biomechanical Bracing, located near Toronto. He has spent over a decade investing in additive manufacturing and has been a major influence on my approach to the clinical implementation of 3D-printed devices.

What motivates you the most for your work?

Tara: My patients are my motivation. Most of the work in AM I have participated in has been developed to meet a specific patient need that cannot be met using traditional methods. One particular patient had a lot of trauma related to a recent injury. They were not able to tolerate anyone touching their limb, so we could not use standard fiberglass/plaster molding techniques. The patient agreed to have their limb scanned, and we then printed a model of it to fabricate the device. In this instance, using a scanner was the most compassionate choice for the patient.

What is/are the biggest obstacle(s) in your line of work? If you have conquered them, what were your solutions?

Tara: Time. I need to balance the time I spend working in 3D printing with daily clinical duties, which slows my uptake. We also utilize service bureaus for all of our MJF prints and are subject to their workflows, shipping schedules, and unforeseen delays. However, our partnerships with service bureaus allow us to experiment with printers and materials, so it is a balance between the benefits and barriers.

What do you think is (are) the biggest challenge(s) in 3D Printing? What do you think the potential solution(s) is (are)?

Tara: When traditional workflows for O&P fabrication were developed, trial and error was the primary method of exploration. Today, the focus has shifted to evidence-based quality and safety standards set by organizations like ISO. However, because most commonly used fabrication methods have not been evaluated against these standards, we lack a benchmark for comparison. As a result, we must not only try to match the properties of current devices but also assess whether the existing standards are truly optimal. It would be a significant benefit to partner with researchers and engineers interested in the materials science side of Orthotics & Prosthetics to quantify our current work and investigate optimal standards.

If a higher being grants you three wishes, what would they be?

Tara: My three wishes would be:

Apparition (the ability to instantly transport oneself from one location to another). I could get so much done if I never had to sit in traffic again.
Hear my dog’s thoughts. Though I don’t want him to know because he would definitely abuse this power.
Peace on earth. Can’t we all just get along?

What advice would you give to a smart driven college student in the “real world”? What bad advices you heard should they ignore?

Tara: My advice is inspired by the quote, “Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path, and you will find that you have crossed the mountain.” At the start of your education or career, some goals may feel overwhelming. But by steadily building your experience and seizing opportunities along the way, you can achieve them one small step at a time.

The worst advice? A good education will get you a good job. Yes, you need to have baseline knowledge, but building your professional network is just as important. In O&P, the person who is going to land that role has a network of peers for mentorship and endorsement.

What’s your favorite book you read this year and why? Alternatively, what’s your favorite book of all times you read and why?

Tara: I’m going to cheat since I’ve been doing more audiobooks lately. I enjoyed listening to The Serious Business of Small Talk by Carol A. Fleming. It’s an oldie, but great for helping to build your conversational skills. My favorite book of all time is The Family That Couldn’t Sleep by D.T. Max. It is a non-fiction medical mystery that explores prion diseases. The author is a journalist and uses his skills to turn what could be a dry case study into a fascinating educational experience.