Douglas met Nova Pro founder Hernan Luna in 2015 following a brief exchange on a social media platform.   He had recently completed his ISPO Category II Certification and graduated from the Prosthetics and Orthotics program at Don Bosco University in El Salvador.  He was seeking opportunities to further his education and experience, and was invited to work in-house as an assistant at Luna’s clinical care center in Miami, where he learned innovative techniques in Pediatric bracing and perfected his skills in prosthetic socket systems and fittings.   Douglas returned to his native El Salvador eager to implement more modern protocols for children with neurological disorders and to promote prosthetic education around El Salvador.  To this end, he started his own practice, United Orthopedics to service patients in San Salvador.    

The collaboration with Mr. Luna continued as they developed a central fabrication service for prosthetic and orthotic devices in 2018 and then a a “virtual visits” program where  patient assessments were completed in remote areas via video conferencing between the US and El Salvador.    This interest in reaching the most underserved is what prompted Douglas to participate further in humanitarian efforts in the poorest rural areas of El Salvador.  

He mentions that the majority of individual in El Salvador do not possess the financial means to secure a prosthetic device and rehabilitative services and therefore go without prostheses.  

His interests are in line with those of the Nova Pro Foundation – to try and reach as many amputees as of possible and help them recover their mobility and independence so they may lead a full and productive life.   He coordinates all Nova Pro Foundation projects around El Salvador.