Grant Wood holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from the University of Salford, School of Prosthetics and Orthotics in England. His post-graduate thesis was on idiopathic scoliosis treatment using the Cheneau brace at the Research Institute for Health, University of Salford. As well as being British certified in prosthetics and orthotics, he completed his American Board Certification in Orthotics, to become an ABC Certified Orthotist (CO) and US Board Certified in Prosthetics

Miguel Bustamante has been promoted to Director of Clinical Care of Align Clinic San Mateo (AC SM), he has over 17 years of experience in the orthotics and prosthetics field. Before joining Align Clinic, Miguel served as Clinic Manager with his previous employer at their Mountain View, CA location and at an additional satellite clinic in Redwood City, CA. He has practiced in the San Francisco Bay Area for his entire career.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis in 2001, where he first discovered the O&P field, he went on to earn a post-baccalaureate certificate in Orthotics in 2002 from Northwestern University. In 2004, he returned to Northwestern University to earn the certificate in Prosthetics. Miguel is an ABC Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist who has extensive experience in pediatric orthotics, including Cranial Remolding Orthoses (helmets). His interest in pediatrics began early in his career during his Orthotics residency working under Align Clinic’s very own Steve Baum, who served as his Residency Director.

Miguel has vast experience working with adults as well, like those with neurological conditions including stroke, muscular dystrophies, Multiple Sclerosis, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. He is listed on the CMTA website as a CMT clinician. Miguel has specialized in advanced technologies for orthotic management of the lower extremities, like the Walk Aide System for foot drop and Stance Control orthoses including the microprocessor-controlled Otto Bock C-brace. He was one of the first clinicians in the state of California to fit a C-brace.

As a Certified Prosthetist, Miguel has fit various levels of lower limb amputations, from partial foot amputations to hip disarticulations. He has provided lower limb microprocessor-controlled prostheses and elevated-vacuum prosthetic sockets from various manufacturers.

Miguel brings his passion for helping others, his experience, and his determination for successful outcomes to Align Clinic.

Hosna Sharafi is an ABC Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist and has specialized in pediatric orthotics. She officially joined the Align Clinic San Mateo team in 2022 after working for her previous employer for 10 years. Hosna first became interested in the field of Prosthetics and Orthotics during her undergraduate research pursuing a biomedical engineering degree at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA. She then received her M.S. in Prosthetics and Orthotics at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She completed her orthotic residency at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, CT, and her prosthetic residency at the Hanger Clinic in San Francisco, CA.

Early on in her career, Hosna was drawn to the field of pediatrics and has dedicated her clinical practice to this population. As a pediatric clinician, she sees a high volume of patients with a wide variety of diagnoses including deformational plagiocephaly, pectus carinatum, cerebral palsy, and scoliosis. Hosna has a particular interest in working with pediatric scoliosis patients and appreciates the complexity involved in the successful orthotic treatment of idiopathic and neuromuscular scoliosis.

She strongly believes in teamwork and collaboration in order to provide high-quality patient care. She enjoys cultivating close relationships with her patients, their parents, and the referring physicians. Hosna is passionate about her career and takes great pride in improving her patients’ quality of life.

Hosna lives in San Mateo and has called the Bay Area home for many years now. Outside of work, she enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and traveling.

Megan (Meg) received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Maryland, College Park (2019) before going on to receive her Master of Health Science in Prosthetics & Orthotics from California State University, Dominguez Hills (2021). She is a Certified Orthotist and Board-Eligible Prosthetist after completing both residencies in Orthotics (2022) and Prosthetics (2023) at the University of California, San Francisco. During her residency, Meg participated in two research studies to develop a multidisciplinary tool to improve functional status of lower limb prosthetic users and establish treatment parameters for orthotic intervention of Pectus Carinatum.

As a former gymnastics coach, swimming coach, and nanny, Meg has always enjoyed working with children. Her professional interests include pediatrics, interdisciplinary healthcare, and biomechanics of gait.

Outside of work, Meg enjoys spending time outdoors running, climbing, camping and travelling.

Robert Bargainer is an ABC Certified Orthotist who joined Align Clinic in 2022. Entering the field of Orthotics and Prosthetics in 2000, Robert became an ABC Certified Orthotist in 2009.

