Aligning its symposium with the Academy Annual Meeting, the Pedorthic Footcare Association offers new opportunities for pedorthists to learn with orthotists and prosthetists and exchange expertise. The Academy’s Targeted Tracks this year bring new focus to common topics with timely full-day sessions about change management and an immersive educational path for rising professionals and technicians.
The Technical Track, which is designed for technical and clinical professionals, includes concepts of thermoplastics and one-stage lamination, elevated vacuum, lamination tips and tricks, orthotic innovations, along with a session about Project Bike Leg, where attendees can learn how to fabricate a functional prosthesis from bicycle components. Attendees will learn from Lindi Mitsou, MSPO, CPO, FAAOP, Jeff Wilson, Cassandra Delgado, MSPO, CPO, Ben Hogan, CPO, Gary Bedard, CO, FAAOP(D), Davin Amara, CO, and Lily Heyd, MSOP.
The Rising Professional Track has topics about career growth and networking, and strategies for a five-year plan to help newer clinicians build a successful career, with Abbey Gilhooly-Senczyszyn, CPO, MBA, MPO, FAAOP, Scott Thach, MSPO, CPO, Kathleen Carroll, MS, MSPO, CPO, FAAOP, Sydney Ezell, CPO, and Jonah Rhymer, MPO, CPO.
Soon-to-be-certified practitioners can attend the Exam Preparation Seminars for an extra fee. Stephen Charry, MSPO, CPO, FAAOP, assistant professor at the University of Hartford, will help attendees through a circuit of orthotic and prosthetic simulations and challenging high-pressure exercises with one-on-one support for subjects they can expect to see on their clinical certification exams.
In an all-day program on Friday, prosthetists can earn a certificate demonstrating their skills in providing comprehensive care for individuals with transfemoral amputations. The program’s six modules, presented live at the Annual Meeting, will also be recorded for the Academy’s O&P Knowledge Central.
