PEOPLE & PLACES PROFESSIONALS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND TRANSITIONS
Craig Higgins has been named chief financial officer (CFO) at WillowWood, where his responsibilities will include financial planning, operating budgets, and decision support analysis to guide the leadership team with investments and capital expenditures. “Expertise and experience are obviously critical when selecting a CFO, but culture and fit were equally key determinants in our choice for this role,” said Mahesh Mansukhani, WillowWood’s chief executive officer. “Craig [is] not only the best fit, but he’s a treasure trove of experience and will further our initiatives to drive performance, growth, and overall success.” Victoria (Vikki) Ledbetter has been appointed director of marketing at Fillauer. She will oversee marketing operations, sales enablement, digital communications, and overall content and brand strategy. Ledbetter comes from Victoria (Vikki) employee benefits and Fortune 500 company Ledbetter Unum, where she most recently served as an interim director and manager in corporate communications. “Vikki brings deep experience and fresh energy to the industry,” said Traci Dralle, president, Fillauer Companies. “She has a passion for data, research, and creative problem solving that will help us tell our story and better serve our clients and customers.”
BUSINESSES ANNOUNCEMENTS AND TRANSITIONS
The American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics (ABC) has partnered with the Amputee Coalition to better support, educate, and serve the limb loss community. The organizations will collaborate to provide patient education materials to all ABC-accredited facilities, provide access to the Amputee Coalition’s Prosthetist Finder online tool to all ABC-certified prosthetists, and launch a well-being program for ABC-accredited facility owners that promote patient-centered care. “We are excited about this partnership because it allows us to better serve the two million Americans living with limb loss and limb difference,” said Mary Richards, Amputee Coalition chief executive officer. “More than 28 million Americans are at risk for amputation, and working with an organization like ABC allows us to educate providers, patients, and families in a whole new way.”
16
APRIL 2020 | O&P ALMANAC
Healthcare startup BLUEWAVE Technologies has released new lab results indicating that its BLUEWAVE device can effectively kill the non-enveloped virus, MS2 Bacteriophage, and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). The technology uses room-temperature ozone gas, enhanced by a proprietary vacuum infusion process, to effectively kill bacteria and viruses without the use of water, detergents, or added chemicals, according to the company. Recent test results have demonstrated that the device is more than 99 percent effective at killing non-enveloped MS2-Bacteriophage on two-ply polyester fabric and stainless steel surfaces. The company notes that there may be possible applications in the current COVID-19 pandemic because non-enveloped viruses are typically more difficult to kill than enveloped viruses, such as coronaviruses. The company plans to generate additional data demonstrating efficacy of the device against other viruses. The Board of Certification/Accreditation (BOC) has been honored with a Gold Stevie www.bocusa.org Award for sales and customer service in the “Best Use of Technology in Customer Service” category. The award recognizes BOC’s focus on improving customer service by creating a better website experience. In April 2019, BOC debuted a modern, mobile-friendly website. Analytics reveal increased mobile access and the ability to access information more quickly, according to BOC. Coyote Prosthetics announced a cease in operations in effect between March 19 and April 6 to allow patients and staff to quarantine during the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. The company apologized for any inconvenience but noted the decision was made in consideration of the long-term health and safety of the company’s staff, families, patients, customers, neighbors, and fellow Americans. Orthomerica has launched the AllSTAR team of cranial clinicians. This network of clinicians is dedicated to the care of infants with deformational plagiocephaly and postoperative craniosynostosis using the STAR® family of cranial remolding orthoses manufactured by Orthomerica Products Inc. The AllSTAR network was developed to recognize and promote the clinical expertise of orthotic clinicians who specialize in the management of infants with skull deformities. Össur has donated 20,000 testing swabs from its operations so that more people could be tested for the SARS-CoV2 virus in Iceland. Steeper USA relocated to a new office on March 21. The company’s new address is 8666 Huebner Road, Suite 112, San Antonio, Texas.
