Annual Hanger Education Fair Focuses on the Future
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New Horizons, Endless Possibilities was the theme of the 2007 annual Hanger Education Fair held from Feb. 5-11 at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nev.
The fair was well attended with final numbers showing 790 Hanger employees; 90 speakers, guests and patient models; and 360 exhibitor representatives including Hanger affiliate companies in attendance.
The opening reception echoed the same patriotic sentiment of last year’s meeting during the opening reception with a standing ovation for the wounded Iraq war veterans in attendance and a moment of silence. These gestures were followed by a heartfelt tribute song by Ray Guillemette Jr., a regular entertainer at the fair probably better known as Bionic Elvis.
For the next few days, sessions were packed with the most popular courses reaching their enrollment limits including: “Maximizing the Functional Ability of MPK Systems” with Bob Gailey, PhD, RPT; “Current Trends in Pediatric Orthotic Practice” American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists Certificate Course, with industry leaders from American Prosthetics and Orthotics, the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, Infinite Technologies, Orthotic & Prosthetic Lab Inc. and Specialized Prosthetic and Orthotic Technologies; and “Upper Extremity Prosthetics: The Future is Finally Here” with industry leaders from Hanger, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Animated Prosthetics Inc.
The Walk Aide System by Innovative Neutronics, which was unveiled at last year’s meeting, met positive feedback at its one-year anniversary mark. Several patients were welcomed onstage during the opening ceremony along with their providers to discuss their success with the product and the training session led by Innovative Neutronics representatives Mary Kate Ennis, MBA, CO, Deanna Fish, MS, CPO, and Conrad Kufka, MD, reached full enrollment.
“Everyone I have personally communicated with has been excited and positive about the quality, organization and content,” Jim Baird, director of education at Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics said about this year’s fair.
Also at the event, Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics honored Hugh Panton, CPO, FAAOP, with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication and commitment to clinical excellence. A veteran to the industry, Panton has been providing quality patient care for 42 years as a member of Hanger’s team.
Panton is known for his work in Orlando as well as other countries such as Afghanistan, Haiti, Costa Rica and Panama where he has helped groups in providing life-changing care, often building homemade prostheses on the spot without proper equipment or conditions.
“Hugh is one of the most deserving people that I know to receive this award,” Hanger’s vice president of prosthetics Kevin Carroll, MS, CP, FAAOP said. “His talent combined with resourcefulness and compassion has had a tremendous impact on hundreds of lives.”
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Arkansas Licensure Act Signed Into Law
The Arkansas State Orthotic and Prosthetic Association announced that the state of Arkansas has recently joined 11 other states that now require state licenses to practice as prosthetists, orthotists and pedorthists. The Arkansas law will also require licensure of assistant practitioners. The announcement was made by Gary Horton, CO, FAAOP, association president.
This legislation is designed to give assurance to the public that the clinician who provides their prosthetic, orthotic and pedorthic care will be qualified to do so.
The Arkansas State Orthotic & Prosthetic Association, with the assistance of others, began this initiative 5 years ago. The signing into law of this licensure act was the culmination of several years of hard work by the association’s legislative committee and several interested state legislators.
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