Abstract
James Foort – a researcher, factual thinker, inventor, teacher, author and artist – has contributed immensely for over 40 years to advance prosthetic fitting and fabrication and thus greatly improved the function and well-being of lower limb amputees.
In recognition for his pioneering work in the design and fabrication of prostheses, both in Canada and internationally, Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario awarded Jim at its May 2005 Convocation a degree as an Honorary Doctor of Science. Dr. James Foort holds 2 other degrees, a BSc (1950) and an MSc (1951) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto.
His intensely active professional life summarized by Audrey Kobayashi in the Convocation Program in part states:
“His career in prosthetic design began at Sunnybrook Hospital (Toronto), where he initiated the first solid-ankle foot, the SACH foot, an industry standard. He moved to the University of California, Berkeley, where his projects included improvements in nearly every aspect of lower limb prostheses, and the development of the patellar tendon bearing below-knee prosthesis, which improved circulation.
Returning to Canada in 1963 as Director of an Orthotics Research Unit in Manitoba, he developed a modular prosthetics system that resulted in universal adoption of adjustable rather than fixed units.
As Founding Director of the Medical Engineering Laboratory at the University of British Columbia, Jim and his team pioneered the field of computerized prosthetics design. His major contributions include the Shape project, using shadow Moiré effects to sense the shape for amputees, a gait analysis electrogoniometer, and telescopic beams for accessing knee joint instability. He was a leader in the development of CAD/CAM design.”
As one example of Jim's contribution the Mechanical Engineering Resources Unit (MERU) at the University of British Columbia developed under his guidance an interactive Computer Aided Socket Design (CASD) system which replaced the procedure of handcrafting the modified stump model needed for socket fabrication. Jim Foort predicted that this system would eventually allow fitting amputees in remote areas. They could benefit, long distance, from a service which is not available to them locally. Jim demonstrated this technique at the 1983 ISPO World Congress in London, England. He took stump measurements of amputees attending the congress, telephoned these measurements to Vancouver and had the sockets (which fitted!) delivered by air to London. A first in the world!
In 1986 Jim was invited and given the honour to present the Knud Jansen Lecture at ISPO's V World Congress in Copenhagen. Prof. Dr. E. Marquardt, the then President, stated that Jim deserved that honour because he furthered the prosthetic profession in so many ways and more than anyone else through his foresight, inventions, initiatives, dedication, enthusiasm and tireless work for the betterment of amputees worldwide. Jim's Knud Jansen Lecture was outstanding, the applause thunderous and I was very proud that such a successful Canadian addressed the World Assembly.
Jim's friend Hugh Barclay hosted a luncheon and reception at his home displaying some of Jim's paintings. In the evening our Dr. Jim and his lovely wife Margaret met faculty, friends and colleges at Casa Dominico. Guests came from all over: the UK, the USA and Canada, honouring Jim, reminiscing, laughing and treasuring his friendship.
Even in his retirement Jim is boundlessly creative. At age 83 he just finished writing and illustrating a 250 page book entitled: “Fitting and Aligning Lower Extremity Prostheses.”
To you, Dr. James Foort, we offer our congratulations; you certainly deserve this distinguished honour. Your enthusiasm, your successes, your team-orientation, your encouragements and your creative problem-solving have been an inspiration to all of us. We are proud of you. You deserve our respect and admiration for all you have achieved.