Come meet our certified Orthotists & Prosthetists today!
Certified Prosthetist & Orthotists
What is a Prosthetist/Orthotist?
American Board Certified A.B.C Certified Orthotists (CO) and Certified Prosthetists (CP) at P.O.P have a strong science background that incorporates courses in biology, physics and chemistry as well as formal instruction in bio mechanics, kinesiology, pathomechanics, material science and gait analysis. To be certified by A.B.C, a practitioner must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in orthotics and prosthetics. Or a minimum of a bachelor's degree in another field and a post-graduate certificate program in orthotics and prosthetics, and have successfully completed a 12-month National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (N.C.O.P.E) accredited residency program.
Jimmy Colson
C.E.O, Certified Orthotist (CO)
Jimmy was born in California and relocated to Las Vegas in 1988. Once moving to Las Vegas, he knew he had found his place. With a love and passion for helping others, Jimmy began working for a Ma & Pa company named Nevada Limb & Brace. He learned many of his core values, compassion, dedication and the need for a family setting while at Nevada Limb & Brace. When he decided to start his own company,he wanted to emulate what they had first started.
Jimmy is an American Board Certified Orthotist. Also certified in cranial remolding helmets, scoliosis bracing and all custom orthosis. With over 20 years of seeing patients in the community , he believes that he and his company will give the best personal patient experience to fit every need and/or desire.
When Jimmy is not at the company,he tries to make the most of his time for his family. He loves spending time with his wife and daughter. Jimmy's hobbies include growing his own corals in his 1,100 gallon reef tank, an avid sports fan, a huge music and movie buff, a published poet and a world traveler.
Jeff Eschenburg
Lead Prosthetist, American Board Certified Prosthetist (CP)
Jeff, is a Michigan native. At the age of twelve he suffered severe injuries in a farming mishap. The incident resulted in two month hospital stay and amputation of his leg above the knee. He went on with life and attempted to return to his active lifestyle using a prosthesis. Disenchanted with the function of his prosthesis while studying business in college, he decided to shift his studies towards Health Science in Preventative and Rehabilitative Programs. He entered the field of prosthetics as a technician in 1995, and went on to attend Northwestern University to receive a clinical certificate in Prosthetics in 1998.
He spent the last four years working directly with physicians in Michigan on improving amputation techniques to provide the best outcome for amputees. He has a passion for sharing these ideas with surgeons. He has witnessed how just a few more minutes in surgery can greatly affect the quality of life of an amputee. After spending four years in Michigan working with Surgeons he was offered a Position as Lead Prosthetist at P.O.P. He relocated his family and moved across country to Las Vegas.
Jeff enjoys spending time outdoors with his family when he is not in the office. They frequently hike Red Rock Canyon and go boating on Lake Mead. He also runs 5k races and has plans to encourage others amputees in the Las Vegas area to be more active and to take advantage of the benefits in the latest prosthetic technologies.
Mike Weide
Prosthetic Coordinator,Pedorthist,
Certified Orthotic Fitter
Mike is a certified Pedorthist, Prosthetic Coordinator and Lab manager. Mike joined the field in 2009.
He worked his way up by working in every area until being able to see patients. In 2011 he became a certified certified fitter. Then, In 2015
he took the necessary courses and moved up to become a Pedorthist and Prosthetic Coordinator. He enjoys helping patients get back their quality of life and takes pride making their lives easier. Mike states " This field is definitely rewarding by being able to help people and finding solutions to make their life easier."
When Mike isn't working at P.O.P he enjoys working on cars, riding motorcycles, and going to the range on his down time.
William Holzwarth
American Board Certified
Prosthetist/Orthotist (CPO)
William, a native of California, served as a Navy Corpsman during the latter part of the Vietnam conflict. He treated Veterans and active-duty military returning home with the harsh wounds caused by the Vietnam war. Upon discharge from the Navy, Bill was able to take his technical skills as an orthopedic surgical assistant to a Veterans hospital in Northern California; assisting orthopedic surgeons and providing for follow-up care for Vets. He assisted in many lower limb amputations in the operating room where he began the final application of a post-operative prosthesis (limb) so patients could begin their rehabilitation almost immediately after surgery.
Moved by what he saw, Bill pursued his new interest in prosthetics & orthotics at the University California, Berkeley and later transferred to California State University Dominguez Hills’ Prosthetic & Orthotic program where he graduated with a BS degree in Health Sciences in 1986. Bill has worked over 25 years in the industry. When Bill is not working at POP, he is an avid sailor and he keeps a sailboat on Lake Mead where he loves being on the water.
