2004 Annual Meeting on Track to be ‘Best Ever!’

Perfect timing to be in New Orleans - Crescent City at its best

With 103 sessions to choose from, outstanding speakers from within the profession and internationally acclaimed, the Academy’s 2004 Annual Meeting February 25-28 is set to be the “best ever” as its promotional materials proclaim. James H. Campbell, PhD, CO chaired the planning committee. He gives them much of the credit for identifying an exceptional array of topics, formats and assembling the experts to present the information. “I’m especially pleased with the topics and presenters,” Campbell described. “And I am looking forward to the live hook-up via satellite with Australia discussing product failures. It’s an exciting feature of the meeting.” Early registrations are running 52% ahead of last year at this time.

About 1,500 practitioners, technicians, fitters, speakers, and exhibitors will gather in New Orleans Feb 25-28 at the Hyatt Regency for the Academy’s Annual Meeting. Most will earn 32 PCE credits, make contacts and renew old friendships during the meeting’s sessions and refreshment breaks.

The meeting will officially open on Thursday, February 26 with a general session led by Academy President Donald E. Katz, CO, FAAOP describing a new level of achievement and goals for the O&P profession, including some ambitious goals for Project Quantum Leap activities. The Academy Awards and the induction of the 2004 Class of Fellows will also be part of the Opening Session. The previous day is filled with 23 technical workshops.

Four candidates will vie for the Thanhardt Lecture Series honorarium with two chosen by the audience to receive $500. Topics include transfemoral socket design, cervical thoracic orthoses, phantom limb pain, and a new design of an asymmetrical TLSO module. Findings from the consensus conference on Post-Operative Management of the Lower Extremity Amputee will be presented by co-chairs Douglas Smith, MD and Gary M. Berke, MS, CP, FAAOP.

In addition, the planning committee has borrowed a popular idea from Europe adding two Clinical Technique sessions that provide tangible knowledge that attendees can immediately implement in their practices. The sessions devote four hours each over two days to learning transfemoral casting or gait and physical assessment. Participation in these specialized two-day, two-hour programs will be limited to ensure each participant receives the appropriate attention and require an additional fee.

Members will notice a departure from the Annual Business Meeting format of past years. The content of the meeting will actually be split into two sessions held during breakfast meetings. Katz believes members will enjoy the new format and will encourage feedback via evaluation forms. Members must register for the Member Breakfasts using the Registration Form. Onsite registrations may be limited.

New Lower-Limb Certificate Program Debuts in New Orleans

Continuing with the ninth certificate program in the series that is the foundation of the Fellow Program, Gordon W. Bosker, CP, CPED, FAAOP will introduce the new program in New Orleans. Four of the ten modules in the Prosthetic Management of the Lower-Limb Patient will be offered in the Academy’s packed program of clinical sessions.

Fellows of the Academy are recognized with the credentials FAAOP. Fellow status lasts five years during which further professional requirements must be met to renew Fellow status.

To become a Fellow one must be an Active Member of the Academy and complete three Certificate Programs for Professional Development. An alternate pathway is to complete two certificate programs plus either author an accepted manuscript for the JPO or contribute to the O&P profession via significant community/volunteer service within the Academy, or chair a symposium or instructional course at the Academy Annual Meeting, or make two presentations at Academy sponsored programs during the five-year period.

Additional information on fees, program dates, and procedures for becoming a Fellow can be found on the Academy website (www.oandp.org) or by calling Bethany Oxer at (703) 836-0788, ext 206. Early recipients of Fellow status must complete their five-year requirements for continued use of the designation and may use one of two pathways.

Academy’s Northwest Chapter Gears Up for April Meeting

Members of the Northwest Chapter feel like they’re on the other side of the world, or so it seems at times. The chapter covers the largest amount of geography of any of the 14Academy chapters and is about as far from the Alexandria,VA offices as can be. “Rounding up members from Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, and Alaska is a tough challenge,” admits Chapter President Tamara Carswell, CPO who is in the second half of her two-year term. “We occasionally have members that make the two hour flight from Alaska to the meeting, but most of our members are within a two-hour drive.”

