A quick and special blog post today about the man who got me into this field. I would have never known Prosthetics and Orthotics as a potential career path if it were not for Mahesh Mansukhani. Granted, I am partial to how fantastic he is (and I could write pages about that), but this is about his contribution to the O&P world. For the last 5 years, Mahesh has been the President of Ossur Americas and has made it his mission to make the business of Orthotics and Prosthetics be a business about the people they are serving. He has taken a company that needed new ideas and a fresh face and has made it not about just achieving a sales number, but about being on a team and being a part of something bigger. Mahesh has become passionate about the medical device industry and even more passionate about the people he has met because of the job. He spends his life on the road, ingrained in every aspect of the business. The man has been on more business dinners and ride alongs than you can count and easily spends 2/3 of his life sitting on an aisle seat on an airplane. He can pack a week's worth of suits in a carry-on suitcase, has more hotel points than people who actually live in The Plaza and has to use his cell phone clock to tell him what time zone he is currently in. He is passionate and committed and it shows in every interaction he has. He has run Ossur with integrity and heart and he leaves the company in the same manner. It is my opinion that Ossur will forever be changed by the impact that Mahesh has made on the company and I know that Mahesh has forever been changed by getting to know this industry. He has started a Well-Being Initiative, spearheading a cause to provide amputees with access and ability to focus on their mental health. He has attended the fundraisers and events and dinners, but the most important thing he has done is to create an environment that focuses on the patients, the people, and the product . I know the end of his time at Ossur is bittersweet for Mahesh; 5 years of blood, sweat and tears - heart and soul. This experience was more than just a job, it was a lifestyle. As the tides are changing and the next chapter begins, I am just so proud of him and I know that he will continue to support the industry and stay involved and I know that he will be greatly missed. Looking forward to starting a great new adventure with him :)
