For the first time, Scottish Rite Hospital is hosting the International African American Prosthetic and Orthotic Coalition (IAAPOC) annual meeting. Each year, this conference brings together educators, orthotists, prosthetists and vendors from across the country to discuss the latest techniques within the field of prosthetics and orthotics.

Established in 1990, the coalition’s purpose is to share, collaborate and discuss the current technologies within prosthetics and orthotics to those of African descent. One of Scottish Rite Hospital’s certified prosthetists and orthotists, Gebreyesus Girmatsyion, is an active member of the group and has played a significant role in bringing the coalition’s meeting to Dallas. The hospital is proud to have the opportunity to host such a unique and impactful group. It will be the first time the IAAPOC meeting will be held within a medical facility. Several staff from the hospital will be involved throughout the two-day meeting, giving presentations on various topics regarding the care of a patient seen by our Prosthetics and Orthotics department. Topics being presented include:

• Providence Nighttime Bracing Study: Preliminary Result
• TSRHC Experience: A Lower Limb Prosthetics Overview
• Controversial Topics in Scoliosis
• Understanding Gait: The Role of Gait Analysis in O&P

In addition to presentations from staff, the hospital welcomes Anarème Kpandressi – an orthopedic technologist and trainer in the P&O department of the Ecole Nationale des Auxiliares Mèdicaux in Lome, Togo. His background and experience within this field brings great knowledge to this group to better understand the different services, schools and P&O activities happening in Africa. 

Learn more about the hospital’s Prosthetics and Orthotics department.