The meeting point between psychology and a post-graduate training course in orthotics/prosthetics is socially constructed for the first time in Southern African history. This paper elucidates the integration of theory and practice in a model for the development of a professional identity as orthotist / prosthetist. In creating a context where trainees can learn to develop their practice whilst also enabling them to deconstruct notions of ‘expert knowledge’, orthotists / prosthetists move from a position of scientist-practitioner to negotiating an alternative position of reflective-practitioner. In the process of co-constructing knowledge an alternative story of teaching and learning evolves. The result is a celebration of life as it is really lived by health professionals.