Vol.5, No.2

February 2000

Exhibitor Partners Subsidize Member Registration Fees

Debuting at the Annual Meeting in San Diego is the Academy’s new Partners Program. “We appreciate the support of all our exhibitors,” explained Cindy DeClark, who developed the program for the Academy, “and wanted to find ways to increase visibility for those that go the extra mile.” The Partners Program offers exhibitors a package of exhibit, sponsorship, and traffic-building features to provide greater visibility for their company.

The investment by the Partners helps to keep down meeting costs which, in turn, keeps the lid on increases in registration fees. “Every dollar a sponsor invests subsidizes individual member registration fees,” said William W. Schumann, CPO, past president and chair of the Education Development Council.

Partners are recognized as Gold or Silver Partners depending on their combined investment in the Academy’s meeting and are encouraged to use the “partner seal” in their marketing materials. “We designed the program to be a win-win for both sides,” Jeff Kingsley, exhibits chair, explained. Gold Partners have invested $10,000 or more in the Annual Meeting in exhibits, sponsorships or workshops, while Silver Partners have invested $5000 or more.

Gold Partners Ohio Willow Wood United States   Manufacturing Co.

Silver Partners Becker Orthopedic Cascade Orthopedic Supply Chas A. Blatchford, LTD College Park Industries

Flex Foot Orthomerica OSSUR USA Otto Bock Orthopedic Industry Southern Prosthetic Supply

New Patient Care Booklet & Research Guide
to Debut at Annual Meeting

Lower Limb Orthoses, by Thomas V. DiBello, CO, is one of those meant-to-be publications that should have been written a long time ago. Lower Limb Orthoses takes a look at the typical problems helped by an orthosis and the role of the orthotist, and it discusses each step of the patient-care process from evaluation through follow-up. DiBello also includes sections on the use of shoes and the daily care required of the patient.

The 20-page illustrated booklet is part of the popular Patient Care Series the Academy created to aid practitioners in educating their patients. Quantity discounts are available onsite at the Annual Meeting in San Diego at the O&P Bookstore or by calling 301-362-6906. Single copies are available for $4. The O&P Research Reference Guide is also new to the Academy’s publications and will be its first dynamic publication. A unique feature of the Guide is that it will be an online “e-publication” available for MEMBERS-ONLY on the Academy’s website at www.oandp.org. The Guide is planned as a living document and will be updated as new material becomes available.

Members may view the new publication at no cost. Using a “hot-button” to get to the table of contents, members can link directly to the full text of each article listed. These articles, originally published in the JPO, describe the research process, how to conduct a literature review, data collection, measurement and statistical analysis. There is also a series of articles on outcomes measurement, residency research, and funding. The O&P Research Reference Guide was developed for use primarily by members as an exclusive member benefit. Non-members may qualify for a one-time pass to preview the material. Limited paper copies of the Guide will be available from the O&P Bookstore for $50 (members) and $75 (non-members).

This Academician is Coming to You by Fax

Faxing the Academician will put it in your hands quicker while still providing you with a portable copy. Call the Academy if we do not have the correct fax number for you – 703-836-7118.

New Survey Will Show Members’ Buying Power

During exhibit hours at the Annual Meeting, members may notice individuals with clipboards intercepting practitioners as they enter the hall. With a series of quick questions, the interviewers will collect valuable information that will quantify the role of Academy practitioners in the purchasing process. “We expect to be able to give our exhibitors the kind of information they’ve been craving,” explained Thomas V. DiBello, CO, Academy President-Elect. Questions will include information on purchasing patterns, which of the national meetings practitioners consider most important, expectations of visits with exhibitors, and whether the practitioner is the decision-maker on purchases.

The results of the survey will be tabulated and shared exclusively with exhibitors that have committed to exhibiting in Dallas in 2001.

Your Slides and Illustrations May be Part of the Academy’s Online Graphics Library

Paul Prusakowski, CPO, will demonstrate the newest member benefit at the Annual Meeting — the Academy’s Online Graphics Library. This electronic library will store thousands of O&P images donated by practitioners, manufacturers, and other allied health care facilities. Initial contributions from John W. Michael, CPO, FAAOP, Charles H. Pritham, CPO, FAAOP, Gary Lamb, CO, FAAOP, Prusakowski and others have formed the core of the resource and will be cataloged, defined, and cross-listed to aid individuals in their search for photos, slides, illustrations, and other O&P graphics to use in preparing research articles, grant applications, magazine articles, and classroom presentations. To donate graphic images to the Library, please contact Catherine Hassinger at the Academy at 703-836-7118.

The online library will reside on the Academy’s website in the MEMBERS-ONLY area for the exclusive use of Academy members.

Heads Up if You Wanna Go ‘Down Unda’

The O&P Athletic Fund needs two practitioner volunteers for the 2000 Paralympic Games, to be held in Sydney, Australia, on October 18-29. Volunteers must be ABC-certified in prosthetics and must be members of both the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists and Disabled Sports USA. If you are interested, please check out the Fund's website at www.opfund.org to download the practitioner application and other applicable forms.

Act now! The application deadline is March 1, 2000.

Millennium Member Clocks Delayed

Academy members waiting to receive their Millennium Member clocks will have to wait a little bit longer. The clocks, expected to mail mid-January, are being held overseas due to a manufacturing glitch.

The Academy apologizes for the delay. Current production estimates guarantee a mid-March delivery.

Calendar of Events

February:
21 Academy offices closed

March:
15-18 Academy Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium, San Diego, CA
31-1 Spring EPS, Chicago, IL

April:
8 Gait and Pathomechanics One-Day Seminar, Dallas, TX