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If the wisdom of the ages could be condensed into one phrase, "nosce te ipsum"—know thyself—Brian Pinkston is a wise man. Unlike many Americans with their nomadic paths through life and career, Pinkston found early on what suited him and has spent his life excelling in those arenas. Born and raised in Illinois, Pinkston lost one leg to amputation as a child, and as an active boy spent a great deal of time asking questions of his prosthetist while his perpetually battered leg went through repairs. That interest lead directly to a lifelong career in pediatric prosthetics, which has so far culminated in his position as lead prosthetist at Shriners Hospitals for Children in St. Louis, Missouri.
This isn't to say that Pinkston isn't dedicated to growth, however. He sums up his advice to anyone entering the field with three words: "Education, education, education!" For residents, he recommends studying under a professional whose expertise can in turn "provide you with the good foundation of knowledge and skills that you will need to provide superior patient care."
Pinkston still lives within a few miles of his parents. He and his wife have five adult children and, he says, "three beautiful grandchildren that we can't get enough of." Still irrepressibly active, he spends much of his time hunting, fishing, and working for nature conservation.
1. How did you become interested in O&P?
When I was ten years old, I became an acquired amputee, and through my teen years I spent a considerable amount of time in prosthetic "shops." Being young, I was curious and asked a lot of questions, and the prosthetists would let me hang around and look at everything, and they would answer my questions and explain why things were done a certain way. That was the beginning of a lifetime interest in prosthetic design and patient care.
2. What has motivated or inspired you in your life and/or professional pursuits?
As a teenager, I wanted to keep up with my friends and not be left behind. Fortunately, I was able to adapt to my high-level amputation and do most of the things that everyone else was doing. Unfortunately, I also broke a lot of prostheses in the process. Thankfully, my prosthetist was patient with me and always did repairs quickly so that I wouldn't be without my prosthesis for long. In time, that same prosthetist, Mr. Leo V. Tippy, CPO(E), hired me as a prosthetic tech, and thus began my intensive training in the fabrication of a wide range of prosthetic devices. Mr. Tippy encouraged his techs to have a strong knowledge base and skill sets, and he insisted that the prostheses be fabricated using a high standard of quality and craftsmanship. These standards are still with me today.
3. How has your career progressed?
I started working in the field as a tech back in 1978 for a national company. In late 1979, I took a position as a prosthetic tech with Shriners Hospitals for Children in St. Louis, Missouri, and worked in that position for 20 years. In 2000, I successfully sat for the ABC practitioner exams, and since that time I have functioned as a certified prosthetist specializing in pediatrics for Shriners Hospitals, and I hope to continue doing so for some time. I feel fortunate to be part of a team of talented men and women dedicated to improving the lives of the children we serve.
4. What are your personal and/or professional goals?
My professional goal is to continue to seek out the best way to treat my pediatric patients. With improvements in technology and material sciences being made available at an ever-increasing pace, it is in the best interests of patient care and professional development that practitioners keep abreast of these changes and incorporate improvements into our treatment modalities.
5. What are your top priorities when working with a patient?
My approach to pediatric prosthetics is to prioritize fit, function, and cosmesis, in that order. With a good initial evaluation, I should be able to determine which componentry will be the most appropriate for helping my patients participate in the activities of their choice.
