ACPOC Marks 40th Anniversary

The Association of Children’s Prosthetic-Orthotic Clinics (ACPOC) held its 40th annual meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 11-14. The meeting held special significance since ACPOC’s origins were rooted there in the early 1970s through the guidance and involvement of George Aitken, MD; Carlton Dean, MD; Charles Frantz, MD; and Leon Kruger, MD. This key group, along with Hector Kay of the Committee on Prosthetics Research and Development of the National Academy of Sciences, recognized the value of a clinical approach to prosthetic care for children and established ACPOC, which has met annually since 1979.

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital hosted the anniversary celebration with a tour of its facility followed by an anniversary dinner for more than 100 attendees. Owen Larson, CP, an ACPOC member who has attended 39 of the 40 annual meetings was recognized at the event.

ACPOC President Jorge Fabregas, MD, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, presented the New Investigator Research Awards, sponsored by Ottobock, Duderstadt, Germany, to encourage the organization’s new professionals to participate in research. Recipients included Rachael Rosen, MPO, Kaitlin A. Cash, CPO, and Meghan Guglich, BSc(Kin). Fabregas also selected the Hector Kay memorial lecture given this year by John G. Birch, MD, FRCS(C), called “Reflections on the Management of Congenital Fibular and Tibial Deficiencies.” The presidential guest speaker, James R. Kasser, MD, spoke on “Vascular Malformation as it Affects the Musculoskeletal System—An Integrated Approach to Care.”

The meeting was divided into 16 sessions with 30 presentations. Topics included scoliosis, upper- and lower-limb orthotics and prosthetics, clubfoot treatment, technological advancements in O&P, clinician well-being to prevent burnout, adaptive athletics, and medical concerns. A double session was allotted for the Physician’s Forum where challenging cases that open discussion for modalities of treatment are informally presented.

ACPOC also unveiled its new logo, which signifies the association’s focus with a symbolic emblem of children with special needs. New board members were elected and induction of officers was completed during the meeting. The position of president was passed from Fabregas to Robert Lipschutz, CP; the new vice-president is Anna (Cuomo) Vergun, MD; Sandra Ramdial, CP(c), FCBC, became the new secretary/treasurer; new members-at-large are James Kallen, CPO(c), and Alyssa Perry, CPO. David Rotter, CPO, became the new by-laws chair.

ACPOC’s next annual meeting will be held at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Hotel, Florida, May 1-4, 2019.