Teresa LaPorte
C.Ped., CO, BOCPO
Teresa has spent most of her life living and working in the Las Vegas Valley. Born in California, she was a young child when her family relocated to Nevada, settling to Las Vegas in 1963. She understands both personally and professionally the unique care needs of O & P patients and their family members. Her father, Jerry Fullerton (himself an amputee) completed the education and training to become a certified prosthetist/orthotist and began caring for patients in 1967. As a child, Teresa would go to work with her father at the Fullerton family business, Superior Limb & Brace Co., where she learned patient care involved not only providing superior products but also exceptional patient support.
in 1975, before graduating from Las Vegas High school, Teresa started running the front office at Superior Limb and Brace Co. She enjoyed working with patients and began spending more of her work time learning about O & P production and the importance of forming a caring relationship with patients and their family members. In the early 1900's the Fullerton family branched out and opened a second business, Carefree Footwear, the first Certified Pedorthic Center in Nevada. Teresa saw this venture as an extension of her work at Superior Brace & Limb Co., and earned her first certification, the ABC Certified Pedorthist (C. Ped.).
Teresa knew that O & P was her niche, her vocation. She began attending workshops, classes and conferences while training under Jerry's tutelage. After years of education and training, Teresa earned numerous certifications including the ABC Certified Orthotist (CO) and the Board for Certification Prosthetist Orthotist (BOCO). Teresa also specializes in providing compression garments for vascular, lymphedema, and burn patients.
Teresa has been involved with the prosthetics and orthotic community for over 40 years. With the closing of the family business, she joins P.O.P because she recognized a kindred spirit in their philosophy to provide the type of patient centered care she has practiced for a lifetime.
Ryan King
American Board Certified Prosthetist Orthotist, Masters of Science in Prosthetics & Orthotics, (CPO, MSPO)
Ryan is originally from Pennsylvania where he began his career in O and P at his father’s shoe store. Here he received his certification in pedorthoics and provided shoes and foot orthotics to people suffering from a wide array of foot problems. He was accepted into the class of 2014 masters of Science in prosthetics and orthotics at the University of Pittsburgh. After receiving his MSPO degree, he did his orthotics and prosthetics residencies in St. Louis working at the St. Louis children’s hospital and at Barnes Jewish Hospital. Here he was able to work with both children and adults with all types neuromuscular disorders and amputations at a variety of levels. He has participated in volunteer work including multiple weekends with the Amputee Blade Runners charity in Nashville TN, summer camp with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Cerebral Palsy, and a 10-day mission trip to Quito Ecuador where he was able to work with multiple charity groups servicing children with Cerebral Palsy. He is now extremely excited to be a part of the clinical team here at Precision Prosthetics and Orthotics. On is free time, he likes to hike with his wife at Red Rock, and at Mt. Charleston, and explore all that Las Vegas has to offer.
Lee Rhinehart
American Board Certified Orthotist
Lee is a born and raised Las Vegan. He has been in Orthotics and Prosthetics for the past 25 years. He first started working with Nevada Limb and Brace where he became a certified Orthotist. Lee is a specialist in all aspects of bracing.
When Lee is not at work he enjoys the outdoors. Some of his hobbies are shooting, hunting, fishing, camping, four wheeling and enjoys spending time at the gym. Lee is a dedicated dad to four children.
Bio Coming soon!
Al Bustos
Board of Certification Orthotist
Eric Eierdam
Amputee Advocate
3X Para Skeleton World Champion
Eric has always been the type to work hard for what he wants in life and strives to go after his dreams. He enjoys working with people and strives for excellence in everything that he does. Having been an above-knee amputee since 2002 due to a traumatic motorcycle wreck, He has worked in hard indoor and outdoor construction, and simultaneously competed with the US Paralympic Team and became the #1 Ranked Athlete in the world for the last 3 years in a Row in the sport of Para-skeleton. He understands what is required for great prosthetics and great prosthetic providers and he enjoys working with only the very best! He hopes to be able to offer people help, support and advice from his experience and be a pillar of strength for people that need it. In Eric's spare time, he is a family man and enjoys spending time with his family. He Tries to prioritize his time around his family whenever possible. In the summer, they love to go on hikes, explore the yard for bugs, spend time at the lake tubing, cliff diving and the majority of their free time is spent in their family pool at home, having BBQ's with friends and playing at various splash pads. In the winter time they love sledding, snowboarding and snow-biking.
Kevin Bidwell
Prosthetic Advisor
Kevin was born in Littleton, Colorado. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado-Boulder in 1993. He became interested in the field of prosthetics after becoming a trans-femoral amputee as a result of a motorcycle accident in 1990. He completed his prosthetic technician degree in 1995. After further training at a Prosthetic Technician Internship position at Shriner's Hospital, Twin Cities, he went on to complete his practitioner degree in prosthetics in 1997 from Century College, White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Shortly after beginning his prosthetic career in Las Vegas, NV, he was fortunate to train in specialized socket technology under the tutelage of, Kevin Caroll, one of the most renowned prosthetists in the world.
As a "MacGyver" of sorts, he enjoys the unique challenges and puzzles the prosthetic and orthotic profession presents. Although the majority of his clients are human, he provides prosthetic and orthotic care to the feline and canine community as well.
He is certified in the Genium, C-leg, Orion, Rheo, and Plie' microprocessor knee systems as well as Harmony Vacuum Technology, Utah Arm, Biom Foot, Bioness L3000, and Dynamic Response AFO (Phat Braces).