Alexandria, VA (March 31, 2022) – April is Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month (LLLDAM), an opportunity to raise awareness about the vital need to support efforts that advance equitable medical access, care, and coverage for and to honor the millions of people living with limb loss and limb difference as well as the community that supports them.
The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) is part of this community. Its members include orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) patient care facilities that provide the clinical care and suppliers that manufacture and distribute orthoses (orthopedic braces) and prostheses (artificial limbs).
Every day, AOPA members transform lives. They restore mobility, empower potential, and break down barriers. They operate at the intersection of innovation and humanity, providing patients the solutions they seek.
Eve Lee, AOPA Executive Director said, “This month, we honor LLLDAM by sharing our members’ stories through the We Are O and P social media campaign to celebrate the role AOPA members play in transforming lives. How they rise to every challenge, why they do what they do, and the role they play in uplifting this incredible community.”
Throughout the month, 16 AOPA members will answer the question, What is one of the most important interactions you have had with the limb loss/limb difference community and what role did you play? These O&P professionals come from diverse backgrounds – they are clinicians, technicians, office staff, students, researchers and more. They also span the entire United States, representing the breadth and depth of AOPA membership.
- Ben Auzenne– VP of Sales and Marketing, Blatchford US | Louisville, Kentucky
- Casey Banks, CTPO – Technician, University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Carlo Centeno Pérez, LCPO – Prosthetist and Orthotist | Houston, Texas
- Abby Cull, CTPO – MSPO Student, Eastern Michigan University| Ypsilanti, Michigan
- Cassandra Delgado, CPO – Director Clinical Services, Prosthetic & Orthotic Associates and Handspring; Clinical Consultant, Adapttech | Middletown, New York
- Ronnie Dickson, CP – Owner, Prosthetic & Orthotic Associates of Tennessee | Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Dana Glover – Director of Operations, Beacon Prosthetics & Orthotics | Raleigh, North Carolina
- Herman Green, CTP, CPA – Lab Manager / Lead Technician, Bulow Orthotic & Prosthetic Solutions | Nashville, Tennessee
- Adrienne Hill, MHA, CPO – Area Clinic Manager, Hanger Clinic | Atlanta, Georgia
- Wadad Lahoud, LO– Orthotic Resident, Hanger Clinic | San Antonio, Texas
- Tristine Lam – Orthotic Resident, Snell Prosthetics & Orthotics | Little Rock, Arkansas
- Cody McDonald, CPO, MPH, PhD – Acting Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington | Seattle, Washington
- David McGill – President, AOPA; Manager, USA Clinics & VP, Reimbursement & Compliance, Össur | Foothill Ranch, California
- Lesleigh Sisson, CFO, CFM – President, Prosthetic Center of Excellence and O&P Insight | Las Vegas, Nevada
- Steve Slawinski, CO, FAAOP – Clinic Director, Boston Orthotics & Prosthetics | Voorhees, New Jersey
- John Warren, CP – Director, Medical Center Orthotics & Prosthetics New England | Boston, Massachusetts
AOPA invites other O&P professionals in its membership to be part of the celebration by sharing their stories. To get involved:
- Post on social media: Share your story and be sure to tag AOPA on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram and use the #WeAreOAndP
- Spread the word: Invite your friends, colleagues, and community to join!
About the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA): A trusted partner, advocating for and serving the orthotic and prosthetic community, the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) fosters relationships with decision makers, provides education, supports research, and advances equality to strengthen the orthotic and prosthetic profession and improve the lives of its patients. Since 1917, AOPA has been the largest non-profit organization consisting of more than 2,000 patient care facilities and suppliers that together manufacture, distribute, design, fabricate, fit, and provide clinical care for patients using (orthopedic braces) and prostheses (artificial limbs). Each and every day, AOPA and its members strive for a world where orthotic and prosthetic care transforms lives