US ISPO News
November 4, 2020 - In Memory of Dr. John Bowker
Dr. John Bowker died October 28, 2020 at the age of 92. Born in Springfield, MA, he grew up in Albany N.Y., joining the Navy during WWII. He attended medical school at the University of Albany followed by his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh.
He was Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Arkansas from 1962 to 1982. In 1982 he joined the Dept. of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine as Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. His medical career spanned six decades.
Bowker is the author/editor of numerous medical texts including The Atlas of Prosthetics, The Diabetic Foot, and the Atlas of Limb Prosthetics. He served on the Board of Directors for the Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics from 1968 to 1981. A long time member of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Orthopaedic Association. He served on the NIH Advisory Board for the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, served as President of the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Association and was a long time member of the International Standards Organization.
For much of his career, Dr. Bowker travelled the world giving lectures and attending medical conferences. He made friends wherever he went and was respected by both his peers and patients. He was a true gentleman.
He is survived by his wife Alice, son Thomas and granddaughter Jade. Private burial services will be held at South Florida Veterans Cemetery, Lake Worth, Fl.
Memorials may be made to : The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, 9400 W Higgins Road, Suite 215, Rosemont, Illinois 60018
"His courses on management of the diabetic foot were always well received throughout the world. And, whenever asked, he was always willing to be helpful to ISPO and the amputee world in general. He was a good friend & great dinner host, and will be missed by generations of us that deal with physical rehabilitation."
Terry Supan, CPO, LPO, FAAOP, FISPO
He was Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Arkansas from 1962 to 1982. In 1982 he joined the Dept. of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine as Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. His medical career spanned six decades.
Bowker is the author/editor of numerous medical texts including The Atlas of Prosthetics, The Diabetic Foot, and the Atlas of Limb Prosthetics. He served on the Board of Directors for the Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics from 1968 to 1981. A long time member of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Orthopaedic Association. He served on the NIH Advisory Board for the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, served as President of the Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Association and was a long time member of the International Standards Organization.
For much of his career, Dr. Bowker travelled the world giving lectures and attending medical conferences. He made friends wherever he went and was respected by both his peers and patients. He was a true gentleman.
He is survived by his wife Alice, son Thomas and granddaughter Jade. Private burial services will be held at South Florida Veterans Cemetery, Lake Worth, Fl.
Memorials may be made to : The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, 9400 W Higgins Road, Suite 215, Rosemont, Illinois 60018
"His courses on management of the diabetic foot were always well received throughout the world. And, whenever asked, he was always willing to be helpful to ISPO and the amputee world in general. He was a good friend & great dinner host, and will be missed by generations of us that deal with physical rehabilitation."
Terry Supan, CPO, LPO, FAAOP, FISPO
In Memory of Dr. Gottschalk
Frank Gottschalk, MD
October 17, 1945 - November 29, 2019
Presented by Jon Batzdorff, CPO
October 17, 1945 - November 29, 2019
Presented by Jon Batzdorff, CPO
I would like to take this time to remember a friend and colleague, Dr. Frank Gottschalk who passed away in November at the age of 74.
Frank was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and came to the US in 1984. He was a renowned orthopedic surgeon who first trained in South Africa, and then later in Switzerland, Germany, and Edinburgh, Scotland. Once in the US, he joined University of Texas, Southwestern medical department, where he worked until he retired in 2016.
He published over 70 papers, abstracts and book chapters.
His special interest was in amputation and prosthetics. He was an early pioneer of special amputation techniques which would result in a more functional residual limb with improved control of the residual limb. He spoke and wrote of the importance of maximizing the power and efficiency of the adductors for a transfemoral amputee by using the techniques of myodesis and myoplasty on the adductor magnus muscle.
Relating to prosthetics, he published in Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Clinical Orthopedics, Prosthetics and Orthotics International, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and published chapters in The Atlas of Limb Prosthetics and the Atlas of Amputation and Limb Deficiencies.
