 |
Do You ISPO?
By Rob Kistenberg, CP, FAAOP  Sixteen years ago as prosthetic students at UCLA's
Long-term Certificate Program in Prosthetics, we were introduced to
the organizations of the O&P profession. The alphabet soup was
thinner then, as it consisted primarily of the American Board for
Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC), the American
Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy), and the
American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) within the
United States, and the International Society for Prosthetics and
Orthotics (ISPO) internationally. I recall thinking it odd to have
multiple organizations within the US--but only one for the world.
As the US organizations have multiplied to the chagrin and often
confusion of many, ISPO stands alone atop the world for prosthetic
and orthotic rehabilitation and education.
ISPO is THE global organization whose purpose and function is
"the promotion of quality care and education of professionals for
the benefit of consumers." As such, our membership consists not
only of prosthetists, orthotists, and technicians, but also of all
persons involved with prosthetic and orthotic care, including
surgeons, physiatrists, podiatrists, physical therapists,
occupational therapists, rehabilitation engineers, nurses,
administrators, students, and others. It is truly an
interdisciplinary organization.
Founded in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1970, ISPO comprises
more than 2,600 members across 84 countries. Any country that has
at least five members willing to promote the level of P&O care
can petition ISPO to establish a National Member Society within
that country. There are currently 39 National Member Societies in
ISPO, each one with varying activities all related to ISPO's
purpose and function.
Progress and Momentum
I have been honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the
US National Member Society (US-ISPO) for the last four years and
could not be more energized about my current position as chair.
John Fisk, MD, the past chair (and current vice president of ISPO)
has left a legacy of progress and momentum for US-ISPO which
culminated in the "Reaching Beyond Our Borders" (RBOB '05)
International Conference on Disabilities and Outreach in January
2005.
RBOB '05 was a convergence of those interested in becoming
involved with international outreach activities and all of the
major organizations performing outreach activities around the
world, including ISPO, US Agency for International Development
(USAID), Rotary International (RI), the International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC), the World Rehabilitation Fund (WRF), Health
Volunteers Overseas (HVO), Physicians for Peace, the Prosthetic
Outreach Foundation (POF), and many more. The participant
evaluations from RBOB 05 were unanimous about the high quality of
the meeting and remarked as to its intimate nature with
international appeal.
Because of its success, we are planning to make "Reaching Beyond
Our Borders" conferences a biennial event. The next one will be
held in Cancun, Mexico on February 13, 2007. By attending this
conference "beyond our border" in Cancun, you will have access to
high-quality education and a wide range of O&P rehabilitation
professionals from all over Latin America.
If you are interested in the WORLDVIEW of P&O
rehabilitation, then you ISPO. If you have ever been on a "mission
trip," you know what it is like to share your knowledge and skills
and to provide limbs, braces, and rehabilitation for no other
reason than people have unmet needs and you have the ability to
fulfill them. You know what it is like--to ISPO. If you have ever
thought about going on such a trip, then you probably ISPO. You
just don't know it yet.
If you are uncertain if you would like to ISPO, then set your
sights on Vancouver, Canada, July 29-August 3, 2007, for the XII
World Congress. It has been 15 years since ISPO hosted its World
Congress on the North American continent! You do not want
to miss this one!
If you have ever been a member of ISPO and felt that the
organization was just not providing sufficient return for your
membership dollars, reconsider that position. Reinstate your
membership. You won't regret it. If you have never been a member of
ISPO, now is our most exciting time in history. Join in the
excitement. Get the worldview of prosthetics and orthotics.
If you have any questions about US-ISPO ( www.usispo.org),
ISPO ( www.ispo.ws), or international P&O services
in general, check out the websites. Or please contact me by email:
robcp@oandp.com.
Do you ISPO now? 
Table Of Contents - April 2006
|
|