He attended California State University Dominguez Hills and obtained his Bachelor of Science, Health Science/Orthotic and Prosthetic option, 2003. After graduation, Robert worked with Inhous Orthopedics in Westminster, CA. There, he received extensive training with orthotic fabrication techniques and treating pediatric patients. He completed his orthotic residency with Inhous Orthopedics in 2005.

Being a Bay Area native, Robert enjoys helping patients in his local community with their orthotic needs. He has provided orthotic care in the Bay Area since 2006, specializing in lower extremity orthotics, spinal, and scoliosis bracing. He has also spent the last decade being a cranial remolding specialist treating patients with deformational plagiocephaly.

When not providing patient care, you may find Robert spending time with his family, playing golf and enjoying local sports.

Megan discovered a passion for scoliosis as soon as she entered the BCM program. She completed her residency training under Align Clinic co-founder Grant Wood in 2018 and rejoined the Align Clinic team as a scoliosis bracing specialist in 2021. Seeing the importance of caring for patients’ physical and mental health, Megan founded the non-profit scoliosis organization Scolios-us in 2016 and now serves as President and Executive Director of the organization.

Megan is an active scoliosis researcher, presenting her work nationally and internationally. She is an Assistant Professor at her alma mater – the Orthotics and Prosthetics Department at Baylor College of Medicine. She is also the chair of the Communication Committee for the International Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT).

In her free time, Megan enjoys walking her two pups, attending Pilates classes, attempting to play golf, and catching up on favorite shows with her husband, Josh.

Prior to her career in O&P, Karli worked at her family’s dance studio as a competitive dance coach, director, and co-owner. Over the last 25 years, she has taught students from ages 2-18 and empowered them with the gift of movement. She is thrilled to be working with a similar population here at Align Clinic. She brings her unique skillset to the team, coaching patients through the bracing process and making the experience a positive one.

Outside of work, Karli enjoys spending time with her husband, Luke, and her two adventurous and sweet toddler boys, Elijah and Gideon. They love being outdoors, traveling around the world, hiking, swimming, yoga, and generally just being active. Karli has worked and volunteered overseas quite a bit and lived in places such as Mozambique, Haiti, and Mexico. She loved her time abroad and cherishes those friendships and memories.

Stephanie Romero is a WCR Certified Orthotist and is currently the Clinical Education Manager for Align Clinic. You may see her mentoring new clinicians during video-assisted brace fittings or training new practitioners on ZOOM. She also runs a monthly scoliosis clinic in Colorado, helping to evaluate, measure, fit, and follow up on the Wood-Rigo-Cheneau braces in Boulder at Avanti Therapy. Stephanie has over 10 years of experience treating pediatric scoliosis, with experience at patient-focused centers such a Boston Children’s Hospital, Carrie Tingley Hospital for Children and most recently, Avanti Therapy in Boulder, CO. She loves to make connections with her pediatric patients and has been known to exchange “favorite book” lists with her patients to pass on to her kids.

Stephanie has a passion for teaching, believing that biomechanics and a high-quality patient evaluation lead to “what makes sense” in a scoliosis brace. Despite a background in engineering, she hates “formulas” in bracing and strives to teach each practitioner how to have a “scoliosis institution” that helps lead to the best possible outcome, rather than just checking the boxes to get things done.

Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys biking with her two daughters, hiking colorful Colorado, and, on a really good day, maybe actually having time to curl up and read a book.

Raúl Ferrera Hernandez is both a physical therapist and an orthotist. He is an experienced professional in the scoliosis field with over two decades of expertise.

He began his career in Spain in 1999, working in orthopedics and sports medicine equipment. After ten years dedicated to neuromuscular patients’ care, Raul immersed himself in the scoliosis world.

Being trained by Dr. Rigo in Spain, Raul is now recognized in many countries for his demonstrated expertise in the Rigo-Chêneau brace. He also obtained his C2 certificate in the Schroth method, according to the BSPTS Concept and became a SOSORT member.

In 2018, Raul joined Align Clinic as the Director of Quality Control and took a key role in the further development of the Wood Chêneau Rigo (WCR) braces.

From the beginning, Raul has always been passionate about sharing his knowledge and about teaching. Besides taking part in numerous conferences and courses for doctors, physiotherapists and orthotists in different countries, he also collaborated with the University of Zaragoza for 10 years.