The chapter is preparing for its Annual Meeting April 1-3 in Seattle at the Red Lion Hotel. The meeting will begin with a focus on knees – the first day devoted to Becker’s Orthotic Knee course followed by Ossur’s Prosthetic Knee course. The remaining two days of programming will also include a balance of orthotic and prosthetic topics with one afternoon devoted to pain (pediatric, phantom and amputee).

Carswell is proud of the way the Northwest Chapter members banded together to obtain licensure in Washington. “Licensure has made us more cohesive and more aware of what goes on in the legislature affects our practice and profession.” The chapter has continued a retainer with its lobbyist to keep abreast of what’s happening legislatively and what they need to be involved in.

Advantages of Becoming an Academy Fellow

Academy Fellow is the highest designation bestowed on a member in recognition of their dedication to continuous lifelong learning. The requirements include successfully completing three certificate programs within five years.

• Authorization to immediately begin using the FAAOP credential with your signature.

• A beautiful Olympicstyle medallion, encased in a shadow box, presented at the Academy Annual Meeting highlighting your achievement.

• Recognition in the O&P Almanac and Academician.

• 10% discount off the member price of all Academy products, meetings and services.

Forbes, Supan to Receive Academy’s Highest Awards

David J. Forbes, CPO(E), FAAOP

David J. Forbes, CPO(E), FAAOP will receive the Titus-Ferguson Award, a lifetime achievement award which is the highest level of recognition bestowed upon an outstanding Academician whose accomplishments and contributions have made a significant impact on the growth and development of the profession. Forbes, now retired, served as an ABC examiner for many years and contributed to the success of several committees in ABC and the Academy. His contributions to the Academy include committee work that led to the development of the Exam Preparation Seminar, Education Development Committee, and the Fellow program. A previous recipient of the Distinguished Practitioner Award and past president of the Academy, Forbes is best known for his high ethical values and sense of fair play in all his activities.

Two of the most respected names in O&P have been selected to receive the highest awards during the Annual Meeting opening session. Terry J. Supan, CPO, FAAOP will receive the Distinguished Practitioner Award for his dedication and leadership to the advancement of the profession and demonstrated record of sustained contributions and commitment to the Academy. Supan, a past president of the Academy (1990-91) has also participated on the ABC and NCOPE Boards and chaired the residency committee.

Terry J. Supan, CPO, FAAOP

William W. Schumann, CPO and David J. Jendrzejczyk, CPO (E), FAAOP will both receive the Clinical Commitment Award for their commitment to the ABC Canons of Ethical Conduct and improving the professional image of the profession. The Clinical Creativity Award will be presented to Robert N. Brown, Sr., CPO, FAAOP for his work in developing products that improve O&P care. Fred Downs will receive Honorary Membership in the Academy during the presentations.

Plagiocephaly is Focus of Next Consensus Conference

Deanna J. Fish, MS, CPO was recently selected to chair the third consensus conference in the Academy’s series toward documenting Clinical Standards of Practice (CSOP). The topic has been identified as Orthotic Treatment of Positional Plagiocephaly and will be held April 7-9 at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas.

The intent of a consensus conference is to analyze diagnoses which can be considered difficult to treat or controversial in nature, as well as those where sparse literature is available to guide patient care. It serves as a mechanism to document the profession’s clinical belief systems as to why a particular approach to treatment is preferred, based on what is known either through sound research, or in some cases anecdotal experience. The end goal of a CSOP conference is to publish a document that defines the current status of patient care, to develop consensus on controversial issues where possible, and to identify research priorities.

