We’re thrilled to celebrate our Top Contributor for December 2025, a Physiopedia Plus (Plus) course instructor who has been sharing expertise in prosthetics and orthotics with our global community since 2021. With over 30 years of clinical experience and as Head of Clinical Services at Ottobock.care in Dublin, this month’s Top Contributor exemplifies Physiopedia’s mission to make specialist healthcare knowledge accessible to professionals worldwide, particularly those working in developing regions. Learn more about Donna Fisher here!
Time active with Physiopedia: The Physiopedia team and I have been working together since 2021, so it’s been 4 years now!
Current role with Physiopedia: I am a course instructor for Physiopedia Plus (Plus) and have created 10 courses with the Plus team.
Where did you go to university/college? I studied for a BSc Hons in Prosthetics and Orthotics and MPhil in Biomedical Engineering both at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.
Where do you work? I am Head of Clinical Services at Ottobock.care in Dublin, Ireland.
Describe your role: I manage a team of 20 certified prosthetists/orthotists (CPOs) and strive to facilitate the best clinical service being provided to our patients, through clinical support and motivation. I also continue to see and treat my own prosthetic and orthotic patients, which after more than 30 years I still enjoy immensely.
What is the most rewarding part of working with Physiopedia? I love seeing my patients, old and new. My job is a mix of detective, problem solver, craftsperson and listener. These skills combined with the joy of sharing so many amazing achievements with my patients make my job the best!
What are some of the more challenging aspects about your work? It’s not easy to make a comfortable, functional and good looking orthosis or prosthesis and at times it can be a real challenge. But working together with our patients, we can usually get a great result. This is also a challenge that my team face, and it is incredibly rewarding for me to work with them to find ways to support and help them in their work.
What are some of your professional passions? I love to see my patients happy and getting on with their lives and I feel privileged if I can make a small contribution on their journey. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences with others in healthcare, prosthetics and orthotics and further afield.
What are a few of your personal passions? I love my job but when I’m not working I am out with my dog Lily. We love to walk in the forest, on the beach and run in the park. I also love my garden and have a passion for fixing and making things in my own workshop.
What would be your advice to a newly graduating physiotherapist or professional? Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! I am a huge advocate for always learning and striving to be better at what you do.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I hope I will still be making a difference to my patients and colleagues, but maybe at a slower pace.
What are the best things about being part of the Physiopedia team? I love to share my experiences, and Physiopedia provides the opportunity to be part of an education and knowledge sharing platform to do just that on a truly global scale. This is an amazing team, who do such great work to make quality information and expertise available to all corners of the world.
How has collaborating with Physiopedia helped your professional development/career progression? Working with the Plus team opened a new way of presenting courses for me. At times this has been both a real challenge and a huge learning curve. For me to share my experiences, especially with those working in the developing world, and to reach a global audience, is amazing and I hope we can continue to share and collaborate.
What are your hopes and aspirations for Physiopedia? I love that Physiopedia has embraced AI and consistently promotes new techniques and technologies in healthcare. I hope they can continue to provide the content and attention to detail that sets them apart.
What is your favourite Plus course? I really enjoy the recent AI focus and in particular the Physiopedia AI Assistant (PAI). I also really appreciate the support Physiopedia has given to me and my team in structuring our CPD learning with a curated programme that really works for us.
Anything else you would like to share? Thanks to the Physiopedia Plus team for the opportunities, your help and support and continued success.
Congratulations Donna on being our Top Contributor for December 2025! Your dedication to sharing your experience of prosthetics and orthotics expertise through Plus continues to empower healthcare professionals across the globe, ensuring that quality education and clinical insights reach practitioners in all corners of the world.
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