World-renowned orthotic and prosthetic professionals met last weekend to plan the AOPA hosted 2013 World Congress – the prevailing event for orthotics, prosthetics and pedorthic professionals in the Western Hemisphere.
Alexandria, VA, October 25, 2012 – The American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) represents the largest strongest cohesive force for Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) in the Western Hemisphere, and currently its annual meeting represents the largest and strongest clinical care meeting, and showcase for introduction of new O&P technologies in the United States.
There is a compelling responsibility for leaders in clinical care—both corporations and clinicians in O&P—to assist with stimulating the advancement of knowledge, facilities and techniques in developing countries throughout the western hemisphere and the world, which is one reason that AOPA and its partners the United States National Member Society of ISPO (US-ISPO) and the German Association of Orthopaedic Technology for O&P, Rehabilitation, Home Health Care/ConFair (Orthopadie.Technik) and invited participants met to begin the planning process for this outstanding scientific learning experience.
“The group of individuals gathered by congress clinical content chairman David Boone PhD was impressive. They included a who’s who of researchers and clinicians from around the world. The day was very well organized and the quantity and quality of the work done was impressive. It is a true testament to the quality of the group. This all bodes well for an outstanding congress in September,” said AOPA President, Thomas DiBello, CO, LO, FAAOP.
AOPA President-Elect, Thomas Kirk, Ph.D added, “A conference that calls together health care professionals from all over the world requires high quality, comprehensive ideas and content from the clinical thought leaders from all countries. This is precisely the caliber of individuals that came together for the two-day planning session in Orlando. The experience, qualifications and collaboration of the participants were exceptional and will yield an outstanding conference.”
The planning committee will continue to meet up until the World Congress in September 2013. AOPA expects a worldwide attendance of nearly 3,000 O&P professionals.
The planning committee includes:
David A. Boone, CP, Ph.D., MPH (Committee Chairman), Orthocare Innovations LLC
Jon Batzdorff, CPO, USISPO Vice Chairman and Latin American Consultant, Prosthetika
Frank H. Bostock, CO, FAAOP, Hanger Clinic
Bernhard Budaker, Representative for German Association/Confair and Deputy Head of Department and Group Manager, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation, Germany
James H. Campbell, Ph.D., CO, Becker Orthopedic
Andrea Giovanni Cutti, Meng, Ph.D., INAIL Prostheses Centre, Italy
Thomas V. DiBello, CO, LO, FAAOP, AOPA Immediate Past President, Hanger Clinic/Dynamic Orthotics & Prosthetics
Dianne Farabi, Staff USISPO, USISPO
Mark Geil, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology and Health, Georgia State University
Ritu Ghosh, Deputy Director –Training, Mobility India, Bangalore, India
Jose Miguel Gomez, MD, LO, Gomez Orthotic Systems, Bogota, Columbia
Thomas Kirk, Ph.D., AOPA President, Hanger Clinic
Robert S. Kistenberg, MPH, CP, LP, FAAOP, Chair US-ISPO, Co-Director and Coordinator of Prosthetics MSPO Program, Georgia Institute of Technology
Geza Kogler, Ph.D, CO, Georgia Institute of Technology
Aaron Leung, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Division of Biomedical Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic Univ., Hung Hom, Kowloon
Karen Lundquist, MBC, Otto Bock Healthcare
Brad Mattear, CPA, CFo, Cascade Orthopedic Supply, Inc.
Masse Niang, CPO, President, African Federation of Orthopaedic Technicians, Burkina Faso, Africa
Stephanie Olivo, Euro International
Michael Orendurff, Ph.D., Senior Scientist, Director, Biomechanics Laboratory, Orthocare Innovations LLC
Marlo Ortiz Vazquez del Mercado P.O, Ortiz International S.A. Guadalajara, Jalisco México
Karen Peters, Otto Bock Healthcare
Klaas Postema, MD, Ph.D., Professor, University Medical Center Groningen
Anthony Potter, Director, Product Marketing, Hanger Clinic
Nerrolyn Ramstrand, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Prosthetics and Orthotics, School of Health Sciences, Jonkoping University
Dr. Urs Schneider, Representative for German Association/Confair, Head of Department Orthopaedics & Systems in Motion, Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation
Jack E. Uellendahl, CPO, Hanger Clinic
Jason Douglas Wening, MS, CPO, FAAOP, Scheck & Siress Orthotics and Prosthetics
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AOPA, based in Alexandria, Virginia, is the largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping orthotic and prosthetic businesses and professionals navigate the multitude of issues surrounding the delivery of quality patient care. The association was founded when needs of returning veterans in the aftermath of World War I required a national organization to address the educational and research requirements of the industry.
American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association
330 John Carlyle Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 571/431-0876 Fax: 572/431-0899
www.AOPAnet.org @AmericanOandP
Specialists in delivering superior treatments and outcomes to patients with limb loss and limb impairment