WPO Holds Organizational Meeting in Chicago

An organizational meeting for a new group called Women of Prosthetics and Orthotics (WPO), founded by six young women from the School of Applied Physiology at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Atlanta, was held at the 32nd Annual Academy Meeting in Chicago, Illinois. More than 100 people attended the meeting, which was intended to assess interest in such a group and help determine its direction around the purposes of networking, mentorship, outreach, and recognition of women.

"The WPO is dedicated to encouraging the professional women within the field of prosthetics and orthotics and serves as a resource for both women practitioners and women looking to enter the field," stated a brochure distributed during the meeting. "It is our goal to unite the women of P&O at the national level in order to form a network of mentorship, collaboration, and advancement in the field."

The American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy) is supporting the group as it works to become established. Wendy Beattie, CPO, FAAOP, Academy vice president, was on hand to speak for the group. She noted the importance of women in the field and the skills and qualities that women can offer, with one of the most important being, "The ability to listen."

She said, "We know we can do the work. What can we do to get the women in the field to be a part of the profession, not just to practice the profession?"

Several male O&P practitioners and members of the Academy leadership also were present to support the meeting.

The organizers/founders of WPO include Annette L. Daly, DeAnna C. Oldani, Leigh Pipkin, Lara L. Schrock, Janelle L. Springer, and Jocelyn S. Wong, all of Georgia Tech.

For more information about the group, e-mail: womenpo@gmail.com