Academy Debuts National O&P Awareness Week
At the opening session of the Academy’s Annual Meeting Academy President Frank H. Bostock, MBA, CO, FAAOP smiled broadly as he announced the next of many activities created by the Joint Committee on O&P Awareness – National O&P Awareness Week. The committee’s activities are part of the umbrella of initiatives by Project Quantum Leap. Bostock described the week’s goal as celebrating the determined spirit of physically challenged individuals and the broad, imaginative approach of orthotists and prosthetists in helping patients to lead active lives. Awareness Week can be celebrated at anytime during the year. Dates have not been specified to allow practitioners to piggyback with other established activities such as Disability Awareness Week, Rehabilitation Week, local career fairs, or job shadowing programs. “We found that many communities already have some observance of a related activity,” said Wendy Beattie, CPO, FAAOP chair of the committee. “Regardless of the name of the established activity the Awareness Week gives practitioners a chance to draw the attention to the impact O&P practitioners have on the disabled and spotlight the profession to high school students as a possible career choice.” The poster is part of an Awareness Week Kit which includes ideas on involving O&P facilities and staff in community events, information about the OPcareers website, tips on developing activities, career information flyers, and sample news releases for local media. The kit is offered to members for $45, which is a donation to PQL. Copies are available from the Academy Bookstore online at www.oandp.org or by phone at (301) 617 7805. Project Quantum Leap is a series of activities to enhance the O&P profession. It includes the National O&P Awareness Week initiative to encourage students to consider O&P as a career choice, helping the remaining O&P schools obtain government funding, documenting clinical standards of practice, and encouraging applied research in O&P. The overall project began in 2002. Academy’s Successful San Diego Meeting Attracts 1490 Attendees Despite Fears of War, Terrorism
New Members(Since January 2003)
Thranhardt WinnersThe Thranhardt Lecture series honorarium was awarded to Thomas H.Colburn, CO, FAAOP for his paper on “Balancing Scoliosis With Pads Superior to Apex” and to Robert S. Gailey, PhD, PT for his paper on “The Functional Value of Prosthetic Foot/Ankle Systems to the Transtibial Amputee.”
Membership HappeningsRENEWAL NOTICES SENT — Approximately 650 members are receiving renewal notices this month. “The rest of the membership chose last fall to pay dues for an ‘extended year’ of 19 months,” explained Manisha Bhaskar, Director of Membership and Marketing. “Only one-fourth of our membership will receive the notices which will cover the new Membership Year of July 2003 to June 2004.” The Membership Year now runs from July to June and was shifted last year requiring the transition period. The shift will benefit members by moving the renewal period away from the Christmas holiday period. CHAPTER PRESIDENTS MEET — The Chapter Presidents Council met in San Diego and received a private briefing from President Bostock on the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee’s progress. Julie Hayes also thanked the chapters for their contributions toward the Negotiated Rulemaking Process and Project Quantum Leap (PQL) and summarized a flurry of recent PQL activities. TWO CHAPTERS MEET — Taking advantage of the Academy’s offer to provide meeting space the Northern California and Southwest Regional Chapters met during the Annual Meeting in San Diego. Both chapters have recently experienced a clean sweep of officers and are reorganizing their activities. SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS — The winner for the Ken Chagnon Scholarship is Martin Canas Perdoma, and the winner for the Chester Haddan Scholarship is Mauricio J. Morales. Both attend Century College in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. PQL RAFFLE WINNERS
OTHER WINNERS — It pays to register early for Academy meetings. These winners were drawn from early registrants for the San Diego meeting: Gabriel Dagher, CPO (one year membership), Efrain Pagan, CO, FAAOP (dinner for 2 at Alfiere’s), Clint Snell, CPO (Palm Springs Weekend), Kale Hinnant, CP (a gift certificate to the Sheraton Day Spa). New Technician Association FormedThe Orthotic and Prosthetic Technological Association was recently formed and announced by letter to the Academy from Anthony Wickman, RTPO. Its purpose “is to help meet the unique professional and educational needs of the orthotic and prosthetic technician,” and will focus on the science of fabrication. The first Chairman for the association will be Ronnie Graves, LPO, RTP. The association’s web address is www.oandptech.com Election Ballots Are in the MailThe annual election for officers and directors is underway as ballots were mailed to all Active Members of the Academy. Included with the ballot is biographical information on each of the nominees. Completed ballots should be signed and mailed to the Academy’s accounting firm which tabulates the results. According to the bylaws current President-Elect Donald E. Katz, CO, FAAOP will assume the presidency beginning July 1. Candidates: Fellow Class of 2003 Inducted
