The International African American Prosthetics & Orthotics Coalition (IAAPOC) held a networking social reception at the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium. Alpha Sanusi, BOCPO, IAAPOC president, addressed the gathering and emphasized the organization’s mission to promote O&P in the community, provide networking and camaraderie among practitioners, and to provide scholarships to deserving students in O&P master’s degree programs.
The reception concluded with the scholarship presentation. Jack Steele, CO, FAAOP(L), an IAAPOC board member and a founding member, read a statement from Sam Benson, the organization’s first president for whom the scholarship is named. The newest member to the board of directors, Adrienne W. Hill, MHA, CPO/L, presented the names of the three recipients of the 2022-2023 Sam D. Benson Scholarship. Morgan Harris (Baylor), Claudine Humure (University of Washington), and Jasmyn Palmer (Kennesaw State University) each received $1,000 from the scholarship fund. Over the past two years the IAAPOC has presented $9,000 in scholarship awards.
Board member Amandi Rhett, MS, CPO/L, announced that the 2024 IAAPOC Annual Meeting will be held in Houston, with dates to be announced soon. Rhett will host the event.
