Tag: Prosthetics
Sheryl Sachs on breaking down barriers
October 16, 2024Tracy Orzel
BALTIMORE – From shaping legislation to mentoring future leaders, 2024 O&P Woman of the Year Sheryl Sachs is transforming the field of orthotics and prosthetics. As a certified prosthetist orthotist (CPO) at Maryland-based Dankmeyer, Sachs, MSPO, channels her expertise and fierce dedication into ensuring equal care and innovative solutions for patients. HME News recently spoke with Sachs about her mission to break down barriers, not only for her patients but also for other women.
HME...
AOPA names recipient of digital award
October 7, 2024HME News Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association recently awarded the 2024 Professor Hans Georg Näder Digital O&P Care Award to Joshua Steer at its National Assembly. AOPA’s Digital O&P Care Workgroup chose Dr. Steer based on his research, Insights into Transtibial Prosthetic Socket Design from Expert UK Clinicians’ Digital Records. “Congratulations to Dr. Steer for being this year’s recipient,” said Eve Lee, executive director of AOPA. “We...
Mable Health buys DP&O
September 10, 2024HME News Staff
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Mable Health has acquired Whitby, Ontario-based Design Prosthetics and Orthotics, further strengthening its presence in area and along the 401 corridor. Under the terms of the acquisition, DP&O shareholders will become shareholders of Mable Health and will continue to provide advanced prosthetic and orthotic services from their current location. "The acquisition of DP&O represents a key milestone in our Ontario platform,” said Michel Lanctôt, president...
OPGA names finalists for Woman of the Year Award
August 13, 2024HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – The Orthotic and Prosthetic Group of America has announced the four finalists nominated for the 2024 O&P Woman of the Year Award.
The finalists are:
Dr. Justina Appel, PhD, CO, BOCP, LPO, clinical specialist with NuTech Synergies;
Jenna Calomeris, vice president of sales with ThorWear, DBA Elevate Movement;
Dr. Sara Peterson, PhD, L/CPO, FAAOP(D), clinical research scientist/certified prosthetist orthotist (CPO) with O&P Clinical Innovations; and
Sheryl Sachs,...
Chris Casteel: ‘If you want to salsa dance, you have to put the work in’
August 2, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
DETROIT – Certificant of the Year Chris Casteel, a former machinist and plant manager, “jumped naively” into his career as an O&P professional, but in the two decades since, he’s used his experience, as both an amputee and a health care professional, to help others.
“I had gotten laid off, so I thought, ‘Ok, let’s make people parts instead of car parts,’” said Casteel BOCO, BOCP, co-owner of Anew Life Prosthetics and Orthotics, who was...
Hanger Ventures makes debut investment
July 22, 2024HME News Staff
AUSTIN, Texas – Hanger Ventures, a subsidiary of Hanger whose primary goal is to advance orthotics and prosthetics innovation and improve patient outcomes, has made its debut investment in Bionic Power. Canadian-based Bionic Power, developer of active lower body smart orthotic devices that enhance personal mobility, is raising Series A funding, with Hanger Ventures committing as the lead investor. “We look forward to contributing clinical research, along with technical and commercial...
O&P stakeholders push ‘goodwill’ bill
April 5, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – O&P stakeholders will use an upcoming policy forum to press lawmakers to support legislation that will enable patients to receive high-quality care by, among other things, prohibiting “drop shipping.”
The Medicare Orthotics and Prosthetics Patient-Centered Care Act was re-introduced in the Senate in March, just ahead of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association’s 2024 Policy Forum, which takes place April 15-16 in Washington. It’s a companion...
OPGA, Össur name award recipients
March 12, 2024HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa - OPGA and Össur Americas have named Matthew Jones as the 2024 recipient of the Russell Walker CP, LP Emerging Leader Grant, and Kelley Berk as the 2024 recipient of the Todd Eagen Advocacy in Action Memorial Grant. “On behalf of Össur and OPGA, we are privileged to announce Matthew and Kelley as the recipients of these two grants that will provide professional development opportunities for the future leaders of O&P while memorializing the impact that Rusty Walker and...
Proposal increases access to ‘technological leap forward’
February 16, 2024Theresa Flaherty, Managing Editor
WASHINGTON – O&P stakeholders hailed a new proposal by CMS to expand coverage of microprocessor-controlled knees for certain K2 patients, something they say is long overdue.
Under the proposed changes, the agency will no longer limit the technology to patients classified as K3 and above.
“When this technology first came about in the in the 90s, it was really marketed and touted as kind of like the next technological leap forward for patients,” said Joe McTernan,...
OPGA, Össur open application period for grants
January 22, 2024HME News Staff
WATERLOO, Iowa – The Orthotic Prosthetic Group of America (OPGA) and Össur have opened the application period for two grants available to U.S.-based O&P professionals. The two grants: The Russell Walker CP, LP Emerging Leader Grant, now in its third year, is designed to pay tribute to Russell (Rusty) Walker, a practitioner who was passionate about mentoring the next generation of O&P leaders; and the Todd Eagen Advocacy in Action Memorial Grant, now in its second year, is named after Todd...