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. 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.

M. Jason Highsmith, DPT, PhD, CP, FAAOP (Invited),

is a dual licensed prosthetist and physical therapist with a PhD in medical science. He is Deputy Chief of Research for the VA/DOD Extremity Trauma & Amputation Center of Excellence, Associate Professor at the University of South Florida and a Captain in the US Army Reserves.

Chrysta Irolla, MSPO, CPO, explored her interest in patient rehabilitation while obtaining her MS in Engineering Design from Northwestern University and subsequently decided to focus on patient care and get her MSPO from The Georgia Institute of Technology. Chrysta is now the clinical manager and residency mentor at the University of California, San Francisco.

Andreas Kannenberg MD (GER), PhD, worked as a physician in Germany for over 10 years. He currently serves as Ottobock’s Executive Medical Director and coordinates clinical research. He is part of a global medical and research team to consult R&D, product management, reimbursement, and sales on medical subjects.

Kenton Kaufman, PhD, PE, is the W Hall Wendell Jr Musculoskeletal Research Professor, Director of Motion Analysis Laboratory, Professor of Bioengineering, and Consultant in the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery, Physiology and Biomedical Engineering at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Kaufman serves on the NIH Advisory Board for Medical Rehabilitation Research and the Medical Advisory Board for AOPA.

Géza F. Kogler, PhD, CO, is currently an Associate Professor of P&O, at Kennesaw State University. He serves as the Director of the Master of Science in P&O Program and is the Principal Investigator of the Clinical Biomechanics Laboratory. Dr. Kogler has received numerous awards for his research in foot ankle biomechanics and has four patents pending.

Debra Latour, OTD, MEd, OTR/L, is a registered occupational therapist, consultant and owner of Single-Handed Solutions, LLC, providing clinical, education and research services to manufacturers, providers and individuals with upper limb loss/difference. She offers clinical interventions through her affiliation with Handspring Clinical Service. She is a full-time academic faculty at Western New England University.

Nicholas LeCursi, CO, is a senior orthotist, engineer, and educator who has devoted his career to improving the lives of patients through clinical care, education, mentorship, orthotics research, and innovative new product development. He currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Services at Becker Orthopedic.

Murray Maitland, PhD, PT, is a physical therapist and University of Washington associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. He has focused on the care of people with musculoskeletal dysfunction caused by overuse, trauma and disease.

Danielle Melton, MD, is the Director of the Amputee and Orthotics and Prosthetics Program at TIRR Memorial Hermann, where she specializes in the care of people with amputations, encompassing pre-prosthetic management, prosthetic design and prescription, and rehabilitation. She also specializes in bracing and orthotics for patients with peripheral nerve injuries and spasticity. Thomas Schmalz, PhD, is a physicist and holds a PhD in Biomechanics of Sports. He currently oversees the lab for biomechanics in the Clinical Research & Services Department of Ottobock. His main areas of expertise are gait analysis incl. EMG and metabolic energy consumption analysis; applied research in prosthetics, orthotics, rehabilitation, and orthopaedics; sports biomechanics; and biomechanical modeling.

Akua Roach, PhD, currently serves as the Program Manager and Grants Officer’s Representative for the Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes Research Program (OPORP).

Harry Schwartz, MD, is an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Temple University School of Medicine. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Schwartz received the Continuing Medical Education Award from the American Medical Association.

Megan Sions, PhD, DPT, PT, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Delaware, Director of the University’s Amputee Clinic, and faculty in the Interdisciplinary Biomechanics and Movement Science PhD program. Dr. Sions’ research is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Gerald Stark, PhD, MSEM, CPO/L, FAAOP(D), is a Senior Clinical Specialist for Ottobock Healthcare. He has been honored as “Outstanding Engineering Alumni, “Outstanding Doctoral Student” and “Outstanding Clinical Educator” by his affiliated universities and the Academy as well as being named Fellow with Distinction for his academic contributions.

Phil Stevens, MEd, CPO, FAAOP, currently serves as an Upper Limb Prosthetic Specialist as well as a Director within Clinical and Scientific affairs at Hanger Clinic. Phil is a former President of the AAOP. He is a graduate of the University of Washington’s O&P program with a master’s degree from the University of Houston in Allied Health Education and Administration.

Matthew Wernke, PhD, is an Applied Research Engineer for Willowwood. He received his PhD from the University of South Florida. Currently he leads several federally funded research and R&D projects.

Veronica Womack, PhD, is the Project Manager for the Searle Center’s Inclusive Teaching in STEM Education (IUSE) grant from the National Science Foundation. She received her PhD in Social Psychology from Howard University. She is an experienced facilitator and has implemented seminars on identifying and coping with racial microaggressions as well as reducing stereotype threat in learning environments. Her research has focused on mindfulness, ‘safe space’ development, and stress management among adults.

Shane Wurdeman, PhD, CP, FAAOP, holds a degree in physics, a Master’s in prosthetics and orthotics, and a PhD in biomechanics. He is currently a Board Member and Research Chair for AOPA as well as Director of Clinical Research with Hanger Clinic’s Department of Clinical and Scientific Affairs. He is based in Houston, TX.