Prosthetics is the perfect combination of creativity, technology and patient care for this BCIT grad
“One of my first patients was just two years old,” recalls BCIT alumna and Certified Prosthetist Brittany Pousett of her early days at Barber Prosthetics. “I made her first prosthesis for her, and watching her grow into a confident, rambunctious five-year old is so rewarding.”
The field of prosthetics gives Brittany the perfect blend of the things she loves most: helping people, creating things and solving problems. As a Certified Prosthetist and head of research at Barber Prosthetics, she juggles clinical days (when she meets and works with individual patients) with research days (when she’s collaborating with other researchers, attending conferences or actively collecting data for current research to help improve the field of prosthetics and patient care as a whole).
Brittany and the team of prosthetists and technicians design and manufacture prostheses for a range of ages, from children to the elderly. A walk through the company’s lab reveals just how vast their products are: an artificial leg, designed specifically for swimming is set up for adjustment; a prosthetic arm waits to be custom-painted with the logo of the patient’s favourite band; and a futuristic-looking c-shaped leg, made for high-performing athletes, is ready for fitting. Each prosthetic is as unique as the patient for whom the team at Barber are making it.
On days when she has her research hat on, Brittany moves her focus from the individual patient to improving treatment and technology development for patients in general by collaborating with other research groups at different organizations, including BCIT and Providence Health Care.
“There is so much technology development being done in academic settings or in R&D settings, but that technology doesn’t transition well to the clinic because patients aren’t involved from the beginning,” explains Brittany. “It’s important to bring in the patient’s values from the start so they can easily use the technology. Ultimately, we are doing this for them.”