Rebekah Forshey
Despite a global pandemic disrupting commencement ceremonies everywhere in May 2020, Rebekah Forshey ’20 moved forward. The week after virtual Commencement, she moved to Dallas, Texas, to pursue a Master of Prosthetics and Orthotics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Through her studies, she works with the Scottish Rite for Children Hospital in Dallas.
“As part of my graduate program, I am researching the biomechanics of running prostheses in unilateral pediatric amputees,” she said. “My favorite part of my education, however, is getting to meet our patient models. These are patients of our instructors who come into our classes to allow us to make prosthetic and orthotic devices for their use. It is great experience for both our technical skills and patient interactions.”
As a Messiah student, Forshey received the 2020 Scroggin Award, an annual honor from the engineering department given to one graduating senior—which she “received” remotely.
“This award is typically given at our annual engineering senior dinner … but, because of COVID, the engineering faculty put together a celebration video for all the seniors,” she said. “I was already in Dallas, so I was watching the video in my apartment. I was incredibly excited and humbled to receive the award.”
Through the Collaboratory at Messiah, she worked on the Cunningham Clubfoot Brace team, traveling to the CURE International Hospital in Kijabe, Kenya, twice with the project team. Outside of class, she pursued leadership opportunities, such as serving as a resident assistant and the president of Messiah’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers.
“As someone who is passionate about women in science, it was a complete blessing to represent the women engineers of Messiah and provide a space to develop friendships and professionalism in our field,” she said. “And most importantly, my experience as a resident assistant and senior resident assistant gave me friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. I learned about having hard conversations, being present in both good and bad moments, and how to build community from the ground up.”
After she completes her final semester in Dallas, she must complete two residencies—one in prosthetics and one in orthotics, which will take approximately two years—then pass five board exams to become a certified prosthetist orthotist.
“My experiences in and out of the classroom at Messiah confirmed that patient care in prosthetics and orthotics is my true calling, since it allows me to use my technical knowledge and love for people simultaneously,” she said. “I would not have been successful in my transition to graduate school without the mentors and friends that I gained from Messiah.”