Re: Thoughts from another past president
Gingras, Ron
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Thoughts from another past president
Creator:
Gingras, Ron
Date:
3/11/2004
Text:
Virgil
I agree whole heartly with your statements regarding disolution of
educational requirements for the sake of Unity. However, I think the bigger
picture here is that our profession has been structured not to ever allow
the profession to move beyond the finacial interests of a few. The real
truth is that Certification can never serve as the standard for competency.
It is OK for auto mechanics but not Medical Professionals.Certication
Companies ( remember these are companies) such as ABC and BOC are
organizations that set thier own standards and then create documentation to
verify or justify themselves as evidenced by the differences in these two
organizations. Even if these two companies were to unite, what is there to
stop another one from appearing on the horizon in a few years with even
lower standards, and we again lower our standards for the sake of unity.
This is an absurb way of leading a profession and it can only lead to demise
and eventual splintering.
ABC was structured so that body of orthotists and prosthetists that hold its
certificates has no say regarding anything they do. ABC was deliberately
set up this way so that it could be controlled. When you ask who is on the
board they say there is representation AOPA , ABC and AAOP each appoint
members.But there is still no structure in place for members or certifees to
change policies or influence change in any significant way.
The point of my statements is not to condemn, but we have to realize this is
a failed system incapable of moving our profession forward. While we have
realized some improvements over the past 30 years the folly of our own
professional leadership organizations is more obvious than ever. It is time
for a Paradigm shift to a new format of leadership. The leadership should
come from the proffessional side not the business side.We can no longer
afford to let the tail , wag the dog.
I dont see how ABC/BOC or any certification company can lead us, I also
cannot see how a buisness organization can lead us, there are too many pit
falls regarding private interests as evidenced by our 30 year history.The
only organization that currently exists that could possibly do it is our
professional organization ,AAOP. However, it would require restructuring and
by law changes to become independent from the interests of ABC and AOPA . I
believe It would take this level of independence to move forward and create
a new organization that could truly unite and lead our profession into the
future.
I am calling on the Academy to fulfill its destiny by evaluating ,
designing and creating itself into that organization. We need your
leadership now, please assume the role that truly should be yours.
Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: Viirgil Faulkner [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>]
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 11:24 AM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] Thoughts from another past president
Terry: You have worked long and hard for O/P THANK YOU. You should
remember, as you reflect back, that your giving of your time and expertise
has paid
off handsomely in you being recongnized the world over as a leader in our
profession and in your bank account. I point this out because I admire your
success.
However with all of the work by all of our leaders for all of these years (I
was introduced to O/P in 1953) the profession still is not recognized as
such.
I know of an indivual who has graduated from a four (4) degree program in
prosthetics and orthotics who was denied a work visa becase he was over
qualified
and would take a job from some one with lessors education.
Every time our profession allows a dilution of education for sake of unity
it is sets back ten (10) in it progress towards professional recognization
by
the powers that be.
The profession should listen too and apply the suggestions of people like S.
Paul and Sid Fishman. They have told us for too many years that we must
have
and hold degrees and licenses if we want society to look at us as
professionals.
I have made the following suggestion many time and again state; we should
begin teaching future workers in our profession at the high school level,
(most
cities today have magnet schools where medical technology is taught), then
to
the university with terminal doctorial degrees that would allow the
practitioner to diagnosis and prescribe services to our patients. Then we
will be
recognized as professionals. Until then we are just workers that make an
above
average salary until all O/P services are taken over by large corporations
like
Hanger who pay lower wages to entery level workers both technical and
practitioner.
Terry, again I thank you and all the other who have brought us together and
encouraged us to improve our educational standards. I am especially proud
that
today many practitioners of our art can put LPO behind their names, this is
where we ought be putting our money.
Virgil Faulkner CPO(E) LPO
I agree whole heartly with your statements regarding disolution of
educational requirements for the sake of Unity. However, I think the bigger
picture here is that our profession has been structured not to ever allow
the profession to move beyond the finacial interests of a few. The real
truth is that Certification can never serve as the standard for competency.
It is OK for auto mechanics but not Medical Professionals.Certication
Companies ( remember these are companies) such as ABC and BOC are
organizations that set thier own standards and then create documentation to
verify or justify themselves as evidenced by the differences in these two
organizations. Even if these two companies were to unite, what is there to
stop another one from appearing on the horizon in a few years with even
lower standards, and we again lower our standards for the sake of unity.
This is an absurb way of leading a profession and it can only lead to demise
and eventual splintering.
ABC was structured so that body of orthotists and prosthetists that hold its
certificates has no say regarding anything they do. ABC was deliberately
set up this way so that it could be controlled. When you ask who is on the
board they say there is representation AOPA , ABC and AAOP each appoint
members.But there is still no structure in place for members or certifees to
change policies or influence change in any significant way.
The point of my statements is not to condemn, but we have to realize this is
a failed system incapable of moving our profession forward. While we have
realized some improvements over the past 30 years the folly of our own
professional leadership organizations is more obvious than ever. It is time
for a Paradigm shift to a new format of leadership. The leadership should
come from the proffessional side not the business side.We can no longer
afford to let the tail , wag the dog.
I dont see how ABC/BOC or any certification company can lead us, I also
cannot see how a buisness organization can lead us, there are too many pit
falls regarding private interests as evidenced by our 30 year history.The
only organization that currently exists that could possibly do it is our
professional organization ,AAOP. However, it would require restructuring and
by law changes to become independent from the interests of ABC and AOPA . I
believe It would take this level of independence to move forward and create
a new organization that could truly unite and lead our profession into the
future.
I am calling on the Academy to fulfill its destiny by evaluating ,
designing and creating itself into that organization. We need your
leadership now, please assume the role that truly should be yours.
Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: Viirgil Faulkner [mailto:<Email Address Redacted>]
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 11:24 AM
To: <Email Address Redacted>
Subject: Re: [OANDP-L] Thoughts from another past president
Terry: You have worked long and hard for O/P THANK YOU. You should
remember, as you reflect back, that your giving of your time and expertise
has paid
off handsomely in you being recongnized the world over as a leader in our
profession and in your bank account. I point this out because I admire your
success.
However with all of the work by all of our leaders for all of these years (I
was introduced to O/P in 1953) the profession still is not recognized as
such.
I know of an indivual who has graduated from a four (4) degree program in
prosthetics and orthotics who was denied a work visa becase he was over
qualified
and would take a job from some one with lessors education.
Every time our profession allows a dilution of education for sake of unity
it is sets back ten (10) in it progress towards professional recognization
by
the powers that be.
The profession should listen too and apply the suggestions of people like S.
Paul and Sid Fishman. They have told us for too many years that we must
have
and hold degrees and licenses if we want society to look at us as
professionals.
I have made the following suggestion many time and again state; we should
begin teaching future workers in our profession at the high school level,
(most
cities today have magnet schools where medical technology is taught), then
to
the university with terminal doctorial degrees that would allow the
practitioner to diagnosis and prescribe services to our patients. Then we
will be
recognized as professionals. Until then we are just workers that make an
above
average salary until all O/P services are taken over by large corporations
like
Hanger who pay lower wages to entery level workers both technical and
practitioner.
Terry, again I thank you and all the other who have brought us together and
encouraged us to improve our educational standards. I am especially proud
that
today many practitioners of our art can put LPO behind their names, this is
where we ought be putting our money.
Virgil Faulkner CPO(E) LPO
Citation
Gingras, Ron, “Re: Thoughts from another past president,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/222825.
