The U.S. Member Society of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (US ISPO) is excited to occupy this “corner” in The O&P EDGE to report quarterly on our activities and those of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO).
ISPO is unique as an O&P member society in two ways. It is multidisciplinary, and it is international. The overall organization is composed of member societies representing each member country. ISPO offers opportunities for participation through committees and projects. US ISPO also has its own projects, committees, and activities.
Recent US ISPO activities include the establishment of a new education committee, which is developing O&P instructional short courses. Some of these courses will be presented in nearby developing countries, and others will be presented in the United States. Possible courses to be developed include “Prosthetics and Orthotics for Physicians and Therapists” and a “Prosthetic/Orthotic Certification Exam Review Course.”
U.S. prosthetists assist the Mexican community-based rehabilitant program, Pies de Acero (Feet of Steel). From left: Martin Johnson, Jon Batzdorff, Eleazar Castellanos Rodriguez, and Mario. Photograph courtesy of Jon Batzdorff.
Another committee, the US ISPO international outreach committee, develops cooperative relationships and projects with colleagues in our neighboring countries, particularly in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Through these relationships, US ISPO organizes regional conferences each year in either Hawaii or Latin America in cooperation with local ISPO member societies in the respective region.
ISPO holds a World Congress every two years. Past conferences have been held in Scotland, Australia, Canada, China, and, most recently, in India. The next ISPO World Congress will be held June 22–25, 2015, in Lyon, France.
All prosthetists, orthotists, therapists, physicians, researchers, engineers, educators, students, and others working in an O&P-related field are invited to join and participate.
Our September column will focus on US ISPO’s specific international outreach activities.
—Jon Batzdorff, CPO, President, US ISPO
