Community Partner: Hanger Clinic
With a legacy spanning over 160 years, Hanger Clinic is the nation’s leading provider of orthotic and prosthetic care, dedicated to empowering human potential through innovative clinical solutions. Founded by James Edward Hanger in 1861, the organization has grown into a vast network of over 900 locations, including six clinics in the Greater Cincinnati area. The Cincinnati team is comprised of board-certified clinicians, such as Certified Prosthetist and Orthotists, who prioritize a patient-centered approach, combining advanced technology with compassionate care to help individuals of all ages regain independence and improve their quality of life.
A significant focus of the Cincinnati clinics is their specialized pediatric care due to their proximity to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, particularly the use of cranial remolding orthoses, often referred to as cranial helmets. Through the CARE (Cranial Asymmetry Remolding Experts) Network, Hanger’s local specialists use precise 3D imaging to create lightweight, breathable helmets that gently guide a baby’s natural skull growth. By partnering closely with families and pediatricians, Hanger Clinic ensures that each child receives a tailored treatment plan, typically lasting three to six months, to achieve the best possible structural outcomes during the critical stages of early development.
About Megan
I was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky where I spent many of my days exploring the great outdoors and pursuing various artistic hobbies. I was fortunate to grow up in a community that offered countless opportunities for children to connect with mentors, learn, and grow— experiences that helped shape who I am today. In high school, I naturally sought ways to continue this culture, especially by mentoring youth through free after-school violin lessons and serving as a Girls on the Run assistant coach. My journey continued at Washington University in St. Louis, where I originally planned to study biology and pursue a career in ecology. By chance, through the Chinese Student Association, I began providing Mandarin interpretation services at a free health clinic. My plans quickly shifted after I saw the impact healthcare (and the lack of healthcare) has on individuals and communities as a whole. I decided to pursue medicine, with the dream of building longitudinal patient relationships, and helping maintain or improve patients’ health so that they can confidently pursue their own interests and dreams.
At the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, I realized an interest in community preventative health, and further, exploring ways people can have positive conscious considerations of “health” outside of the clinic or hospital. As an Urban Health Project intern, I worked with Network for Hope to plan and host the annual Live, Healthy and Move Health and Wellness Fair in the Forest Park community. I decided to choose this elective to learn how to successfully apply this interest in community health, service, and advocacy going forward in my career. I am also excited to use this time to work on Helmet Club— a group I founded that provides free decorative stickers for infant cranial helmets in an effort to increase patient family satisfaction and adherence to medical devices. As for next steps, I hope to continue making a positive impact through preventative health as a primary care pediatrician.