Empowering Amputees at ROMP Guatemala: A Journey of Innovation and Compassion with Nick Gambill, CTP
For Nick Gambill, CPT, Business Development Manager & Upper Extremity Specialist at Fabco Prosthetic Designs in Nashville, Tennessee, the opportunity to participate in a Range of Motion (ROMP) trip to a clinic in Guatemala was a deeply fulfilling experience. Having done mission work as a teenager, Nick had always harbored a desire to merge his passion for helping others with his professional expertise in prosthetics. The trip, organized in collaboration with Click Medical and ROMP, offered the perfect platform for him to combine his skills with his commitment to making a difference in underserved communities.
Arriving in Guatemala, Nick quickly realized that the mission would demand more from him than he initially anticipated. Nick was thrust into a leadership role, training clinicians not only from Guatemala but also from El Salvador and Ecuador. Language barriers added an extra layer of complexity, but Nick was undeterred. “I speak zero Spanish,” he admitted, “but if you speak prosthetics, you can generally get by without verbal communication.” The presence of interpreters and the universal language of the trade helped bridge the gap.
Nick’s adaptability was put to the test as he navigated the limited resources available in the clinic. He had sent additional tools ahead of time, aware that the clinic might lack some of the equipment he was accustomed to using. Despite these challenges, Nick found creative ways to achieve the desired outcomes, teaching the local clinicians how to work with composite materials and integrate the Click Medical adjustable systems into their fabrication process.
One of the key aspects of Nick’s work in Guatemala was training clinicians in the use of the RevoFit system, an adjustable prosthetic technology that offers significant benefits for those with unlimited resources, but especially in regions with limited healthcare access. Nick demonstrated various diagnostic techniques, including using pre-made panels inside check sockets to show patients where pressure would be applied. This hands-on approach allowed patients to understand how the RevoFit system could improve their comfort and fit before committing to a definitive socket.
The training extended beyond just the RevoFit system. Many of the clinicians had never worked with carbon laminations before, so Nick took the time to teach them the basics of lamination, including how to properly prepare and finish sockets. Despite the steep learning curve, the clinicians quickly adapted, impressing Nick with their resourcefulness. “They’re used to what we Americans would probably call bush prosthetics, just kind of making it work,” Nick observed, “but they have really good hand skills.”
The most rewarding aspect of the trip for Nick was seeing the immediate impact on the patients. One memorable patient was a bilateral below-knee amputee who arrived with poorly fitting prosthetics. After being fitted with check sockets, he was ecstatic with the improved fit and functionality. Another patient, an artist and cattle rancher named Nurban, was equally blown away when he received a carbon-finished socket with a posterior panel design—a significant upgrade from the plastic sockets he had been using.
A particularly special moment occurred when several patients were fitted with donated running blades. Many had never run before, and watching them experience the freedom of movement for the first time was an emotional highlight. One patient, who had previously played soccer using arm crutches, was finally able to run unaided. Nick witnessed him running in the street, a powerful testament to the life-changing potential of advanced prosthetic technology.
The trip also laid the foundation for future collaborations. By the end of the week, several clinicians expressed interest in using RevoFit adjustability for their patients in their clinics, eager to continue the work that Nick had started. This enthusiasm was a promising sign that the technology would continue to benefit amputees in the region long after the team’s departure.
For Nick, the trip was more than just a professional milestone; it was a deeply fulfilling personal experience. “I got to combine all the things I’ve done over my career, all in a one-week span,” he reflected. Despite the intense workload, the experience was incredibly rewarding, knowing that his efforts directly improved the lives of so many.
We asked Nick if he would recommend the ROMP volunteer trips to his peers and colleagues… “Absolutely! I’ve been telling everybody they should do this,” he said. The trip offered not only the chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of others but also the opportunity to grow professionally and personally. For Nick, this mission was a powerful reminder of the impact that skilled, compassionate care can have on those who need it most.
Learn more about Click Medical’s adjustable kits and approved HCPCS Code L5783 for RevoFit adjustability.