Grant Update: Academy Grant Sponsors Education Programs at Annual Meeting | American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists

Academy Grant Sponsors Education Programs at Annual Meeting

The Academy is pleased to be able to offer a number of educational programs during its 36th Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium (Hyatt Regency Chicago, February 24–27, 2010) that are sponsored by the Academy's grant from the U.S. Department of Education (grant number H235K080004). The funds from this grant have allowed the Academy to pursue improving the level of research in orthotics and prosthetics, create standards of practice within the profession, and increase awareness about careers in orthotics and prosthetics to the general public. All of these strategies contribute to our overarching goal of improving orthotic and prosthetic patient care for the patients you see in your offices every day.

It's All about Outcomes

The results of the most recent Academy State of the Science Conference (SSC) on Upper Limb Prosthetic Outcome Measures will be discussed on Thursday, February 25, 2:20–3:50 p.m. This SSC included a multidisciplinary and multinational panel of subject-matter experts and was chaired by Laura A. Miller, PhD, CP, assistant professor, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; and Shawn Swanson, OTR/L, national director of Occupational Therapy, Advanced Arm Dynamics, Redondo Beach, California. Both of these experts will present at the Annual Meeting session.

During their session they will describe the research results that have been completed in the last five years toward consensus in the area of upper-limb prosthetics, identify the recommended patient assessments, and identify the work that remains to be done to further develop other important assessment tools. During the SSC, the group identified future research priorities, and those will also be addressed.

If you want more details now on the SSC, you can download a copy of the SSC Proceedings from our website at www.oandp.org. You can also order a print copy from the Academy Bookstore while you're in Chicago or call the bookstore at 301.617.7805. Print copies are just $20 for Academy members ($40 for non-members).

Learn More from the Convenience of Your Office or Home

In addition to the published proceedings, the results of the SSC have been turned into an online education course on upper-limb prosthetic outcome measures available on the Academy's Paul E. Leimkuehler Online Learning Center (OLC). You'll earn 22.5 PCE credits when you complete all of the modules and take the quizzes. Visit the OLC for more information or to register.

Certificate Programming at Its Best

Over the last several years, the grant has enabled the Academy to develop and present a number of its certificate programs. This year's Orthotic Management of Scoliosis & Kyphosis seminar is the latest in this successful series of seminars in which you can earn continuing education credits and meet one of the requirements for earning the distinction of Fellow of the Academy. At this year's Annual Meeting, three of the modules from the Scoliosis & Kyphosis program will be presented:

Module 1: The Etiology and Natural History of Idiopathic Scoliosis—Thursday, February 25, 5:00–5:45 p.m., presented by Donald E. Katz, CO, LO, FAAOP
Module 3: Biomechanical Considerations for Orthotic Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis—Friday, February 26, 4:30–5:15 p.m., presented by J. Martin Carlson, CPO, FAAOP
Module 6: Present-Day Systems for the Orthotic Management of Scoliosis—Saturday, February 27, 7:45–8:30 a.m., presented by Keith M. Smith, CO, LO, FAAOP

You will want to take advantage of the opportunity to learn all you can from the subject-matter experts who will be presenting in Chicago.

If you have any questions about these sessions or other events taking place during the Academy's 36th Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium in Chicago, February 24–27, 2010, contact Kimber Nation at 202.380.3663 or e-mail