For Joey Lothamer, success is about more than clearing the bar—it’s about lifting others higher.
A master’s student in the prosthetics and orthotics program at the University of Hartford’s College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions, Joey will graduate in spring 2026 after earning his undergraduate degree in health science in 2025. A former indoor and outdoor school record holder in pole vault for UHart’s track & field team, he now volunteers as a coach.
“While I loved having success as a pole vaulter and setting the school record, I’ve found even more joy in coaching other vaulters and celebrating their successes,” he says.
Joey’s path into prosthetics and orthotics began at age 17 during an internship as a lab technician. After creating a simple custom strap for an orthotic brace, he later learned the patient said they had “never walked so well.”
“Knowing that something so small could have such a profound impact on someone’s mobility and quality of life really stuck with me,” Joey recalls.
At UHart, hands-on learning has prepared him for that impact. Through the University’s integrated internship program, Joey has gained clinical experience across five prosthetics and orthotics locations, building skills in casting, scanning, device modification, and patient care.
“My favorite part of my internships has been seeing patients improve over time,” he shares. “It’s incredibly rewarding when patients return to the clinic and I can see that a device I worked on is helping them move better and live more comfortably.”
As an undergraduate in UHart’s College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions, Joey also conducted biomechanics research, designing and fabricating a model of the human shoulder to study muscle mechanics. “That experience allowed me to explore creative solutions in a scientific setting,” he says—a balance that mirrors his profession.
Inspired by lessons in resilience learned through athletics, Joey also authored GET OVER IT, a book encouraging young athletes to embrace setbacks as part of growth. “In pole vaulting, every miss and every fall is a chance to reset and try again,” he explains.
After graduation, Joey plans to complete a residency in prosthetics and orthotics and continue designing devices that improve mobility and quality of life—while coaching the next generation to keep striving, both on and off the field.
At UHart, Joey has transformed perseverance into purpose.
Joey Lothamer ’25, M’26, Master's student, prosthetics and orthotics programKnowing that something so small could have such a profound impact on someone’s mobility and quality of life really stuck with me.