He loved traveling with his wife, Karen, and combined his dedication to prosthetics and his love of travel and of meeting people from all over the world by becoming an active member of ISPO for many years. He attended every ISPO and US ISPO conference or event and never missed a Pac Rim conference.
Dr. Gottschalk will be sorely missed by his family, by his patients, by ISPO, by his friends, and by me.
Rest in peace, Frank, and thank you
Frank was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and came to the US in 1984. He was a renowned orthopedic surgeon who first trained in South Africa, and then later in Switzerland, Germany, and Edinburgh, Scotland. Once in the US, he joined University of Texas, Southwestern medical department, where he worked until he retired in 2016.
He published over 70 papers, abstracts and book chapters.
His special interest was in amputation and prosthetics. He was an early pioneer of special amputation techniques which would result in a more functional residual limb with improved control of the residual limb. He spoke and wrote of the importance of maximizing the power and efficiency of the adductors for a transfemoral amputee by using the techniques of myodesis and myoplasty on the adductor magnus muscle.
Relating to prosthetics, he published in Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Clinical Orthopedics, Prosthetics and Orthotics International, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and published chapters in The Atlas of Limb Prosthetics and the Atlas of Amputation and Limb Deficiencies.
He loved traveling with his wife, Karen, and combined his dedication to prosthetics and his love of travel and of meeting people from all over the world by becoming an active member of ISPO for many years. He attended every ISPO and US ISPO conference or event and never missed a Pac Rim conference.
Dr. Gottschalk will be sorely missed by his family, by his patients, by ISPO, by his friends, and by me.
Rest in peace, Frank, and thank you
Interim Director - George Gondo - February 2019
George Gondo
The United States Member Society of the International Society of Prosthetics & Orthotics (US ISPO) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that George Gondo has accepted the position of Interim Director of US ISPO. We are confident he will provide strong leadership during this time of transition following the departure of Dianne Farabi who announced her retirement from US ISPO last March.
George has over twenty years of leadership, development and management experience in non-profit and community based organizations, most recently with the Amputee Coalition. Board chair Elizabeth Mansfield said, "In choosing an interim director, the board started by identifying immediate priorities for the coming months, including building partnerships, improving communications, and operational efficiency. We feel that George is the right person to lead the organization while it addresses these and other important issues."
George will partner with the US ISPO Board of Directors on organizational and strategic planning, and oversee US ISPO’s relocation. Our commitment is to maintain our high standards during the transition and continue to offer the organization a promising future. Please join me in welcoming George Gondo to US ISPO, and don’t hesitate to reach out to him with any questions or concerns at 833-487-4776, usispo.director@gmail.com. You may also contact Elizabeth Mansfield, Board Chair, US ISPO at 844-347-0738, or elizabeth@cecpo.com.
US ISPO has all new contact information, please update your files accordingly.
US ISPO
143 Boardman-Canfield Road
Suite 303
Boardman, OH 44512
(833) 4 US ISPO
(833) 487-4776 phone/fax
director.usispo@gmail.com
www.usispo.org
George has over twenty years of leadership, development and management experience in non-profit and community based organizations, most recently with the Amputee Coalition. Board chair Elizabeth Mansfield said, "In choosing an interim director, the board started by identifying immediate priorities for the coming months, including building partnerships, improving communications, and operational efficiency. We feel that George is the right person to lead the organization while it addresses these and other important issues."
George will partner with the US ISPO Board of Directors on organizational and strategic planning, and oversee US ISPO’s relocation. Our commitment is to maintain our high standards during the transition and continue to offer the organization a promising future. Please join me in welcoming George Gondo to US ISPO, and don’t hesitate to reach out to him with any questions or concerns at 833-487-4776, usispo.director@gmail.com. You may also contact Elizabeth Mansfield, Board Chair, US ISPO at 844-347-0738, or elizabeth@cecpo.com.
US ISPO has all new contact information, please update your files accordingly.
US ISPO
143 Boardman-Canfield Road
Suite 303
Boardman, OH 44512
(833) 4 US ISPO
(833) 487-4776 phone/fax
director.usispo@gmail.com
www.usispo.org