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The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP) 34th Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium was held Feb. 27 through March 1 in Orlando.
Wendy Beattie, CPO, FAAOP and president of AAOP announced the formation of the O&P Education and Research Fund at the opening session on Thursday morning, kicking off the annual meeting. Two current AAOP regional chapters pledged funds during the ceremony: Nathan Seversky, CP offered a $1000 donation on behalf of the constituency of the New England chapter and Robert Silvestri, CPO offered a $5000 donation on behalf of the New Jersey chapter.
Additionally, Beattie announced the receipt of a fifth grant from the U.S. Department of Education for one million dollars.
On receiving the grant Beattie said, “This money will enable us to continue the initiatives of the last four years including additional state-of-the-science conferences, facilitating distance learning,…community outreach and public education about orthotics and prosthetics.”
Thranhardt Lectures
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The first lecture presented by Anton Johanneson, CPO discussed “Vacuum-Formed Removable Rigid Dressing Compared with Conventional Rigid Dressing after Transtibial Amputation.” Johanneson’s research found that both methods produce similar outcomes, concluding that a vacuum-formed rigid dressing may be used in place of a conventional cast rigid dressing after transtibial amputation.
Jason Wening, MS, CP presented on “The Effects of Ankle Foot Orthosis on Gait Parameters of Acute and Chronic Hemiplegic Subjects.” Wening’s research concluded that an AFO increases the gait parameters for both chronic and acute subjects with hemiplegic CVA and low tone.
Educational programs
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Among the three days filled with educational programming were several sessions covering upper and lower limb prosthetics and orthotics with topics including: “Geriatric Prosthetic Suspension Options” presented by Gerald Stark, Jr., CP, FAAOP; “Hip Disarticulation and Transpelvic Prosthetics: Obtaining Successful Outcomes” presented by Kevin Carroll, MS, CP, FAAOP; “Practical Outcome Measures of Daily Patient Care” presented by John Michael, MEd, CPO, FAAOP, FISPO, Phil Stevens, MEd, CPO, FAAOP, and Wening.
Several sessions provided Academy members with valuable information about running their business more effectively. Some of these sessions included: “Leading and Team Building” presented by Joyce Perrone; “Show Me the Money: Staying Profitable in O&P” presented by Rob Benedetti; and “How to Promote Your Business through the Internet” presented by Greg Bauer, CPO.
Recognition of successes
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This year’s Titus Ferguson Award went to Maurice LeBlanc, MSME, CP(E) in recognition of his dedication to the growth and development of the industry. LeBlanc was trained in mechanical engineering at Stanford University and later went on to study O&P at UCLA. He has held positions at the UCLA Prosthetics and Orthotics program and the National Academy of Sciences and currently works in biomedical engineering at Stanford. Upon accepting his award, LeBlanc said, “no one ever does anything alone,” calling attention to those who have helped him over his years of service.
Donald G. Shurr, CPO, PT was awarded the Distinguished Practitioner Award for his outstanding contributions to the field of O&P through exemplary leadership and deliverance of quality care. Shurr studied O&P at Northwestern University following receipt of physical therapy and undergraduate degrees from the University of Iowa where he has served as the director of the O&P program for the last 7 years. He urged attending practitioners to participate in mentoring programs to further the profession.
“There are a lot of young people wanting to get into our field,” Shurr said. “They need you. We need them.”
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The Clinical Creativity award was given to Todd A. Kuiken, MD, PhD, director of the Neural Engineering Center for Artificial Limbs and director of Amputee Services at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
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The Research Award was granted to Brian J. Hafner, PhD, director for Prosthetics Research Study and a lecturer in the University of Washington’s P&O program in Seattle.
Alfred E. Kritter, Jr., CPO, FAAOP, vice president of clinical services for Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics was granted the Clinical Commitment Award.
Honorary Membership was given to Steven A. Gard, PhD and Jean Deitz, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA. Gard is the director of Northwestern University’s Prosthetics Research Laboratory (NUPRL) and Rehabilitation Engineering Research Program (RERP) and was awarded for his research in human gait biomechanics. Deitz is a professor in the department of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington and was recognized for her advocacy efforts in the areas of prosthetic and orthotic education and research.
