Orthotics
UC Davis Health's Orthotics Workshop provides devices to adult and child inpatients and outpatients. Conventional prosthetic and orthotic devices may be provided by community prosthetists who attend the amputee and spinal cord injury clinics. Training in the use and adjustment of appliances is provided by specially trained therapists.
What is an orthosis?
Orthoses are "braces" or supports designed to protect, heal or assist various body parts. Orthoses are used for a variety of reasons. They are used to alleviate pain, prevent deformities, enhance gait, facilitate activities of daily living, protect insensate limbs, reduce burn deformities, stabilize fractures or other instabilities, and promote osteogenesis. They can be off-the-shelf items or devices that are custom, molded, designed, and fitted with the patient's individual needs in mind.
Clinic Staff
- Laduan Smedley, C.P.O. (Chief Orthotist)
- Russell Dela Rosa, C.O. (Senior Orthotist)
- Michael Ginzburg, C.O.
- Rachel White, C.P.O.
- Anthony DeMario, HLT IV
Patients Who Benefit from Orthotic Treatment
Almost everyone knows a close friend or family member who has needed an orthosis of some kind. Athletes use sports braces and supports to prevent injuries or stabilize a past injury. Expectant mothers sometimes use an abdominal support to reduce back strain. People with fractures sometimes use an orthosis in place of a cast. Many people wear shoe inserts to reduce pain in their feet, and diabetics or other patients with insensate limbs wear orthopedic shoes and inserts to protect their feet from injury. And people with extensive scarring from burns will wear devices to reduce hypertrophic scarring and contractures. These are just a few examples of the many orthoses we provide and the people who may benefit from orthotic care.
Internship Opportunities
Graduate and undergraduate students are accepted for two month affiliations. Students may apply or obtain information concerning internships from the Internship and Career Center at 530-752-2823. As an educational facility we encourage our interns to ask questions and participate in the orthotic process. It is helpful for interns to have, experience with power equipment (sanders, grinders, band saws, etc.), although this is not required. With the patients' permission interns will be able to meet patients, watch evaluations and fittings, and participate in the fabrication process.
How to get an Appointment
Patients are referred to us by physicians in a variety of specialties including: physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopedics, vascular, neurology, obstetrics, burns, intensive care medicine and family practice. We require a prescription from a physician or nurse practitioner for services to be provided. The prescription can be mailed, faxed or hand delivered to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department Therapies reception desk in Suite 1100 of the Ellison Ambulatory Care Center. Authorizations will be obtained if needed and then an appointment will be scheduled.
What to Expect
Our office staff will take your insurance information and have you fill out any needed paperwork. Please bring to your appointment your insurance cards and any medical records you may have as well as the prescription from your doctor. Please be sure to check with your insurance for co-pays and coverage information. Dress so you can move easily and comfortably.
An orthotic staff member will discuss your case with you, evaluate you and probably take a few measurements or a mold for your orthosis. If your legs are involved, please bring a pair of shorts to your appointment. If your arms are involved, a short sleeve shirt is best.
Fabrication and fitting time depends on the type of orthosis requested. Some orthoses you may receive at the time of your initial appointment, while others may require you to return after the time required for fabrication or ordering.
Meet our Orthotics Team
Laduan Smedley
Laduan is a Sacramento native and a certified Prosthetist-Orthotist. Laduan earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California, Davis in 2009. While in college, he volunteered at the UC Davis Medical Center- Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, were he is now the supervisor. After graduating from college, Laduan attended CSU Dominguez Hills were he was trained in orthotics and prosthetics. After graduating, Laduan completed his orthotic and prosthetic residency at a private O&P company and later joined UC Davis Health in 2014. Prior to managing at Davis, Laduan was the manager of the UCLA Health Orthotic and Prosthetic department.
Michael Ginzburg
Mike began his orthotics journey as a Student Volunteer at UC Davis. He completed his Orthotics certification in 2005 and after a couple of years in private practice returned to UC Davis Medical Center. He went on to complete his Masters of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics in 2016, and Masters of Art in Psychology in 2019.
Mike’s professional interests include chronic pain disorders, limb salvage, and complicated cases involving patients who have had negative experiences with Orthotic interventions in the past. In personal life he enjoys learning, outdoor recreation, video games, gardening and spending time with friends family and his dog.
Rachel White
Rachel White is a certified Prosthetist-Orthotist who has been practicing orthotics since 2009 and prosthetics since 2016. She specializes in the management of scoliosis (both pediatric and adult), other spinal deformities, and spinal fracture management. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from California State University, Sacramento. She then went on to study orthotics at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL, earning her graduate degree in Orthotics in 2009. She completed her orthotics residency in Chicago, concentrating on scoliosis and spinal orthotics management. In 2014, she attended the University of Hartford, Connecticut's Newington Prosthetics program and received her post-graduate degree in prosthetics in 2015. Rachel White resides in Sacramento, Ca with her family and currently works out of our UC Davis Spine Center.