RESNA: Part of something bigger

TORONTO - RESNA's annual conference will be part of RehabWeek this year.

RESNA will be one of six organizations holding its conference as part of the event, June 24-28 in Toronto.

“RESNA has a reputation for rehab and cutting-edge technology, so they were really pleased to get us,” said Mary Ellen Buning, president of RESNA's board of directors.

The other organizations are the International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society (IFESS), International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), International Industry Society in Advanced Rehabilitation Technology (IISART), American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) and International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO Canada).

As part of RehabWeek, RESNA has been invited to provide a plenary speaker and it has chosen Dr. Geoff Fernie, a professor at the University of Toronto and senior scientist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network. His research interests include the application of technology to understand and solve common problems of aging.

“He's been coming up with bright ideas for ways to do things for a long time,” Buning said. “He once came up with a wheelchair that was omni-directional.”

RESNA has also been invited to contribute a panel presentation and it has chosen as its topic assistive technology and children.

“We thought it would be a great opportunity to let other organizations know RESNA is interested in all ages and all technologies,” Buning said.

RESNA and its members who attend the event will also have numerous opportunities to “cross-pollinate” with other organizations and their members in a 114,520-square-foot exhibit hall, and during a speed networking event and clinic and lab visits.

“We expect to see and hear things we don't typically see and hear,” Buning said.

Even though it's part of RehabWeek, RESNA will still hold its signature events, like its design competition and its paper and poster platform presentations, convene for business meetings and give out awards.

“The way the event is structured, each conference has its normal tracks but they're open to all attendees,” said Julien Williams, manager of membership, marketing and communications for RESNA.