WEBINARS

ACPOC Webinar Series

Join ACPOC for webinars featuring monthly topics in orthotics and prosthetics. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming webinars.

Registration is free for ACPOC Members and $50 for Non-Members

What to Say when a Child Feels Sad about their Limb Difference

May 15th, 2025, 8:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: Laura Faye Clubok, MS, OTR/L & Sarah Tuberty, OTD, OTR/L

Laura Faye Clubok, MS, OTR/L has practised as a private practice pediatric occupational therapist for the past 25 years. Having earned her degrees at Harvard University and Tufts University, Laura has contributed to families and children in the limb difference community through her resource website, presented as keynote speaker and panelist to parents, OTs, and other healthcare providers, and written newsletter and magazine columns. Laura has just started coursework to earn a post-professional clinical doctorate in occupational therapy on the topic of preventing overuse syndrome for children with upper limb differences. You can find her online at @ontheotherhandtherapy (Instagram andFacebook). Laura and her husband have two adult daughters and live in Columbus, Ohio.

Sarah Tuberty, OTD, OTR/L,brings a profound and personal understanding to her role as an occupational therapist, having navigated life with a congenital hand difference. Her own experiences, including her time as a patient at the Shriner’s Children’s – Northern California, have significantly shaped her empathy and insight into the disability journey.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Saint Mary’s College of California, Sarah’s path took her through AmeriCorps service and a career as a flight attendant before she pursued advanced studies. Her dedication continued in a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Boston University, renowned for its excellence in the field. Currently enrolled in an Occupational Therapy PhD program at Texas Woman’s University, she continues to deepen her expertise and commitment to the field.

Sarah’s contributions extend beyond academia, co-authoring The Hand Book: An Informational Guide for Parents of Children with Hand Differences, providing invaluable support and resources to families navigating similar journeys.

In addition to her clinical practice, Sarah is a passionate advocate and educator. She co-founded Disarming Disability, a podcast aimed at challenging societal perceptions of disability, and authored Super-Abled Comics, amplifying diverse representation in media.

Through her multifaceted efforts, Sarah endeavors to foster understanding, empowerment, and inclusivity for individuals with congenital limb differences and beyond.

Past Webinars

ACPOC Members can view Past Webinar Recordings on our members-only page

View Past Webinars

Amputation Surgery

March 20th, 2025, 8:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: Michael Forness, DO

Dr. Michael Forness, DO is a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon in Traverse City, MI. Dr. Forness specializes in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery, has 41 years of experience, and is board certified in Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Forness graduated from Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and is affiliated with Bronson Lakeview Hospital, Bronson Methodist Hospital, Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital, Corewell Health Ludington Hospital, Covenant Medical Center Harrison, Holland Hospital, Mackinac Straits Health System, McLaren Northern Michigan, Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital, Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital, Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital, Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital, Munson Medical Center, MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, MyMichigan Medical Center-Sault, Otsego Memorial Hospital and Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital. Dr. Forness, completed a residency at BiCounty Community Hospital (GME).

Overuse Syndrome in Individuals with Upper Limb Difference

January 16th, 2025, 8:00 PM EST / 7:00 PM CST / 6:00 PM PST

Presented By: Laura Faye Clubok, MS, OTR/L & Amber Jenkins, OTD, MLS, OTR/L

Amber Jenkins, OTD, MLS, OTR/L is an assistant professor and doctoral capstone coordinator for the occupational therapy program in the St. Lukes College of Health Science at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO. She teaches content specific to leadership, management, and the doctoral capstone in addition to other areas including psychosocial practice and instructional design. She developed the capstone curriculum for the program and coordinates these experiences for occupational therapy students. Amber’s research interests include upper limb difference and amputation, prosthetics, assistive technology, interprofessional education and adolescent/young adult services.

As OT practitioners with congenital hand differences, Amber and Laura co-created and co-lead a monthly practitioner group for almost 30 OT practitioners and students with upper limb differences.

Guided Growth for Hip Dysplasia in Cerebral Palsy

November 21st, 2024, 8:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: Patrick Curran, MD

Dr. Patrick Curran is an orthopedic surgeon at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and an assistant clinical professor of orthopedic surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

Born in Germany, Dr. Curran traveled the world as a military dependent before settling for high school in Northern California. He attended Brown University, where he majored in biomedical engineering and played football and rugby. He then earned a Master of Science degree in biomedical engineering from Brown.

Dr. Curran earned his medical degree at the UC Davis School of Medicine. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at UCSF, where he was the recipient of the Mauer Award for Outstanding Chief Resident and an OREF New Investigator Grant. He completed general pediatric orthopedic fellowships at Boston Children’s Hospital and Rady Children’s Hospital. He then traveled to Australia where he completed a pediatric neuromuscular orthopedic fellowship at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.

