March 21, 2024
The School of Health Professions’ Orthotics and Prosthetics Program at Baylor College of Medicine is making history with the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) by hosting ISPO’s first North American Global Educators Meeting (GEM) Oct. 22 to Oct. 24 on the College’s Houston campus.
GEM is an international event for prosthetic and orthotic educators and clinical preceptors to share scholarship, discuss educational strategies and engage in networking. The theme for GEM 2024 is “Innovate. Collaborate. Educate.” The organizers for GEM 2024 chose this theme, based on ISPO’s GEM Educators’ Survey, because it conveys how educators can explore and contribute to the evolving field of prosthetics and orthotics.
Dr. Ashley Mullen, chair of the Local Organizing Committee for GEM 2024 and program director of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Program at Baylor, said “Innovate. Collaborate. Educate.” is important because it promotes the advancement of the prosthetics and orthotics profession on a global scale. Megan Castille and Sally Kenworthy, members of the of the Local Organizing Committee for GEM 2024 and assistant professors of the Orthotics and Prosthetics Program at Baylor, are working with Mullen to connect educators from around the globe in preparation for the event.
“Prosthetic and orthotic professionals are a small and specialized group of individuals,” Mullen said. “International collaborations provide fuel for innovation, enhance the needs of learners in different settings and ensure the successful preparation of healthcare practitioners who are in demand.”
For every GEM event, ISPO garners sponsorship from organizations that support its mission of improving the quality of life for people with impaired mobility worldwide through prosthetic, orthotic and assistive technology. Mullen said sponsors are integral to the success of GEM events because their contributions allow prosthetic and orthotic educators to broaden their knowledge and build meaningful relationships with peers from around the world.
“Sponsors demonstrate their commitment to prosthetic and orthotic education and sustainability of the profession,” Mullen said.
ISPO is offering generous benefits to GEM 2024 sponsors in exchange for their dedication to driving innovation, collaboration and education within the prosthetics and orthotics profession. Some of the benefits include free registration to the event and the chance to share products with educators and clinical preceptors who are teaching the next generation of orthotic and prosthetic professionals. These benefits vary based on the sponsorship level.
Sponsors can also support ISPO’s new Education Research Fund. The initiative, which the School of Health Professions has financially supported with a commitment to an initial donation, will allow prosthetic and orthotic educators at institutions across the world to collaborate on research projects slated to be presented at GEM 2026. This fund is the first of its kind for orthotics and prosthetics. It aims to elevate scholarship within the profession.
To learn more about GEM 2024 and its sponsorship opportunities, contact Dr. Ashley Mullen at ashley.mullen@bcm.edu.
