American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetist Nashville

This past February, two of our clinicians, Alex (Me) and Natalie, travelled to Nashville, TN for the annual Academy (AAOP) meeting. Here we get a chance to meet up with old classmates and colleagues in the field who work all over the country. The event consists of several classes and seminars throughout each day where clinicians and researchers present new techniques, products, clinical research, case studies, and more. These courses are great refreshers on information that is constantly changing and improving, so sending our clinicians every year is a great way for our practice to stay informed and ready to face any patient challenge that comes through our door.

The event also hosts a vendor hall, filled with the companies we work with who provide components, materials, and everything we need to keep our practice running smoothly. At the vendor hall, we are able to get our hands on the new products that have been released and talk about any training that may be necessary. At the Vendor hall, I even met some colleagues that are right next door in Columbus, OH. Andy Hundley, a PT at OSU Medicine, was there representing a company he started, Forged Amputee Wellness. His website offers a subscription service for amputee specific training. Any amputee is able to sign up for a monthly subscription, where they work with Andy on tailoring daily exercise and wellness practices specifically for them to help achieve their goals with a prosthesis. Check out forgedwellness.com for more information.

In the Vendor Hall, we were also introduced to Limber Prosthetics, a company who manufactures a fully 3D printed prosthesis. Since the meeting, we have now partnered with Limber to be distributors of the unileg. I am very excited to see this prosthesis on our patients, because it is fully water proof, mud proof, and just about everything proof! It was originally thought to be used for a shower or beach leg, but when patients started using it, they actually preferred to wear it for everything due to its extreme lightweight and smooth rollover. Check out the Unileg on our New Technology page.

Natalie was able to spend some time with one of her old classmates form O&P school, Madeline who works for Wright & Filippis in Michigan. I was also able to stay with a good buddy Bryce Dahl, CPO who lives in Nashville, working at Bionic.

Natalie focused on Microprocessor KAFO’s and Osseointegration. “I always come back very energized to get back to work…my favorite part of the conferences are always the opportunity to learn about new technology and ideas in person and also to reconnect with colleagues and friends from around the country” - Natalie Wilson, CPO.