The UW Master of Prosthetics & Orthotics (MPO) program was represented at the Northwest Chapter of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (NWAAOP) annual meeting, held April 9–11 in Portland, OR. All of the second-year MPO students attended alongside Professor Stefania Fatone, PhD, BPO (Hons); Teaching Professor Susan Kapp, MEd, L/CPO, FAAOP(D); and Assistant Teaching Professor Bryan Roehr, L/CPO.
In addition to participating in the sessions, students supported the event's success by volunteering for various conference activities, including staffing the registration desk.
Six students presented at the meeting:
- Joseph Hess: “Functional Outcomes Following the Starfish Procedure and Multisite Myoelectric Prosthetic Intervention in those with Partial Hand Limb Loss.”
- Kelson Lee: “Effect of Adjustable-Volume Transtibial Sockets on Residual Limb Volume Stability and Socket Comfort.”
- Elas Huckels: “Functional Electrical Stimulation may be an Effective alternative Compared to Standard Care for Foot Drop Management in Children with Cerebral Palsy to Improve Mobility.”
- Jack Ryan O’Neil: “Prosthetic Foot/Ankle Motion and Gait Dynamics in Bilateral Transtibial Amputees.”
- Cody Luzadder: “The Effects of Microprocessor Controlled Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses on Functional Mobility in Adults with Lower Extremity Impairments.”
- Noelle Kock Wah Ng: “Successful Factors for Orthotic Treatment in Children and Teenagers with Pectus Carinatum.”
Faculty presentations included:
- Dr. Fatone presented “Longitudinal clinical trial exploring use of the sub-ischial socket in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation and low mobility” and led a journal article discussion.
- Roehr presented “AFO Optimization: Clinical Use of Shank to Vertical Angle”
- Kapp presented “National Academy Updates”
Second-year student Noelle Kock Wah Ng received the Bernard C. Simons Scholarship during the meeting. This award honors the memory of Bernard Simons, who was an associate professor and division head at UW from 1964 to 1981. He also owned a local prosthetics business. Along with Dr. Justus Lehmann, he played a key role in creating the MPO program at the University of Washington.