By
I'm Eric Habyaramungu from Rwanda I studied at the University of Rwanda (UR) and graduated in 2023 I'm currently work at HPV Gatagara Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Hospital in Gatagara.
What do you claim is your speciality - your O&P passion?
Digital O&P workflows- 3D scanning, CAD design, and 3D printing for prosthetics and orthotics.
What do you like most about practicing O&P?
What I love most about practicing O&P is the opportunity to directly transform lives. Prosthetics and orthotics are not just devices- they restore mobility, independence, dignity, and confidence. Every intervention has the potential to help someone walk again, return to work, go back to school, care for their family, or simply regain the freedom to move without fear.I especially enjoy combining clinical reasoning with digital technology such as 3D scanning, CAD design, and 3D printing to create solutions that are precise, personalized, and life-changing. Seeing a patient move from limitation to possibility is the most rewarding part of what I do.
What frustrates you about O&P?
What frustrates me most about O&P is when patients cannot fully benefit from the care they need because of system limitations rather than clinical possibilities. Challenges such as limited access to advanced technology, affordability barriers, delayed referrals, and shortages of materials can slow down rehabilitation and reduce outcomes.
As someone passionate about digital O&P workflows, it is especially frustrating to know that technologies like 3D scanning, CAD design, and 3D printing can dramatically improve precision, speed, and patient comfort, yet they are still not widely accessible in many settings.
At the same time, this frustration also fuels my motivation. It pushes me to keep innovating, improving workflows, and finding practical solutions that make high-quality O&P care more accessible and sustainable for more people.
What is your greatest patient story in O&P?
It is difficult for me to choose one specific patient story because there are simply too many meaningful ones across different ages and conditions. I have worked with young children, adults, and elderly patients, and each case carries its own unique journey and victory.
What stands out most to me is the transformation that O&P brings into people’s lives. Through the work we do, patients regain mobility, independence, confidence, and the ability to return to the roles that matter most to them—whether that is going back to school, returning to work, caring for their families, or participating in their communities again.
For me, the greatest story is not one individual case, but the repeated experience of seeing people move from limitation and dependence to freedom, dignity, and renewed hope.
How do you build rapport with patients in your care?
I build rapport with patients by first taking time to actively listen to their story, their goals, and the challenges they face in daily life. Every patient comes with unique physical, emotional, and social needs, so I make it a priority to ensure they feel heard, understood, and respected from the very first interaction.
I also involve them in every step of the decision-making process, helping them understand their options and making them active partners in their own rehabilitation journey. This shared approach builds trust, confidence, and commitment to the treatment plan.
Most importantly, I try to create an environment of hope. Rehabilitation can be physically and emotionally demanding, so patients need to feel that someone genuinely believes in their potential. When patients trust you, they become more engaged, and the outcomes are often much better.