Dr. Curran enjoys caring for children with all general pediatric orthopedic conditions, with special clinical interest in neuromuscular disorders. He is a member of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. His research areas include cerebral palsy, motion analysis, orthopedic trauma and global orthopedics.

His interests outside of medicine include cooking, hiking, rugby, lego building, roasting coffee and exploring the world with his partner and three children.

So Every BODY Can Move: A National Mobility Movement

April 17th, 2024, 7:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: Nicole Ver Kuilen & Sam Miller, MPA

Learning Objectives:

Learn how physical inactivity is the fastest growing public health problem in the country today (the 2022 U.S. Report Card on Physical Activity received a grade of “F” for children and youth with disabilities!).
Learn how children and adults with limb loss, limb difference, and mobility impairment are currently limited by outdated health insurance policies that deem O&P care for physical activity as “not medically necessary.”
Learn about a new state-based policy initiative, So Every BODY Can Move, that is sweeping the nation in an attempt to address this public health problem. And how YOU can get involved as an advocate in your state!
Learn about charitable organizations and grants you can connect your patients with limb loss and limb difference with to get their O&P physical activity needs met now.

I am the founder of a nonprofit advocacy organization called Forrest Stump. Forrest Stump is dedicated to expanding access to prosthetic technology and raising the standard of care for all amputees. I founded Forrest Stump in 2017 after completing a 1,500 mile triathlon down the west coast to raise awareness for amputees.

Sam Miller, MPA, is the State & Federal Advocacy Manager at the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA). A Chicago native currently living in the Washington DC area, Sam has experience with disability advocacy and local government service.

Mentorship and Sponsorship in Healthcare Training Programs

March 20th, 2024, 7:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: Manasa Ayyala, MD

Dr. Ayyala earned her MD from Temple University School of Medicine and completed her residency training in Internal Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Following residency training, she completed a General Internal Medicine Fellowship in Medical Education at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. During this fellowship, she completed formal longitudinal coursework through the Johns Hopkins Faculty Development Program in both curriculum development and teaching skills.

Dr. Ayyala joined the faculty in the Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in 2017 and leads curriculum development and implementation efforts around unconscious bias, microaggressions, and structural racism in the health equity and social justice longitudinal thread for clerkship students. Her work in curriculum development around topics of health equity and social justice has been presented regionally and nationally and published in peer-reviewed journals including Medical Teacher and The Journal of General Internal Medicine. Dr. Ayyala is committed to promoting physician wellness, health equity, and humanism in medicine. She has experience in physician wellness research and peer-support interventions spanning the learning continuum from undergraduate medical education to faculty wellness. She currently serves as faculty vitality champion representing the Department of Medicine in the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Faculty Vitality Taskforce and Chair for the Department of Medicine Wellness Committee.

In September 2020, she was appointed as Director of the Healthcare Foundation Center for Humanism and Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. The Center, founded in 2004 with a grant from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, promotes dignity and respect for the individual, commitment to the relief of suffering, and the delivery of care that is kind, just, and humble.

Dr. Ayyala is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and practices general internal medicine in the primary care clinic at University Hospital Ambulatory Care Center and attends on the general medicine wards at University Hospital.

Psychosocial Considerations for Children with Limb Differences and their Families during and after the Global Pandemic

February 21st, 2024, 7:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: Phoebe Scott-Wyard, DO, OT & Vivian Yip, OTD, MA, OTR/L

Dr. Phoebe Scott-Wyard is a pediatric rehabilitation medicine physician at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and an associate professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She is double board-certified in pediatrics and physical medicine & rehabilitation.

Originally from Maine, Dr. Scott-Wyard completed her undergraduate degree in behavioral biology at Johns Hopkins University before attending medical school at Western University of Health Sciences. She completed a combined residency in pediatrics and physical medicine & rehabilitation at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati. She served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador and is fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Scott-Wyard is especially interested in treating children with limb differences. Before coming to Rady Children’s, she served as the medical director of the Child Amputee Prosthetics Project clinic at Shriners Hospital in Los Angeles for six years. She is also the vice-president of the Association of Children’s Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinics. She has served as a volunteer for Camp No Limits, Challenged Athlete’s Foundation, and Angel City Games.

Vivian Yip OTD, MA, OTR/L has worked with children with limb differences since 2006. She worked as an occupational therapist with a comprehensive clinical team to provide care to children with limb differences at the former Child Amputee Prosthetics Project at Shriners Hospitals for Children- Los Angeles. She is also an OT at UCLA- Orthopedic Hospital. Vivian has presented various topics pertaining to pediatric limb difference and prosthetics for the Association of Children’s Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinics (ACPOC), Myoelectric Control Symposium (MEC), Skills for Life (SFL), American Occupational Therapy Association(AOTA), Occupational Therapy Association of California(OTAC).

