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Ken Woodward, CPO, PassesKenneth Martin Woodward, CPO, passed away on February 25, 2008,
at the age of 64.
Woodward was born March 17, 1943, and joined Wright &
Filippis, Rochester Hills, Michigan, in 1959. He most recently
served as the company's director of prosthetics and celebrated his
48th year with the company in 2007.
"This is an enormous loss, not only for the Wright &
Filippis family, but for every patient whose lifehe touched," said
A.J. Filippis, the company's president and CEO. "I've known Ken for
virtually my entire life, so this is a tremendous personal loss as
well. Yes, he certainly did an extraordinary job of leading our
prosthetics department, but more than anything, he was a caring
gentleman who committed his lifeto helping others, and he did so
with great empathy and compassion.
"We've truly lost a good friend."
Woodward started at Wright & Filippis in 1959. He began in a
building maintenance position and was quickly promoted to the
position of prosthetic technician. In 1962, he was transferred to
the Lansing, Michigan, facility and later began his education at
New York University and later at Northwestern University. In 1967,
he became a certified prosthetist, earning his ABC certification in
orthotics in 1975. He was promoted to director of orthotics and
prosthetics in 1985, but with company growth and expanding industry
demands, Woodward began focusing his efforts on the field of
prosthetics.
He was a past president of the Michigan Orthotics and
Prosthetics Association (MOPA), and he served in a number of ways
for the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA). He
was also a member of the American Academy of Orthotists and
Prosthetists (the Academy).
One of his proudest achievements, according to co-workers at
Wright & Filippis, came in September 2003 with the development
of a new program called AmpuTeam. His vision for providing greater
prosthetic care and better patient function led to an AmpuTeam
program which has helped provide training, education and
encouragement to amputees and their healthcare providers. 
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