People & Places

O&P LEADERSHIP AOPA Board of Directors Takes the Reins for 2022

We ARE AOPA

ADVOCACY | RESEARCH | EDUCATION

AOPA leadership is looking forward to the opportunities that the coming year will bring. New and returning board members are planning to launch both innovative and revamped programs and projects to assist member companies in providing quality patient care and services while supporting one another by sharing best practices.

Dave McGill, begins his term as AOPA president December 1 after being elected during the AOPA National Assembly in September. McGill will be supported by Teri Kuffel, JD, president-elect; Mitchell Dobson, CPO, vice president; Rick Riley, treasurer; Eve Lee, MBA, CAE, secretary; and several additional board members. Traci Dralle, CFm, who served as president for the 2020-2021 term, will continue serving the association as immediate past president.

Jim Kingsley is the newest member of the profession to join the AOPA board. Kingsley has spent the past nine years in the O&P industry working as chief operating officer for Scheck & Siress and regional vice president at Hanger Inc. During his 37-year career, he has served in accounting, sales and marketing, business development, mergers and acquisitions, operations, and general management roles.

Jeffrey Lutz, CPO, who served as immediate past president last year, concludes his board service at this time.

To the right is the full list of 20212022 AOPA Board of Directors members, who take office Dec. 1, 2021, and will serve through Nov. 30, 2022.

Dave McGill President

2022 AOPA Officers

Teri Kuffel, JD President-Elect

Traci Dralle, CFm Immediate Past President Rick Riley Treasurer Mitchell Dobson, CPO Vice President

Eve Lee, MBA, CAE Secretary (Nonvoting)

2022 AOPA Board Members

Jeffrey M. Brandt, CPO

Linda Wise

New Board Member

Elizabeth Ginzel, MHA, CPO

Shane Wurdeman, PhD, CP, FAAOP(D) Research Chair Kimberly Hanson, CPRH

James O. Young Jr., CP, LP, FAAOP John “Mo” Kenney, CPO, FAAOP

Special Thanks, Retiring

BUSINESSES

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND TRANSITIONS

Hanger Inc. announced an external advisory board, along with academic and industry partners who will join the Hanger Institute for Clinical Research & Education (Hanger Institute) in its efforts to advance the clinical practice of O&P and improve patient outcomes.

The Hanger Institute launched in March 2021 to explore, expand, and facilitate opportunities that help advance leading-edge research, evidence-based care, and quality education in O&P. To provide guidance around this mission, the Hanger Institute formed an external Advisory Board composed of experienced members of the healthcare community, including Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD; Judith M. Burnfield, PhD, PT; Catrine TudorLocke, PhD, FACSM, FNAK; and Douglas Smith, MD.

The Hanger Institute also is partnering with academic and institutional research organizations, along with several industry collaborators: Infinite Biomedical Technologies, Össur, Ottobock, Parker Hannifin, Point Designs, WillowWood, and Zimmer Biomet.

“By establishing these strategic partnerships, we’re poised to drive scientific advancements and leading-edge research in the orthotics and prosthetics field,” said James Campbell, PhD, Hanger’s chief clinical officer.

Forty-four O&P providers have been honored with a 2021 Freedom Award from Orthotic and Prosthetic Group of America (OPGA) in recognition of their attention to military personnel. “We’re excited to recognize these O&P providers for the exceptional care they provide to the men and women who have sacrificed for our freedoms,” said Todd Eagen, president of OPGA. “These dedicated professionals blend patient care with precision design to ensure our military heroes can have increased mobility and independence.” Recipients of the 2021 Freedom Award received a framed award to showcase in their patient-care facility, which “highlights their dedication to the distinguished veterans they treat, and to the stars and stripes,” Eagen said.

The following AOPA members are among the 2021 Freedom Award recipients: • Allegheny Orthotics and Prosthetics,

Altoona, Pennsylvania • Central Brace and Limb Co., Indianapolis, Indiana • Clark & Associates Prosthetics and

Orthotics, Waterloo, Iowa • Clark and Associates, Cedar Rapids, Iowa • Decker Integrated O&P, Overland Park, Kansas • Great Lakes Prosthetics & Orthotics, Ypsilanti, Michigan • Holmes Prosthetic Center, Houston, Texas • LeTourneau Lifelike Orthotics and

Prosthetics Inc., Beaumont, Texas • Limb Lab, La Crosse, Wisconsin • Limb Lab, Mankato, Minnesota • Limb Lab, Rochester, Minnesota • NovaCare Prosthetics & Orthotics, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin • NovaCare Prosthetics & Orthotics, Oshkosh, Wisconsin • O&P1, Waterloo, Iowa • OrthoPro Services LLC, Dublin (Laurens), Georgia • Rehability, Spring Hill, Florida • Sampsons Prosthetic and Orthotic

Lab, Schenectady, New York • Sierra Prosthetics-Orthotics, Grass Valley, California • Snell’s Orthotics and Prosthetics, Shreveport, Louisiana • Tillges Certified Orthotic Prosthetic

Inc., Maplewood, Minnesota • Total Rehab Orthotics and Prosthetics,

Fayetteville, North Carolina • Valley Institute of Prosthetics & Orthotics,

Bakersfield, California.

THE LIGHTER SIDE

Wishing you a healthy, relaxing, and joyous holiday season.