Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award

Each year AOPA presents the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.  This honor is bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of orthotics and prosthetics.

Ralph R. “Ronney” Snell
Legislative Advocacy Award

The Ralph R. “Ronney” Snell, CPO, FAAOP, Legislative Advocacy Award recognizes individuals who have made valuable contributions toward advancing the legislative and regulatory goals of the O&P field by motivating members of Congress and other decision makers to take action on behalf of O&P.

Thranhardt Award

Launched by a gift from J.E Hanger in memory of Howard R. Thranhardt, CP, the award recognizes individuals committed to advancing O&P education and research. Winners of the Thranhardt Award receive an honorarium of $500 each.

Hamontree Award

The Sam E. Hamontree, CP(E), Business Education Award was created to recognize the best business education paper, idea and/or proposal submitted for presentation. This award is a counterpart to the Thranhardt Award given each year to the best clinical abstract(s).

Edwin & Kathryn Arbogast Award

The Edwin and Kathryn Arbogast Award and the Otto and Lucille Becker Award were founded in 2012, made possible by special endowments by Becker Orthopedic and WillowWood. These awards honor two meritorious scientific papers submitted for presentation as a poster at the AOPA National Assembly, to encourage students and residents to present outstanding research through poster presentation. The Otto and Lucille Becker Award is awarded annually for the best orthotic abstract submitted, and the Edwin and Kathryn Arbogast Award is for the best prosthetic abstract submitted by a qualifying student or resident. The main author of each presentation must be a student (baccalaureate or master level), or a resident at a qualified patient care facility.

Otto & Lucille Becker Award

Hans Georg Nader Digital O&P Award

The Award was established in 2022 by a gift from Ottobock Healthcare in honor of Professor Hans Georg Näder and his many contributions to the field of Orthotics and Prosthetics worldwide. The purpose is to prepare the O&P profession for the future as digital care and innovations in technology continue to lead the direction of patient care.

Dr. James H. Campbell Commitment to Outcomes Award

AOPA is proud to partner with Hanger, Inc. to establish the Dr. James H. Campbell Commitment to Outcomes Award, celebrating individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to improving clinical outcomes in orthotics and prosthetics (O&P).

O&P Rising Stars

AOPA’s O&P Rising Stars initiative is designed to spotlight the innovative and trailblazing individuals shaping the future of O&P. These dynamic individuals 35 or younger are driving change, pushing boundaries, and demonstrating exceptional leadership in their work, whether in clinical care, research, education, advocacy, or industry advancement.

AOPA Tech Tips and Tricks Video Winners

AOPA OPTA Technical Fabrication Contest

The Technical Fabrication Contest was founded in 2012 and honors technicians who fabricate a particular device in each year’s contest. Entrees are submitted for presentation at the AOPA National Assembly encouraging students, practitioners, and technicians to display their outstanding devices. The fabricators are given free rein in terms of final shape and cosmetic finishing and must include a description specifying the issues addressed in the design of the device. Devices are displayed during the AOPA National Assembly and winners are announced during the annual business meeting.