Paul David Blakeley, CPO, FAAOP Academy Introduces Patient Instruction Forms
Giving Back to the ProfessionProject Quantum Leap Launches ‘O&P Giving Back Program’
“When I first heard about the Academy’s Project Quantum Leap, it sounded like they were taking a proactive step in the right direction to advance the profession,” explained Schulte. “I felt it was important to support the profession that has given so much to me and my family. I hope others will lend their support so we can continue to strengthen the profession.” Gregory Banks, CPO of Bio Prosthetic-Orthotic Lab Inc. was motivated to give by other reasons. His daughter Rebeca, grew up surrounded by the world of O&P—casting materials, carbon fiber, and other miscellaneous supplies that piqued her curiosity at a very young age. Instead of playing with dolls, she spent time casting them and watching her father at work. She was often rewarded for doing her chores with rolls of fiberglass. Rebeca is now 18 and still shows a great deal of interest in O&P. She frequently attends the various O&P meetings looking to expand her knowledge in special subject areas. When thanked for his generous contribution Banks explained, “Don’t thank me. Thank Rebeca. Although she’s not directly involved in the profession, she understands the need for what PQL is working towards.” Banks joked, “I didn’t have the heart to tell her our donation was her tuition money!” The Academy has a goal of raising $1 million over the next several years to fund its Project Quantum Leap (PQL) initiative. PQL will shape the future of the O&P profession by implementing a vigorous O&P awareness campaign to attract high school students to pursue a career in O&P, documenting clinical standards of practice to define treatment protocols, and identifying and encouraging the funding of applied research in O&P. The ambitious goals of PQL can only be achieved through the combined efforts of all those impacted by future changes in O&P. The O&P Giving Back Program enables O&P practitioners and facilities to share a vested interest in achieving the goals of PQL. How does it work? The O&P Giving Back Program offers practitioners and facility owners the ability to make a pledge of support of PQL over the next three years. Payments may be made in three installments payable by November 30, 2003, June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2005. A minimum of one-half of the total donation should be made in the initial installment. At each level of giving, the donor receives recognition and benefits reflective of their level of support. The levels for an individual practitioner range from $500 to $2,500 while facilities start at $1,000 and go up to $5,000. PQL supporters will be recognized through the Academician newsletter, Annual Meeting signage, website listings and premium items for offices or facilities. A complete listing of contributor benefits can be found on the Academy’s website at Support Project Quantum Leap. The Academy wants its members to make an investment in the future of the profession. Two of its members have done just that by making generous initial pledges of $1,000 each. To learn more about Project Quantum Leap or to make a tax-deductible online donation, go to www.oandp.org/pql. Be sure to also check out the Special Giving Opportunities should you wish to honor someone who has made a significant contribution to the profession. For additional information, please contact Julie Hayes, Director of Development & Communications for the Academy at 703/836-0788, ext. 203 or at pql@oandp.org. New Product Display Showcase Packed at Annual Meeting
Among the presenting companies were ACOR, OSSUR, Apex Foot Health Industries, Otto Bock Health Care, Silipos, Bauerfeind USA, Coyote Design, Boston Brace International, Seattle Systems, and VORUM Research Corporation. 
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The following Academy members were awarded the Fellow designation at a ceremony in San Diego. For information on how to become a Fellow visit the Academy’s website at www.oandp.org and click on Education.
Academy Introduces Patient Instruction Forms
The Publications Committee debuted a new and useful product at the Annual Meeting, a CD with patient instruction forms for seven orthotic devices. Each form can be customized to the O&P facility as well as personalized for the individual patient. Forms include instructions on: Cervical Collar, Hip Orthosis, Metal AFO-KAFO, Plastic AFO-KAFO, Spinal Orthosis, Knee Orthosis, and Wrist-Hand Orthosis. Illustrated texts are available on CD from the Academy Bookstore (301 617-7805) or online at the Academy’s website (
Stephen Schulte, CP, FAAOP became interested in the O&P profession when his paternal grandmother lost her leg due to diabetes. After attending Northwestern University, he became certified in prosthetics and worked in an Atlanta-area facility for several years. He and his wife Amne founded ProCare – Prosthetic Care Inc. in 1995. He now has two facilities and enjoys the family atmosphere in the office since his wife handles the business end of the practice while his mother Kay assists with human resource responsibilities.
It was standing-room-only for many of the presentations made in the Product Display Showcase in the Exhibit Hall in San Diego. Cindy DeClark, Academy Exhibits Manager, credits the participating companies and their choice of topics for the success.
