Hanger, the largest prosthetic and orthotic care provider in the country, has teamed up with UHart on a new patient-facing lab in Rocky Hill, Conn. The facility has classrooms and access to a national fabrication facility. Its clinic exposes students to a patient care environment as they pursue their master’s degree in prosthetics and orthotics.
“This partnership with Hanger reflects the strength of a UHart education, where academic learning connects directly with clinical practice,” said Brian Swanson, interim dean of UHart’s College of Education, Nursing, and Health Professions. “The Rocky Hill facility gives our students meaningful experiences with real patients and industry experts, helping them grow into confident and capable clinicians. We are grateful for this collaboration and excited for the impact it will have on our students and the communities they will serve.”
"The Rocky Hill Academic Center is a modern, collaborative space where direct patient care, national-level fabrication, and education intersect,” said Duffy Felmlee, associate program director and applied professor of prosthetics and orthotics. “Students learn through clinically relevant didactic instruction, hands-on experiences with advanced and traditional fabrication practices, and regular interaction with faculty, patients, and industry experts.”
Brian Swanson, Interim Dean, College of Education, Nursing, and Health ProfessionsThis partnership with Hanger reflects the strength of a UHart education, where academic learning connects directly with clinical practice. The Rocky Hill facility gives our students meaningful experiences with real patients and industry experts, helping them grow into confident and capable clinicians. We are grateful for this collaboration and excited for the impact it will have on our students and the communities they will serve.
The new lab replaces a now-closed space in Cromwell, Conn. “Even though the old lab already mirrored real clinical settings, the new space elevates the experience,” said student Tessa Susco MSPO ’26. “It’s larger, more cohesive, and better organized, which makes the learning environment feel more professional and intentional.”
Alex Chalifour MSPO ’26 said he immediately felt energized and excited walking into the new facility. “The space is bright, spacious, and thoughtfully designed which makes it both welcoming and highly functional for us future clinicians,” he said.
Faculty members say the Rocky Hill facility will help give students a competitive edge in a fast-growing field.
“By uniting education, fabrication, and patient care in one state-of-the-art facility, students gain real-time experience that mirrors the workflow, technology, and collaboration of modern clinical care,” said Associate Professor Stephen Charry. “This facility doesn't simulate practice – it is practice.”