The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy) announced that Chellie Hollis Blondes has been appointed executive director. She has more than 25 years of management experience in the nonprofit healthcare industry.
Blondes served as deputy executive director of the Academy for 15 years and as interim executive director for the past seven months. She championed O&P continuing education offerings through the Academy’s Annual Meeting and through the creation, launch, and growth of the Academy’s Paul E. Leimkuehler Online Learning Center. She has experience with legislative affairs and is known for fostering collaborative initiatives within the O&P profession.
“I am honored to serve the O&P profession as executive director of the Academy, an organization to which I am devoted. O&P professionals work hard every day to enable individuals in need of care to lead full and more productive lives. It amazes me to see how far we have come as a profession, and I am excited about what the future holds,” said Blondes.
“The Academy board and I are thrilled to have Chellie as the organization’s new executive director,” said Academy President Rick Miller, CO, FAAOP. “Her experience in representing the O&P profession for so many years is valuable as is her ability to lead us into the future with the Academy’s core pillars as a guide.”
