Even though the Assembly’s official start is on Thursday, two preshow workshops on Wednesday add to the learning opportunities. One, with lecture, videos, and demonstration, discusses muscle tone in children with an equinus deformity; the other offers hands-on information about osseointegration so practitioners are ready for their first OI patient from those who have been there already.
Not everything is directly about O&P, but certainly has a direct effect upon it. In Friday’s keynote address, author Chuck Gallagher talks about navigating the ethical complexities of modern technology and maintaining a strong ethical foundation. Gallagher also leads a Friday session called Every Choice has a Consequence—Ethics, Integrity, and the Power of Choices in Life and Business as part of the Business Education track.
Several awards to O&P leaders are presented each year at the Assembly to recognize talented professionals who are helping advance the O&P profession. The ceremony will be on Sunday to celebrate their hard work.
The O&P Digital Care Showcase, an opportunity for hands-on learning about 3D design software returns where the exhibitors show what they have fabricated and how they did it. This year there’s a third patient case file focusing on pedorthics.
Attendees could also plan their schedules around themes of their own making. For example, if you wanted to learn more about 3D printing, there’s plenty to choose from. Try “Taking the Leap: Advancing O&P with Digital Tools, Digital Workflow, Fabrication and 3D Printing—Combined Clinical, Technical and Digital Session,” “Technology and 3D Printing in Pedorthics: Reducing the Environmental Impact,” “Digital Weight-bearing (dwb) Shape Capture Socket Technology for Improved Residual Limb Health,” “Lessons Learned: Five Years of Utilizing 3D Printing and Digital Workflows in Pediatric Orthotics,” or one of the half dozen others with that topic, including the O&P Digital Care Showcase.
Or consider a theme of session presenters who have written articles for The O&P EDGE. Look for Gerald Stark, Séamus Kennedy, Erin Cammarata, Lesleigh Sisson, Bretta Fylstra, Chris Baschuk, Robert Gailey, Diane Atkins, and more. They always bring expertise and straightforward communication to the conversation.
The O&P EDGE will be at AOPA too. Look for Betta Ferrendelli and Kathleen Pishotta to share your story ideas, talk about what’s new in 2025, and anything else that strikes your fancy.
To see the National Assembly program, visit AOPA’s website.
