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.
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients
2021 – Present
2025 Anita Liberman, Lampear, MA
2024 Larry Word, CPO, FAAOP
2023 Marty Carlson, CPO, FAAOP (D) and Ossur Kristinsson
2022 Carl Caspers, CPO
2021 Brad Ruhl
2011 – 2020
2020 Arturo Vasquez-Vela*
2019 James Kaiser, CP, LP
2018 C. Michael Schuch, CPO, FAAOP, FISPO*
2017 Saeed Zahedi, PhD
2016 Thomas Watson, CP
2015 Thomas V. DiBello, CO, FAAOP
2014 Karl Fillauer, CPO, FAAOP
2013 Hans Georg Nader
2012 Wade Barghausen, CPO (E)
2011 Rudolf B. Becker, III and Robert E. Arbogast
2001 – 2010
2010 Ivan R. Sabel, CPO
2009 Anthony J. Filippis, Jr., CPO
2008 Anthony J. Filippis, Jr., CPO
2007 Charles H. Dankmeyer, Jr., CPO
2006 Garvin D. Marty
2005 Joe Cestaro, CPO
2004 David C. Schultz, CPO*
2003 Donald E. Hardin
2002 H.E. “Ted” Thranhardt, CPO
2001 Ralph “Ronney” Snell, CPO, FAAOP*
1994 – 2000
2000 Sam E. Hamontree, CP
1999 Roy Snelson, CPO (E)
1998 Al Muilenburg, CPO
1997 Carlton Fillauer, CPO
1996 Charles W. Rosenquist, CO*
1995 Ben Moss* & Anthony Filippis Sr., CPO
1994 Louis Pulizzi, CPO*
Call for Nominations
Deadline for Nominations: July 31, 2025
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