OPGA and Össur Americas announced the recipients of two O&P grants. Matthew Jones has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the Russell Walker CP, LP Emerging Leader Grant, and Kelley Berk, CPO, has been selected as the 2024 recipient of the Todd Eagen Advocacy in Action Memorial Grant.
“On behalf of Össur and OPGA, we are privileged to announce Matthew and Kelley as the recipients of these two grants that will provide professional development opportunities for the future leaders of O&P while memorializing the impact that Rusty Walker and Todd Eagen had on the O&P profession,” said Adam Miller, OPGA president. “Both Matthew and Kelley are proven to be rising leaders in the O&P profession and will be exceptional representatives at the AOPA Policy Forum and the Challenged Athletes Foundation Triathlon Challenge.”
Now in its third year, the Russell Walker CP, LP Emerging Leader Grant is designed to pay tribute to Russell (Rusty) Walker, a practitioner who was passionate about mentoring the next generation of O&P leaders.
“To me, advocacy is one of the greatest things we can do as clinicians and practitioners,” said Jones, a combined prosthetic/orthotic resident with Alabama Artificial Limb & Orthopedic Service. “I’m really excited to be awarded an opportunity to continue to grow and develop my own skills as an advocate as I continue to make my way through residency.”
The second annual Todd Eagen Advocacy in Action Memorial Grant honors Todd Eagen, former president of OPGA, who unexpectedly passed away in 2022 and was an important leader in the O&P profession.
“I’m so excited for the opportunity to attend the AOPA Policy Forum in Washington DC, as well as cheer on some really amazing athletes at the Challenged Athletes Foundation Triathlon in November,” said Berk, Shamrock Prosthetics
Both annual grants, cosponsored and cosupported by OPGA and Össur Americas, are designed to provide funding to a current O&P resident and certified orthotist or prosthetist (or both), respectively, that will allow them to attend and participate in two nonclinical events that are highly important to the O&P profession and the patients it serves. These events include the AOPA Policy Forum and the Challenged Athletes Foundation Triathlon Challenge.
“Össur is honored to continue our partnership with OPGA and supporting the next generation of O&P leaders. Through these awards, we honor the legacies of Rusty Walker and Todd Eagen and their incredible contributions to the O&P community and their patients.” said Matt Ballantine, vice president, Lower Limb Prosthetics Americas, Össur. “We look forward to supporting the grant recipients as they continue their work in elevating the O&P profession.”
