Rochester, MN

Andrew Nelson

Growing up, my neighbor was an Occupational Therapist specializing in hands who encouraged me to look into Orthotics and Prosthetics. I was a Junior at Luther College and thinking of pursuing Physical Therapy, and to be honest, I didn’t know much about the orthotic and prosthetic world. I spoke with my Academic Adviser and he pointed me in the direction of Brandon Sampson. I shadowed Brandon for a month, learning about different fabrication techniques and client interactions, and the rest is history. I like the pairing of hands-on skills and personal interactions with finding solutions that assist with improving mobility, independence, and quality of life.

As a practitioner, I love to build relationships with clients. The atmosphere here at Limb Lab is very welcoming with an open feel, which helps us to build personal connections, fully understand their needs, and begin each device with an innovative approach; using cutting-edge products combined with client collaboration to develop a device that will best meet their functional goals. I value that we don’t just tell clients what they need, but rather, we include them to be part of the solution.

Trent Kerrigan

While getting my undergraduate degree from Luther College I always knew I wanted to continue my education in the health field following graduation. One of my college professors recommended that I consider Orthotics and Prosthetics. After job shadowing for a few months, I knew I was hooked.

I love interacting with everybody, joining them on their journey, and getting to share all the memories (good or bad) along with them. Their passion, emotion and appreciation for what we do motivates me every day to give them the best care I can give. Whether it’s searching for the perfect fit, trying new techniques or different products, I am happy to help people achieve their goals.

Brandon Sampson

When I was a kid, I almost lost my hand in a farming accident, and spent a lot of time with surgeons and therapists as they worked to fix my hand. Two things came out of that experience that changed my life; the beginning of my life as a musician (I played guitar for my rehab), and second, my interest in orthopedic medicine and rehabilitation. Years later at Luther College, I was able to pursue both of my passions, singing in the Nordic Choir, and pursuing a degree in Biology. My advisor introduced me to the world of prosthetics and orthotics, and I immediately knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

I started in the prosthetic business immediately following college as a technician making limbs, became a board certified practitioner and then a public speaker and educator, and am now living my ultimate dream of owning my own business. I come from a long line of farmers and entrepreneurs, and am so excited to follow in their footsteps to be the master of my own destiny. My hope is that when you come to Limb Lab, you feel important and valuable, that no matter the challenges that you are facing, you feel confident in the practitioner that works with you, and optimistic, and even inspired about your journey. There is nothing I love more than seeing people who I work with turn the tragedy of limb loss into the start of a beautiful life. There is nothing that we can’t accomplish together.

Joe Loftus

I am a Rochester native with family ties to the Mayo Clinic and the machine industry. I graduated from Winona State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Movement Science and aspirations to become a physical therapist. While completing observation hours for PT school, I shadowed a certified prosthetist/ orthotist and immediately knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my professional life. Being medically and mechanically inclined, I was drawn to the O & P industry. That fall I enrolled in the Master of Prosthetics and Orthotics program at Century College/ Concordia St. Paul.

I enjoy building relationships with my clients as we work together to meet their functional prosthetic and orthotic goals. Witnessing clients’ progress and fulfillment of their personalized goals motivates me to be the best practitioner I can be. I have a common goal for my clients and for myself: Strive to be a better version of yourself today than you were yesterday.

Julianne Gupta

From a young age, I wanted to pursue a career that combined healthcare, biomechanics and engineering. While pursuing Occupational Therapy as an undergraduate, a prosthetist orthotist serendipitously entered the rehab gym to cast for a prosthesis. I then shadowed them for a day and my career path diverged. After graduating summa cum laude in rehabilitation, I completed my training in prosthetics and orthotics at Northwestern University.

I then worked in Boston, Massachusetts for 14 years, during which time I served on the board of the Ossur Women’s Leadership Steering Committee, was interviewed by CNN with Anderson Cooper, featured in the New York Times and NBC Boston News, served as the prosthetist for the national 100 and 200 meter women’s paralympic champion and casted Jake Gyllenhaal for movie set prosthetic legs for the motion picture Stronger. In 2022, I received my MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, specializing in digital marketing and data analytics.

I started working for Limb Lab after relocating to Minnesota in 2023, and I couldn’t be more excited. The knowledge, skill-sets, desire to produce high quality products, and collaborative teamwork with other practitioners in Limb Lab is exceptional. Patients’ lives and livelihoods are the center of my highly personalized and state-of-the-art approach to maximizing functional mobility.

Erin Fischer

Being born and raised outside of Rochester, I was always intrigued by Limb Lab (especially the mannequins in the windows!) when I would come to town. After graduating from Mankato State University with a Bachelors in Exercise Science, I planned to enter the healthcare field but was unsure of where exactly I would land. When I looked into the many different paths I could take, I remembered all the times I drove by Limb Lab and felt drawn to the orthotics and prosthetics field because it combined opportunities for hands-on work and to connect with patients. I recently graduated from Concordia St. Paul with my Masters in Orthotics and Prosthetics, and I feel so fortunate to be a resident at Limb Lab!

Will Ideker

Will Ideker is a Prosthetic and Orthotic Resident at Limb Lab Rochester.  

His experience as a prosthetic and orthotic technician afforded hands-on fabrication experience with lower-limb prosthetic devices, upper-limb prosthetic devices, orthotic devices, and 3D printed devices. 

 Will cares for people in all stages of life and values the insights gained from working with a wide variety of patient populations. He believes that every interaction builds a stronger foundation for delivering exceptional care across the spectrum of prosthetic and orthotic needs. 

Will earned his degree from Concordia University, St. Paul, and is passionate about helping people regain mobility through creative solutions and collaboration.  

Born and raised in Southeastern Minnesota, he enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, fishing, and exploring.