Kenneth Martin Woodward, CPO, passed away on February 25, 2008, at the age of 64. Woodward was born March 17, 1943, and joined Wright & Filippis, Rochester Hills, Michigan, in 1959. He most recently served as the company's director of prosthetics and celebrated his 48th year with the company in 2007. "This is an enormous loss, not only for the Wright & Filippis family, but for every patient whose lifehe touched," said A.J. Filippis, the company's president and CEO. "I've known Ken for virtually my entire life, so this is a tremendous personal loss as well. Yes, he certainly did an extraordinary job of leading our prosthetics department, but more than anything, he was a caring gentleman who committed his lifeto helping others, and he did so with great empathy and compassion. "We've truly lost a good friend." Woodward started at Wright & Filippis in 1959. He began in a building maintenance position and was quickly promoted to the position of prosthetic technician. In 1962, he was transferred to the Lansing, Michigan, facility and later began his education at New York University and later at Northwestern University. In 1967, he became a certified prosthetist, earning his ABC certification in orthotics in 1975. He was promoted to director of orthotics and prosthetics in 1985, but with company growth and expanding industry demands, Woodward began focusing his efforts on the field of prosthetics. He was a past president of the Michigan Orthotics and Prosthetics Association (MOPA), and he served in a number of ways for the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA). He was also a member of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy). One of his proudest achievements, according to co-workers at Wright & Filippis, came in September 2003 with the development of a new program called AmpuTeam. His vision for providing greater prosthetic care and better patient function led to an AmpuTeam program which has helped provide training, education and encouragement to amputees and their healthcare providers.