The Academy’s Craniofacial Society pushed for consideration of the topic and is already gathering treatment data via a survey. All individuals and organizations that presently treat infants with positional plagiocephaly and/or have successfully applied for and received 510(k) clearance from the FDA to manufacture a custom cranial remolding orthosis are invited to complete the survey. The survey was designed to build a collective body of information about specific and generalized treatment programs for this unique patient population. The results of this survey will promote continued education, enhanced treatment programs, and advance the research and development from within the field of orthotics. To participate in this information gathering process, please contact Patti Larkin, CO at Plarkin40@aol.com or fax 713-747-1022.

“This is a topic that is both timely and urgently needed,” explained Ms. Fish. The increased incidence of positional plagiocephaly has been linked to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 1992 recommendation to place infants in a supine position rather than the traditional prone position for sleeping. In addition, sustained daytime positioning in infant baby carriers coupled with premature births, congenital muscular torticollis, restrictive intrauterine environments, cervical abnormalities and/or birth trauma produces asymmetrical head molding in the young infant.

Ms. Fish is a strong believer in the use of helmets. “Cranial remolding orthoses can provide lifelong correction of the abnormal head shape” she explained. “However, if not treated properly, positional plagiocephaly can lead to longterm temporal mandibular joint problems, significant facial asymmetry, developmental delay, and possible hemihypoplasia.” She anticipates having each key reviewer or expert present a lecture summary of their research topic and develop up to five critical questions that are either controversial or not addressed in the literature. A brief question and answer period will follow each lecture. After every two to three lectures, a Syndicate Session will follow at which time the critical questions will be discussed and a consensus agreement formed.

Attendees Refine Their Skills at Clinical Techniques Sessions

Members who wish to learn or refine a skill during the Academy’s Annual Meeting, will want to participate in the two Clinical Techniques sessions in New Orleans Feb 25-28. The Clinical Techniques sessions are taught in four hours spread over two days and are limited in size to ensure optimum instructor attention and supervision.The session on Transfemoral Casting taught by Mark Edwards, CP was developed for practitioners who want to refine their ischial containment casting technique, especially those who may be experiencing some problems. Proper casting techniques will reduce subsequent socket problems and lessen the need for recasting. This session will include a live patient model with demonstrations of the fundamental skills for IC designs, patient evaluation and objective measurements. In addition, participants will learn impression procedure, cast modifications, overview of transverse shape, alignment, fitting and problem solving, ending with group discussion on the topic. Helpful advice from other practitioners will also be included in the discussion period.

The second session enhances a practitioner’s ability to efficiently and effectively use his/her hands, eyes and ears to obtain a comprehensive clinical picture of the patient when a physical therapy report, computerized gait analysis or physician’s notes on the patient are missing. Gait and Physical Assessment for O&P Professionals led by Robert S. Lin, CPO, FAAOP; JoAnne L. Kanas, CPO and Mark D. Geil, PhD will use a model patient to review the practical use of goniometric science, manual muscle testing techniques, observational gait assessment, and body segment analysis to enable formulation of the optimal O&P treatment plan. These skills will be covered in a pragmatic fashion to complete a patient exam in 20 minutes. Through the use of a comprehensive lecture/lab forum, participants will be trained to incorporate these assessment tools into everyday practice. Also covered will be angular relationships, clinical assessment of tone and topical evaluation of the spine and extremities.

Participants may use the Annual Meeting Registration Form to pre-register for either of these programs (cost $75 eac). Registration Forms are available online at www.oandp.org, in the Preliminary Program or by calling (703) 836-0788. Class size is limited to 50 participants. Limited space remains (planers indicate at press time).

In Memoriam...

Jack Caldwell, CP(E), a respected prosthetist for more than 25 years and owner of Jack Caldwell, Prosthetics Inc. in Orlando, passed away January 8 at his home in Homosassa, FL. He obtained his degree from Carson-Newman College and attended O&P courses at University of California, Los Angeles and Northwestern University.

WA N T E D

New Society Chairs

Every two years elections are held within the eight scientific societies. If you have an interest in becoming a society officer, call (703) 836-0788.

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