He is currently residing in Australia to work hand in hand with Perth Scoliosis Clinic, whose patients show excellent results using WCR braces.

His unique perspective as a physical therapist and experienced orthotist gives him the distinct advantage of understanding the intricacies of bracing. This makes Raul not only an asset but an inspiration to those of us dedicated to spinal conservative treatment.

He has served the profession as a founder and Board member of the New York Orthotics and Prosthetics Association. During his eleven-year tenure with that organization he served as both a corporate officer and Chairman of the Continuing Education Committee.

Presently Mr. Mangino is President of New York States largest and oldest Managed Care ABC Board Certified O & P Network called P.O.M.A.C. (Prosthetics and Orthotics Management Associates Corporation) a corporation in which he was a co-founder.

Mr. Mangino has also served as an instructor to several of New York’s Universities both in undergraduate and postgraduate programs on the field of Orthotics and Prosthetics. He also routinely lectures to insurance companies and hospitals regarding the latest advancements in the field. Mr. Mangino is the exclusive provider of Wood Cheneau Rigo Scoliosis Braces (WCR Braces) in the New York Tri-state area. He routinely conducts Scoliosis Clinics around the nation with Grant Wood.

616 East Jericho Turnpike Huntington Station, NY 11746
www.bayorthopedic.com
Tel: (631) 271-0825
Fax: (631) 271-1363

Bay Orthopedic and Rehabilitation
265 US Highway 46
Totowa, NJ 07512

www.bayorthopedic.com

Tel: (201) 706-0019

Amira Mouad, CPO, is an American Board of Certification (ABC) certified prosthetist and orthotist in the Asheville office of Ability Prosthetics and Orthotics.
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Amira fell in love with the field of orthotics and prosthetics through her desire to help others achieve their goals while exercising her creativity. She began her career working with a prosthetic manufacturing company. Her time was spent gaining technical experience, specializing in elevated vacuum, and troubleshooting devices for other clinicians around the world.
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In addition to her passion for working with amputees and advanced devices, Amira finds working with the pediatric population to be extremely rewarding.

In 2015, Amira gained additional certification as a cranial remolding specialist. She worked as the sole clinician under a pediatric craniofacial surgeon and neurosurgeon in private practice as well as at Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital. She gained experience in remolding for positional deformities as well as designing, fitting, and monitoring orthoses for infants who have undergone endoscopic release for craniosynostosis.

Advancing her skills further in the field of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, in 2019 Amira gained certification for the Wood Cheneau Rigo (WCR) scoliosis orthosis through Align Clinic in San Mateo, CA. She is the twelfth certified clinician in the US, fourteenth overall.

Amira attends annual conferences on topics focused on effectiveness, outcomes and improving the patient-practitioner experience through technology, documentation updates and a dedicated, team approach to patient care.

She began her O&P career fabricating devices as a technician. She was inspired to create devices that assist her patients in their desired goal. Shortly after beginning as a technician she decided to advance in the field and returned to school to enhance her knowledge and become a certified practitioner.

Frances has now been in the field for more than 15 years. She has worked with many ages and pathologies while working at the Veterans Association Hospitals (VA) and multiple children’s hospitals.
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Treatment of scoliosis has become a cornerstone of her career. She enjoys the architecture of supporting the spine and has found the WCR TLSO to be one of the most effective and beautiful ways to address scoliosis. She enjoys the challenge of combining aesthetics, comfort, function, and daily activities to enable those with scoliosis to live their best life.

She is a strong multi-tasker with a joyful, energetic spirit. She is a career-long learner, continuously undertaking additional and advanced coursework and certifications to broaden her value. She is a sought-out conference speaker, is published in her field, and holds a patent: Weighted Ankle Foot Orthosis, Beerli Cabell; Marlies (Frederick, MD) Sept 22, 2022. #20220296402. Marlies Beerli Cabell, CPO presented her WCR outcomes at SOSORT 2019 that revealed her treatment success in a 10month old Ehlers Danlos patient and an 80+yr old Osteogenesis Imperfecta Scoliosis treatment.

• Heather Wood, University of Michigan, Michigan
• Hosna Sharafi, Align Clinic San Mateo, California
• Robert Bargainer, Align Clinic San Mateo, California
• Ben Wright, OttoBock, Texas ​
• Philip Molnar, Del Bianco, North Carolina