Abstract
I would like to address our membership by firstly saying how privileged and honored I am to be the ISPO President for the next three years. It is with great pride that I am the first Canadian to be elected to this position. For this to happen in Vancouver during the first ISPO World Congress to take place in Canada is an incredible course of destiny that I never envisaged.
Even though I have met many individuals in my ISPO work around the world, I think I must give some background on myself so there is a clear understanding of where I come from. My entry into the field of Prosthetics and Orthotics came through my post-degree education at George Brown College, in Toronto, in the Clinical Methods in Orthotics and Prosthetics program where I received my entry level education in the profession and graduated in 1983. Before that I received my Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology at the University of Guelph, graduating in 1981.
My entry into the P&O profession occurred in 1983 and was certified by the Canadian Board for Certification of Prosthetists & Orthotists in 1985. I was then asked to take on a role as an educator in the George Brown College Prosthetic and Orthotic Educational Programs in September of 1986 and became the Coordinator of these programs in 1991. In 1988, I also began my own private clinical practice to ensure my clinical expertise in the field would stay current. To date, I continue to be the Coordinator of the GBC programs and maintain a lesser clinical case load in my practice.
During my career, I was also on faculty in the School of Human Biology at the University of Guelph from 1985 to 2004 as a lecturer. I have also been honored and fortunate to be recognized by the Canadian Certification Board in 1996 with a Life Fellowship for outstanding contributions to the field of Prosthetics and Orthotics and was also a nominee for the Premier's Award in 2004 and 2006, which is awarded to outstanding graduates of the College Educational system in the province of Ontario.
As many of you are aware I have been the Chairman of the Education Committee for ISPO for the past three years and a member of this committee for the past 9 years. I have been involved in over thirty ISPO consultations, evaluations and examination processes at various Prosthetic and Orthotic educational training programs worldwide and worked to further the continued development of educational and professional standards and protocols for ISPO. In this period of ISPO involvement, I have been fortunate to visit over twenty-five countries and meet many ISPO members and professional colleagues who I can proudly say are now my friends.
Coming into the role of President I have, of course, had much thought about what lies ahead and what areas will be the focus of the next Executive Board. I feel as we come to this time, that I have now found my “comfort zone” with the role I must play for ISPO and I very much look forward to the challenges that lie ahead. I hope that all of our members also think about taking on some role in whatever way possible to advance the Society's objectives and contribute to the continued development of our field.
As I enter this triennium as the ISPO President, many things come to mind. Of course, at the top of the list, are the challenges that lie ahead and the strategies that must be found to meet them. But, before I address those, I feel obligated to communicate to the members and readers of the journal that many positive changes have occurred in the Society over the past 10 years or so. Along with this, are some difficult issues that will indeed pose a challenge for ISPO, the incoming Board and myself. Further to this, I can honestly say from my own observations and experiences that ISPO has become more open, transparent and inclusive than ever before. This may not be as obvious to the casual observer or ISPO critic, but the culture inside the Society has shifted its focus more and more towards the support of the membership, the National Member Societies and Regions in terms of assisting and supporting events and initiatives that come from the grassroots of our organization. I think our focus must always be the best interests of the patients/clients that we serve by means of prosthetic and orthotic intervention. I strongly feel that this must always be the root of our decision making within the Society.
As mentioned, the Society will have many challenges ahead. I will touch on some of those that I feel are of greater importance and ones that I feel our Board along with all elements within ISPO must address. Firstly, we must find a way forward to deal with the ever increasing demands put on ISPO from many directions and sources. In the last three years, I have noticed these demands escalate.
As we move into the new triennium there are many challenges for ISPO to confront and deal with. The one that comes to mind first is how can we meet the ever increasing demands that are put on the Society when the organization relies almost exclusively on the efforts and dedication of volunteers. As I reflect on the past 9 years of my ISPO involvement, there has been an incredible amount of growth in the activities within ISPO. As this growth continues this challenge must be met to ensure the members are served appropriately and the objectives of the Society are carried out.
Along with this are a number of others issues that must be addressed:
increase membership and revenue sources; ensure the fiscal responsibility and accountability with better reporting mechanisms; involve the NMSs more in the process and the ensure the voices of the membership are heard; and be more effective in communicating ISPO's activities and the positive impact ISPO makes on the related professions and the patients we serve.
One way I will ensure better communication will be by regular “podcasts” or similar communications that I will post on the ISPO website beginning by September at the latest. I hope these podcasts will occur on a monthly basis depending on how the activities of IPSO international unfold in the beginning of the new triennium.
I would like the membership to know of my intent to personally visit as many of the NMSs as possible via national meetings and related NMS activities. Along with this comes the intent to consult personally as much as is practically possible with the ISPO Board and NMSs.
I would like to continue the positive developments of the past by:
ensuring transparency and openness; improving communication at all levels, especially to the NMSs; ensuring that the ISPO website becomes a better tool to facilitate information exchange at all levels; ensuring that there is continued fiscal accountability and prioritisation of our expenditures to meet the overall ISPO goals and objectives; and doing my best to be as visible as possible to the NMSs and membership at large.
The membership has my commitment that I will work to the best of my abilities to allow the Society to accomplish its objectives.
Finally I would like to thank all of you for the enormous support you have given me as I move into this role; in particular the past ISPO Executive Board members and professional mentors who have been my guiding force in my ISPO years, George Brown College which has always supported me and has now granted a two year partial leave from my full-time position at the College, and last but not least, my closest professional colleagues who work with me on a daily basis, my students and of course the never ending support from my family.
I look forward to the dialogue with the membership and serving as your President.