Successful businesses rarely miss opportunities to Learn, Share, Inspire and Connect. International prosthetics conferences, symposiums, workshops and exhibitions provide invaluable opportunities and open up immeasurable vistas, all in the best interests of the profession and the patients. A good example of such opportunities is the annual meeting & scientific symposium of the American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists. The 2013 Academy Annual Meeting, which was held in Orlando, Florida, USA, offered a mix of clinical, scientific, and practice management techniques on the most current topics. The world's best presenters shared the latest evidence. The Opening Session highlighted the recipients of the Academy's awards. The Titus-Ferguson Lifetime Achievement and the Distinguished Practitioner Awards was showcased at this session. The Orthotic and Prosthetic Education and Research Foundation (OPERF) presented the Tamarack Award to a distinguished O&P researcher. The Titus-Ferguson Award recognises an O&P professional whose accomplishments and contributions have made a significant impact on the growth and development of the profession. The recipient of the Titus-Ferguson Award offered a personal presentation providing their perspective on the O&P profession past, present, and future. Sessions were developed by the Annual Meeting Clinical Content Committee based on current interests in the O&P profession and attendee feedback from previous Annual Meetings. Session Topics included: Microprocessor-Controlled Ankles Provision of Lower Limb Sports Prostheses Outcomes Programme Spine Bracing and Neuromuscular Scoliosis Treating Spinal Trauma Patients Treatment of Overweight Patients Stance Phase KAFOs Vacuum Suspension Systems Upper Limb Prosthetics Programme Powered Exoskeletal Orthotics Post-Amputation Pain: Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Treatment External Power in Lower Limb Prosthetics Orthotic Management of Lower Limb Trauma Results of the State of the Science Conference on Microprocessor-Controlled Prosthetic Knees The Orthotic and Prosthetic Education and Research Foundation (OPERF) Showcase highlighted research conducted with support from OPERF. Investigators and students gave overviews of their OPERF-sponsored research. The Thranhardt Lectures highlighted clinical findings, research, statistical analysis, and results. The Thranhardt Lecture Honorarium was established by Hanger, Inc. in memory of Howard R. Thranhardt, CP. Free Papers offered solutions to common problems, patient and practice management techniques, innovative uses of technology, or current research findings. Free Paper content is unbiased and, as much as possible, based on evidence. Poster Presentations were on display during the entire meeting. Authors had the opportunity to showcase their posters at a Poster Presentation session. Professional development sessions designed to help manage practice, offered information on current healthcare trends and practice development issues. The Fabrication Sciences Society offered a full day of technician programming. Dear Egyptian Mail readers, Your comments and/or contributions are welcome. We promise to publish whatever is deemed publishable at the end of each series of articles. [email protected]
