SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS Former Congressman Erik Paulsen Congressman Erik Paulsen represented Minnesota’s Third Congressional District from 2009 – 2019. He served as a leading member on the chief tax writing House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over health care, economic and trade policy. He is currently a Strategic Consultant at Total Spectrum/Steve Gordon and Associates. Geoffrey Balkman, PhD, CPO, currently serves as a research consultant at the University of Washington (UW) Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. He earned his MSPO degree at the University of Pittsburgh. Gary Bedard, CO, FAAOP, is the inventor and patent holder of a prepreg composite technology. He was also the founding chair of the Academy Fabrication Sciences Society. He has been recognized by his peers as the recipient of the Educator of the Year Award, Distinguished Practitioner Award, and the Titus-Ferguson Lifetime Achievement Award. Kevin Cain,,currently serves as a Senior Biostatistician at the University of Washington School of Public Health.
Sarah Chang, PhD, is the Director of Research at Orthocare Innovations, LLC, Sarah has a BS in Biomedical Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. Linda Collins,,is the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Reimbursement with Össur. In that role, she develops and delivers programs and services related to coding, coverage, and reimbursement to O&P practitioners. She also is one of the founders and authors of Össur’s R&R, Reimbursement and Regulatory Bulletin. Beverly Cusick, PT, MS, NDT, COF, BOCO, is an Associate Professor for the Rocky Mountain University of Health—Pediatric Program. She is dedicated to the pursuit of optimum foot and ankle alignment and function for children with neuromotor deficits and innervated muscles. She welcomes the opportunity to share her knowledge of the physiology of pediatric equinus deformity and her clinical evaluation skills. Andreas Giovanni Cutti, PhD, MEng, serves as Applied Research Manager, INAIL Prosthetic Center and as a member of ISO TC 168 Committee. He is associate editor of P&O International and Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing. He earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from University of Bologna, Italy. Conal Doyle is an award winning trial lawyer who has received national recognition for his courtroom victories that have had broad reaching impact on society. He is a right leg amputee and specializes in representing amputees and prosthetists in insurance bad faith claims and personal injury.
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J. Chad Duncan, PhD, CPO, CRC, currently serves as Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University. Current research interests include psychosocial aspects of disability, prosthetics/ orthotics and the world of work, and outcome measures. Karen Edwards, MS, is a Senior Area Manager for Össur Prosthetics and is the Director of the Össur Women’s Leadership Initiative (ÖWLI). She also consults women and girls, educating them on professional success and feminine power via the Strong and Skyward program. Karen is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and has a 30-year business background in media negotiating, medical sales and is certified in Women’s Leadership. Stefania Fatone, PhD, BPO (Hons), is a Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL.
Don Fogelberg, PhD, OTR/L, is a UW assistant professor with the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington Harborview Medical Center.
Ted Friedman, CO, has been a certified clinical orthotist since 2005. He practiced for eight years at Chladek O&P and three years at Hanger clinic in Des Moines, IA. He is now a member of Ottobock’s Professional Clinical Services team and travels the country supporting customers for all their orthotic needs. Tiffany Graham, MCPO, CPO, LPO, FAAOP, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She is the Chair of the Academy’s Craniofacial Society, Co-Chair of the Academy’s Evidence-Based Practice Committee, and a two-time recipient of the AOPA Thranhardt Award. She has published in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery and the Journal of Clinical Medicine. Andreas Hahn, PhD, MSc, holds the global corporate responsibility for Ottobock’s Clinical Research activities. Trained as a physicist at Oxford University, he has over 20 years professional experience in leading positions in the Medical Device Industry. He was presented the prestigious Thranhardt Award in 2014. Natalie Harold, CPO, is graduate of the University of Washington MPO program. She currently applies her clinical knowledge to scientific research and product development through continued work with Orthocare Innovations, LLC. Additionally, she co-founded the nonprofit patient advocacy organization, Forrest Stump.