She is a clinical instructor and invited guest lecturer for various MOT programs in Southern California. She is currently on the Board of Directors for ACPOC. Completion of her doctorate included qualitative research of individuals with congenital limb loss and their relationship with their prosthesis. She has various publications including co-authored chapters in the Atlas of Amputation and Limb Deficiencies. She has regularly volunteered with Camp No Limits (for children with limb loss) and is on their IDEA committee.

Clinical Case Forum

January 17th, 2024, 7:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: Jorge Fabregas, MD & Corey Gill, MD/MA

Dr. Fabregas is Residency Director at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He is a past president of the Association of Children’s Prosthetics and Orthotics Clinics, and serves as a Board Member of the Georgia Pediatric Neuromuscular Care Committee. He is also co-director of the Limb Difference Program at CHOA

Dr. Fabregas’ ongoing research focuses on pathologic fractures following osteomyelitis and optimizing the function of physician extenders in the office setting. His professional interests include spinal deformity, tumors, trauma, limb deficiency and cerebral palsy. He is a native Spanish speaker and returns to his homeland of Puerto Rice twice a year to provide care to underprivileged children.

Corey S. Gill, MD/MA, is a Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He completed undergraduate education at the University of Georgia, followed by medical school and orthopaedic residency at Washington University in St. Louis. He completed a Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and worked as the Medical Director of Pediatric Orthopedics at Medical City Children’s Hospital Dallas prior to his current position at Scottish Rite Hospital. Dr. Gill is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and is an Active Member of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA). As a POSNA member, he has severed on the Pediatric Orthopaedic Global Outreach (POGO) Committee.

Clinically, Dr. Gill treats patients with a variety of congenital and acquired pediatric orthopaedic conditions such as musculoskeletal trauma, hip dysplasia, and clubfoot. He has a particular interest in treatment of children with lower limb differences who have undergone limb ablation surgery and/or utilize prosthetic devices.

Non-Operative Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis

November 15th, 2023, 7:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: C. Leigh Davis, MSPO, CPO, FAAOP

Leigh Davis, CPO is an orthotist/prosthetist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University, she attended the Georgia Institute of Technology for her Masters in Prosthetics & Orthotics. Following graduation, she completed her orthotics residency at the University of Michigan and her prosthetics residency at Atlantic Prosthetics & Orthotics in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Leigh served as an American Academy of Orthotists & Prosthetists Board Member from 2012-2020 including serving as President 2018-2019. She is also a member of the Academy’s Stace of the Science Program committee, the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Panel, and a founding member of the Women in Orthotics and Prosthetics Committee. She is the co-chair of the Academy’s Guideline Development Group writing a clinical practice guideline for Orthotic Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Leigh’s clinical interests are in pediatric orthotics, particularly orthotic treatment of scoliosis.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. Her hobbies include running, cycling, and outdoor activities.

Lower Limb Kinematics and Kinetics of Normal Gait

October 18th, 2023, 7:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: Robert Lipschutz, CPO

Robert is an assistant professor in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He has been an instructor of Prosthetics and Orthotics since 1993, beginning at the Newington Certificate Program in Orthotics and Prosthetics and currently at the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center. For several years, Robert was involved in research in the Center for Bionic Medicine and had returned to clinical practice in 2013.

Robert is highly involved in the Association of Children’s Prosthetics-Orthotics Clinics (ACPOC). He had been the Program Chair of the Annual Meetings for several years, Vice President and President of the association, and remains on the Board of Directors of ACPOC.

Prostheses for Running

Presented on September 20th, 2023, 7:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: David Rotter, CP

David is fully versed in every aspect of prosthetics. He specializes in solving challenging cases, including hip disarticulation, hemipelvectomy, upper-extremity, congenital limb deficiencies such as PFFD, and multiple limb involved patients for children, adolescents, and adults. He has come up with out of the box solutions, such as creating custom sled buckets for the US Paralympic Sled Hockey Team.

After 20 years serving as a Chief Clinical Prosthetist for a highly reputable private company in Chicago, David decided to start his own company. David Rotter Prosthetics is committed to creating an intimate environment and experience for his clients.

Idiopathic Toe Walkers: They Aren’t All the Same

Presented on July 19th, 2023, 7:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: Jessica Hovestol, CO

Function in Orthotics and Alternative Outcomes

Presented on August 16th, 2023, 7:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Presented By: Bryan Malas, MHPE, CO