AOPA Press Release Archives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Steven Rybicki
srybicki@AOPAnet.org
(571) 431-0876
Out-in-Front: Prosthetics Outrun Presidential Protocol
WASHINGTON, DC – Aug, 9 – Normally, anyone jogging around the South Lawn of the White House with the President of the United States, especially a soldier, might be more mindful of political protocol, but Sgt. Neil Duncan, who outran Commander-in-Chief George W. Bush on artificial legs, might be forgiven for his competitive spirit. The double-amputee is intensely-focused on his rehabilitation and uses every opportunity to put his complex prosthetics to the test.
Reporters covering the president couldn’t resist asking why he lagged behind Duncan. "Because he’s a faster runner," Bush matter-of-factly stated.
Duncan, like many injured soldiers who have lost limbs during combat, are today returning to fully-active lives through the use of state-of-the-art prostheses crafted and fitted by industry professionals who are dedicated to restoring many functions to disabled people, keeping them active, healthy and independent.
But it requires a lot of work.
Mike Corcoran, a certified prosthetist, puts in long hours designing and fitting the limbs at his business near Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the first stop for many who are injured on the battlefield. He fit both Duncan and Sgt. Max Ramsey, who was also running with the president that day. Such injuries present significant challenges for those in his profession. Trying to save a limb to its fullest possible length often demands lots of skin grafts, which require precise designing and careful fitting to give patients maximum function.
"They’re just amazing guys," Sgt. Duncan said of prosthetics professionals. "They constantly amaze me by the amount of stuff they go out of their way to do for me. They take it on a personal level rather than a business level."
Corcoran, a member of the American Orthotics & Prosthetics Association (AOPA), stays closely-attuned to industry trends and innovations so he can continually deliver the latest and best aid to his patients. Recently, he and a patient flew to Iceland to help orthotic and prosthetic manufacturer Ossur develop a liner to improve the fitting of sockets.
AOPA, based in Alexandria, Virginia, is the largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping orthotic and prosthetic businesses and professionals navigate the multitude of issues surrounding the delivery of quality patient care. This year the association celebrates the 90th anniversary of its founding, when needs of returning veterans in the aftermath of World War I required a national organization to address the educational and research needs of the industry.
Industry professionals worldwide are preparing to descend on Las Vegas Sept. 17-20 for the association’s annual assembly which offers the most comprehensive clinical education, business programming and idea-sharing available to orthotists and prosthetists.