Prosthetic Orthotic Associates of East Texas

Bruce “Mac” McClellan, CPO/LPO, FISPO

Bruce “Mac” McClellan is an American Board Certified Prosthetist-Orthotist and a Texas State licensed prosthetist and orthotist. He is a Fellow of the International Society of Orthotists and Prosthetists and a member of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists and the Texas Association of Orthotists and Prosthetists. He holds degrees in Prosthetics & Orthotics as well as Health Administration. He received his prosthetic training at Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago followed by an orthotic internship at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey, CA. Professionally, he has served as a staff orthotist and Intern/Residency Program Instructor at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, and later as a staff prosthetist & orthotist with Orthomedics at Orthopaedic Hospital and the USC Medical Center in Los Angeles. Returning to Texas, he set up and launched the Prosthetic and Orthotic Education Program at Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He served there as Director and Assistant Professor for nearly five years. Following his tenure at the university, he took the position of Director of Prosthetics and Orthotics at the Dallas Rehabilitation Institute. He is now the owner and president of Prosthetic-Orthotic Associates (POA). “Mac” has served on numerous state, national and international boards and committees and has lectured frequently to professional organizations across the country. He has also authored and co-authored a number of articles and professional papers. His interest in prosthetics and orthotics began when as a young man he designed his own orthosis after identifying specific areas he felt could be improved. The new design was such a dramatic improvement over what he had been using that it changed his life. He felt there must be thousands of people just like him who could benefit from better designs and as a result, made the decision to go into the profession. With this as his inspiration he continues in practice today with the goal of bettering the lives of people who face physical challenges.

Garwin Smith, C.O./L.O.

Garwin Smith is an American Board Certified Orthotist. He is also state licensed in orthotics in Texas and is a long standing a member of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists. He holds degrees in both nursing and orthotics, receiving his formal orthotic training at Shelby State in Memphis, Tennessee. He has been practicing in the field of orthotics since 1983. His interest in bracing began because his father suffered from paralysis as a result of having had polio. Garwin was intrigued by the challenges his father faced and had a desire to help people like him overcome their physical disabilities. This lead him to his careers in healthcare. His years of nursing and orthotics practice have given him a somewhat unique perspective with regard to patient care. He has used his experience in both of these specialties to benefit the lives of his patients. Today, his practice covers all aspects of bracing from upper and lower limb orthoses to spinal systems for both adults and children. He also works closely with local schools providing special needs children with orthoses.

Mike has been with POA for more than 10 years and indeed started his career in prosthetics and orthotics with POA after moving here from Utah. He had previously been involved with the film making industry before coming into this field. He initially started in the practice in a technically oriented role and over time moved into the patient care aspect as well, becoming very proficient in both areas. Mike is now a Texas state licensed orthotic and prosthetic assistant who combines his patient care abilities with innovative technical skills at the North Texas office.

Dale Beckham is a Certified Public Accountant and Licensed Prosthetist Assistant. Dale holds an Associate Degree-Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Business Administration-Accounting. Dale has been a practicing C.P.A. for over 20 years. As a result of his accounting practice Dale became the Executive Director of a Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Center (CORF) which provided Physical, Occupational, Speech, Cardiac, and Vocational rehab to patients from all of East Texas. Due to mutual affiliations at this CORF, Dale met Bruce McClellan and began his career with Prosthetic-Orthotic Associates in the year 2000. Dale currently serves as Director of Operations for Prosthetic-Orthotic Associates overseeing business operations for all locations. The engineering training Dale had received prompted his interest in Prosthetics and in 2006 he became a Licensed Prosthetic Assistant. Dale has served as Treasurer of Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center, President of the East Texas Oilmen’s Golf Tournament and was a member of the Longview Kiwanis and Kilgore Rotary Clubs.

Linda is a prosthetic and orthotic technician who has the distinction of being the staff member with the longest continuous employment record in the history of the company--one that spans more than 20 years! Linda started in February of 1987 and has been a faithful and dedicated employee ever since. There is no telling how many artificial limbs and braces she has had a hand in fabricating over that time, but it most certainly is in the thousands. She considers it a privilege to be part of a team that positively affects the lives of people every day by helping them achieve increased mobility and function.

Felix Avalos is the head technician at the Tyler laboratories of POA. He has been a technician here for the last 10 years. As head technician, Felix manages the day to day operations of all the fabrication processes at the East Texas laboratory. Twenty years ago, Felix suffered an industrial electrical accident and lost his leg. Wearing a prosthesis gave him the desire to learn to maintain and fabricate his own prostheses. As a patient and an employee, Felix brings a unique perspective to the details needed to fabricate a custom prosthesis. Felix says, “Prosthetics is very satisfying to me. I am a patient, and that makes me want to stay current with technology. I enjoy helping people in a way that allows me to work with my hands and use my imagination at the same time.” Felix uses his creativity to make each prosthesis as individual as the patient for which it was designed.

Michael Avalos has been an orthotic technician at our in-house laboratory for the last four years. Michael has always had an interest in geometry and mechanical drawing so the opportunity to become an orthotic technician appealed to him. Originally from California, his career in the Navy has taken him many places, but now he has settled in Texas to be near family. Michael has always enjoyed creating things with his hands and he loves the diversity that his job provides. Every patient and every device is a little bit unusual. He says, “Something different always comes up. It is always different, but it is always good.”

Randy is the newest member of our technical team and has been with POA for almost 3 years. He also began his career in prosthetics and orthotics with our practice and is taking on an ever increasing role in the laboratory. His responsibilities include fabrication of all types of braces and artificial limbs as well as doing necessary repairs for our patients when required. Randy works out of our Lewisville laboratory.