Pac Rim 2012

Exclusive live coverage from The O&P EDGE. Pacific (Pac) Rim 2012, a Pacific Forum for Physical Rehabilitation, sponsored by the U.S. Member Society of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (USISPO) in cooperation with The O&P EDGE , took place Sunday, January 22, through Wednesday, January 25, at the beachfront Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu. The temperature hovered in the mid 70-80 degree range, which conference attendees were able to enjoy during downtime, as did the many sports enthusiasts who were in town for the National Football League (NFL) Pro Bowl game. The first biennial Pac Rim Conference was held 30 years ago. The late Chuck Childs, CPO, a leader in the P&O field, thought it would be a great idea to host a P&O conference in Hawaii that offered interesting subject matter as well the opportunity to enjoy the islands' beauty, recalled Rodney Pang, CPO, owner of Honolulu Orthopedic Supply. Childs, Pang, and the late Jerry Fullerton, CPO, joined forces to form the first Pac Rim conference committee. It was at this first Pac Rim meeting that Pang met Eiji Tazawa, PhD, CPO, past president of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO). The conference started off with a Sunday-night reception during which speakers, exhibitors, attendees, and their families mingled; however, the meeting officially opened Monday morning. Robert Kistenberg, MPH, CP, LP, FAAOP, chair of USISPO, opened the 15th biennial meeting by recognizing Pang and his colleagues for conceptualizing and starting the Pac Rim Conference all those years ago. He also announced the dedication of the Rodney Pang Keynote Presentation, which will be a feature of all subsequent Pac Rim meetings. It was only fitting that Tazawa presented the first Rodney Pang Keynote Presentation. Tazawa's keynote presentation, "P&O Education in Southeast Asia and Life of People with Physical Disabilities," shared the evolution of the healing arts in Japan, followed by an overview of The Nippon Foundation and its contributions to the development of P&O education and clinical services throughout Southeast Asia. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] A fire dancer entertains conference attendees during Tuesday night's dinner celebration.[/caption] There were more than 80 attendees at the conference. Session topics ranged from spinal and lower-limb orthotic solutions, to new materials for O&P applications, to targeted muscle reinnervation, to O&P rehabilitation science. Many attendees commented that they never miss this meeting; it boasts great presenters and handson sessions. The open-air exhibit area was situated directly outside the meeting room, which afforded the exhibitors a steady stream of foot traffic. While there were a few new exhibitors this year, many return year after year to get quality one-on-one time with the attendees. The 2014 meeting is slated for January 26-29, at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, Big Island of Hawaii. With all of the excitement and inquiries about the next meeting, USISPO said it may offer an early registration for a limited time. -Tonja Randolph

Pac Rim 2012

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Pac Rim 2012

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Related posts:

MU Research to Study Best Rehabilitation Practices for Amputees

April is National Limb Loss Awareness Month

April is National Limb Loss Awareness Month

RECENT NEWS

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O&P JOBS

Certified Prosthetist Orthotist

O&P Technician II – Portland, Oregon

Certified or Board-Eligible Orthotist/Prosthetist – Yakima, WA

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