Hafner, Roehr honored with national awards at 2026 Academy Annual Meeting

Two faculty members from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at UW Medicine will receive national awards at the 52nd Academy Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium, hosted by the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy), February 18-21, in Nashville, TN.

For a full list of faculty presentations at the conference, see Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the 52nd Academy Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium.

Brian J. Hafner, PhD, named 2026 Thranhardt Lecture Series Award recipient

The Academy has selected Brian J. Hafner, PhD, professor of rehabilitation medicine at the UW School of Medicine, as a recipient of the 2026 Thranhardt Lecture Series Award.

The Thranhardt Lecture Series Award recognizes sustained, high-quality scholarly contributions that advance the science and practice of orthotics and prosthetics. 

As part of the lecture series, Dr. Hafner’s work on the PROsthetic Mobility Performance Test (PROMPT) will be showcased at the meeting. PROMPT is a performance-based test designed to measure mobility in people with lower limb prostheses while accommodating the time and space constraints commonly faced by prosthetists and physical therapists. His research evaluates the test’s validity, reliability, and feasibility for clinical use.

Bryan Roehr, CPO, receives Outstanding Educator Award

The Academy has also selected Assistant Teaching Professor Bryan Roehr, LCPO, to receive the Outstanding Educator Award. This honor recognizes an exceptional educator affiliated with a National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education–accredited program whose teaching leaves a lasting impact on students and the profession.

Roehr is a long-standing member of the Division of Prosthetics & Orthotics and is widely recognized for his commitment to student mentorship, hands-on instruction, and advancing educational excellence in orthotics and prosthetics.

“We are so lucky to have as part of our program such an enthusiastic and dedicated educator,” says Stefania Fatone, PhD, professor and head of the Division of Prosthetics & Orthotics. “Bryan has created a positive and lasting impression on our MPO students. As testament to Bryan’s teaching, residency directors have commented that our graduates stand out for having strong gait knowledge and understanding regarding orthosis alignment and tuning.”