People & Places

Among individuals with cerebral 35% palsy who were prescribed lower-limb orthoses, only 35% use their devices every day. This finding from researchers at Gaziantep University in Turkey was attributed primarily to difficulty in wearing orthoses. The authors recommend that patients work closely with a rehabilitation team and take part in follow-up appointments to increase adoption.

SOURCE: “Use of Lower-Extremity Orthoses in Patients With Cerebral Palsy and Related Factors,” Prosthetics & Orthotics International, Dec. 1, 2021.

O&P professionals can stay up to date on the latest business trends and information by earning a Certificate in O&P Business Management, offered via a new collaboration between AOPA and the University of Hartford.

This joint certificate program provides a unique leadership experience, fresh insights, and education for O&P professionals to advance their careers while learning proven techniques for developing better business practices and improving their companies’ returns. Participants—O&P business owners, managers, clinicians, manufacturers, and distributors—will complete a series of business and management courses to explore business challenges related to finance, sales and marketing, business operations, and reimbursement policies and management.

The program has been designed to be similar to nondegree continuing education programs that universities offer in conjunction with their MBA programs. Visit bit.ly/AOPACP for details.

More than 550 healthcare organizations reported data breaches affecting 500 or more individuals to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, in 2021. The protected health information of more than 40 million individuals was exposed as a result of the breaches. The 10 largest healthcare data breaches last year were hacking/IT incidents.

SOURCE: “This Year’s Largest Healthcare Data Breaches,” Health IT Security, Nov. 30, 2021.

PROFESSIONALS

The Orthotic and Prosthetic Activities Foundation (OPAF) announced board members for 2022. Deborah Plescia, CPO, clinical specialist for Ottobock Orthopedic Services; Jacob Calvert, CPO, a clinician with Hanger Clinic and an adaptive fitness trainer; and Taushima Nixon, a graduate student at Alabama State University’s MSOP program who has experienced limb loss, have joined continuing members Matt Swiggum, Jena Baxter, Jackie Valdez, CO, and Elise Griset, CPO, on the OPAF Board of Directors.

The executive board was re-elected to their positions, with Travis Young, CPO, serving as president, Michelle Jamin, PT, DPT, as vice president, and Rebecca Snell as secretary and treasurer.

Mary Richards

Amputee Coalition CEO Mary Richards was elected as a member of the 2022 board of directors for the National Health Council (NHC). “NHC brings together the nation’s leading patient advocacy organizations, including the Amputee Coalition, to drive patient-centered health policies that improve lives,” said Richards. “I am excited to contribute to the leadership of the NHC and help expedite meaningful progress for Americans living with limb loss and limb difference and many other conditions.”

The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) Board of Directors announced its 2022 Executive Committee, which is comprised of the officers of the board. The recently elected 2022 officers include the following: • Chair: Wayne R. Rosen, BOCP,

BOCO, LPO, CDME, FAAOP • Vice chair: Abel Guevara III,

MHIM, RHIA, CPHT, CDME • Secretary: William J. “Bill”

Powers, MBA, LFACHE • Treasurer: Cameron Stewart, BOCO, BOCP • Member-at-Large: Rick Todd, COF • Immediate Past Chair: Bradley “Brad”

Watson, BOCO, BOCP, LPO.

Wayne R. Rosen, BOCP, BOCO, LPO, CDME, FAAOP

“BOC’s Executive Committee showcases the leadership and commitment of our entire board,” said Rosen. “I am honored to lead this dedicated group in achieving continued success for BOC and for those we serve.”

Jon Sigurdsson will retire from his position as president and CEO of Össur effective April 1, 2022. The company’s board of directors has appointed Sveinn Sölvason to Jon Sigurdsson Sveinn Sölvason succeed Sigurdsson as president and CEO. Sölvason has been with Össur since 2009 and chief financial officer since 2013.

“On behalf of the board of directors, the executive management team, and Össur’s 4,000 employees, we want to sincerely thank Jon for his leadership over his more than twoand-a-half decades with the company,” said Niels Jacobsen, Össur chairman of the board. “A steadfast leader with a strong strategic vision, Jon has successfully guided Össur since 1996. Under his leadership, Össur has grown from being a niche company with $5 million in revenue and 40 employees, to a leading global medical device company with an annual revenue of approximately $700 million and 4,000 employees worldwide. In addition, Jon spearheaded more than 60 acquisitions over the years and has played an instrumental part in transforming the landscape of the O&P industry.”

“I congratulate Sveinn on his appointment and look forward to working with him on the transition,” said Sigurdsson. “It has been an honor to lead Össur for the past 26 years. I have had the pleasure of working with a dedicated team of employees, customers, and end users alike, all of whom have made Össur the successful business it is today. I look forward to watching Össur continue to flourish in the years to come.”

“I appreciate the trust given by the board of directors and am pleased to accept the opportunity of serving Össur in a new role as the president and CEO,” said Sölvason. BUSINESSES

The Hanger Foundation announced it will partner with five universities as part of the 2022 Hanger Foundation Diversity Scholarship program, which is entering its second year.

The MSPO programs at these five institutions will award scholarships to students underrepresented in the field of O&P to help offset the cost of their degree: • Alabama State University • Eastern Michigan University • Northwestern University • The University of Hartford • The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

“Providing diversity scholarships provides us the opportunity to have a greater impact. The University of Hartford has been committed to equitable opportunities for eligible students for many years, and minimizing financial barriers further demonstrates this commitment,” said Matthew Parente, University of Hartford MSPO program director.

Applicants can apply directly through the MSPO program at their respective university, and scholars will be selected by their school for displaying remarkable academic achievement, community service, and a passion for diversity within the O&P profession. In addition to receiving a scholarship, all recipients will be offered a two-year mentorship with the option of pursuing a residency at Hanger Clinic.

WillowWood Global LLC has entered into a strategic partnership with Blue Sea Capital LLC, a growth-oriented private equity firm.

“Since partnering with Ryan Arbogast in 2019, Daniel [Rubin, COO of WillowWood] and I have taken great pride in transforming a closely held, fourth-generation family-owned business into what is today the preeminent player in prosthetic products,” said Mahesh Mansukhani, CEO of WillowWood. “Having swiftly and successfully executed our operational playbook, our partnership with Blue Sea marks an important milestone in—and testament to—WillowWood’s long-term growth trajectory.”

WillowWood selected Blue Sea as its preferred partner, “based on the team’s impressive track record supporting similarly growth-oriented healthcare businesses, with both organic and acquisition-driven initiatives,” said Rubin.