American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists

August 2006 • Vol. 2, No. 3

Advancing Orthotic and Prosthetic
Care Through Knowledge

2006–2007 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

Gary M. Berke, MS, CP, FAAOP, is in private practice in Redwood City, California, and is an adjunct clinical instructor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford University. Following his graduation from UCLA with a BS in Kinesiology, he returned to the same university for his certificate in Prosthetics. He then obtained a master of science degree in Allied Health with a specialty in prosthetic research from the University of Connecticut in 1990. Following his masters, he briefly taught at the California State Dominguez Hills bachelors program, and then combined patient care and education for the next nine years at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Berke has lectured nationally and internationally and has provided education and patient care in developing nations. He is passionate about improving research, education, licensure, and evidenced-based practice in O&P.

PRESIDENT- ELECT

Wendy Beattie, CPO, FAAOP, graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yale University before entering the field of orthotics and prosthetics. She received her prosthetics certificate from UCLA and orthotics from Northwestern University. Beattie is director of Clinical Education for Becker Orthopedic in Waterford, Michigan, and is the director of the company's residency program. She founded Special Opportunities for Amputee Rehabilitation in 1990, a nonprofit foundation that provides athletic and fitness activities in the Michigan area and is currently executive director of the foundation. Beattie has lectured extensively throughout the country and abroad.

VICE PRESIDENT

James P. Rogers, CPO, FAAOP, graduated from the baccalaureate program at New York University in 1980. In 1982, he was certified in both orthotics and prosthetics and obtained his first position with National Orthotic and Prosthetic Corporation (NOPCO) at Children's Hospital in Boston. He was involved in the development of the Boston Overlap Brace and worked closely with the physicians and orthotists who first used the Boston Scoliosis System. He credits the opportunity to cover a variety of pediatric clinics at Boston, Philadelphia, and Vanderbilt Children's Hospitals with rounding out his institutional experience. In 1985, he joined Southeastern O&P in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1994 Rogers founded Orthotic and Prosthetic Associates Inc. (OPA) in Chattanooga. OPA grew to become one of the most respected and innovative facilities in the Tennessee area in the treatment of pediatric neuromuscular, orthopedic, and neurologic disorders. In 2006 Custom Healthcare LLC, acquired OPA. The resulting entity, PPS Orthotic and Prosthetic Services, retains Rogers as executive vice president and general manager.

TREASURER

Keith M. Smith, CO, LO, is an orthotist at Orthotic and Prosthetic Lab Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri, where he specializes in clinics in scoliosis and pediatrics with neurologic involvement. He graduated from St. Louis University with a bachelors degree in Chemistry in 1995 and completed postgraduate studies in orthotics at Northwestern University in 1996. He participated in the Academy's first Clinical Standards of Practice Consensus Conference on Orthotic Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis and Scheuermann's Kyphosis, and has been actively involved in research in the field. Smith has published numerous articles in the Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics and lectured at Academy and AOPA meetings. He received the Thran­hardt Honorarium at the Academy meeting in 2004

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Paul E. Prusakowski, CPO, LPO, FAAOP, is owner of O&P Clinical Technologies in Gainesville, Florida, and president of O&P Digital Technologies (oandp.com). He obtained his bachelor of science degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics from Florida International University in 1992.

He is dedicated to the elevation of the profession and advancement in clinical and academic information exchange for the enhancement of patient care. Prusakowski also is the founder and moderator of OANDP-L, the orthotics and prosthetics listserve, an international e-mail-based discussion group for the O&P profession.

DIRECTORS

Robert N. Brown Jr., MS, CPO, FAAOP, is chief of Orthotics and Prosthetics at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and is an assistant professor at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He is a former instructor and curriculum coordinator at the Newington Certificate Program in Orthotics and Prosthetics. Brown graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas in 1988, earning his certificate in orthotics from ABC in 1990 and prosthetics in 1991.

James H. Campbell, PhD, CO, FAAOP, received his undergraduate and postgraduate education at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. In 1979, he graduated from the National Center for Training and Education in Prosthetics and Orthotics. He was awarded a PhD in Bioengineering in 1996 for his research entitled: The Orthotic Management of the Paraplegic Child, A Clinical and Biomechanical Analysis. He relocated to the United States in 1988, was in clinical practice at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio for six years, and is currently vice president of Becker Orthopedic in Troy, Michigan. Campbell was Chairman of the Clinical Content Committee for the last three Academy Annual Meetings. Additionally, he served as editor-in-chief (2000–2003) of the Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics.

Scott D. Cummings, PT, CPO, FAAOP, is employed by Next Step O&P in Manchester, New Hamphsire, where he provides patient care in a private practice setting. He graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelors degree in Physical Therapy prior to completing his orthotic and prosthetic education at UCLA in 1984. Cummings is the Academy's Liaison to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and also a past president of the New England Chapter of the Academy.

Marc D. Kaufman, CPO, received his bachelors degree from the University of Texas Southwestern in 1994 and sub­sequently obtained his certification in orthotics in 1996 and prosthetics in 1998. In 1999, he co-founded Atlanta Prosthetics & Orthotics Inc., and is currently Vice President and Director of Orthotics for the corporation located in Atlanta, Georgia. Kaufman has been involved with the Georgia Society of Orthotists and Prosthetists since 1998 when he began presenting at the annual state meeting on various orthotic and prosthetic topics. During his presidency with the Georgia State Society he was instrumental in the state licensure bill being enacted and fundraising for the lobbyist who represents the state society.

Mark Muller, CPO, CPed, graduated from SUNY at Stony Brook in 1993 with a bachelors degree in Material Science and Engineering. He began his prosthetic and orthotic career by volunteering at Eastern O&P Labs in Long Island, New York, quickly becoming the lead pros­thetic technician. In 1995, he completed both the Orthotic and Prosthetic Certificate programs at Northwestern University, then served as an instructor of Orthotic Education for Northwestern. He joined Ossur in May 2003 as a clinical prosthetist/orthotist implementing numerous educational and clinical projects including the very successful On-Line Education platform of the Ossur Academy. In January, 2006, Muller switched roles to focus on education and joined the California State Dominguez Hill Prosthetic and Orthotic program as an instructor of Prosthetic Education.

Mark K. Taylor, MLS, CPO, FAAOP, graduated from the orthotic program at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in 1977. He opened his own orthotic practice in Oklahoma and was able to complete his undergraduate degree through Brigham Young University and continue toward his masters at the University of Oklahoma. Taylor attended the Northwestern University Prosthetic Certificate Program and included prosthetics in his private practice. Mark works for the University of Michigan Orthotics & Prosthetics Center where he has been for the past 13 years. He serves as a volunteer for the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) as an examiner twice a year and as an ABC site surveyor for accreditation when time permits.