February 25, 2019
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Feb. 25, 2019 – Held Feb. 18-22 at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, Hanger, Inc.’s 2019 Education Fair & National Business Meeting brought more than 1,100 Hanger employees, including more than 850 clinicians and therapists, together from across the United States. The annual conference provided continuing education on orthotic, prosthetic, and therapeutic solutions, with a focus on providing patient-centered care. It was also an opportunity to recognize employees for their successes, with awards distributed throughout the week to celebrate team members who excelled at delivering exceptional care and service in 2018.
With the theme “Remarkable Journeys,” the event spotlighted the incredible journeys that Hanger’s employees, patients, and partners have undertaken. The Opening Ceremony on Feb. 19 kicked off with five Hanger Clinic patients sharing the personal challenges they have overcome and what is possible in their lives today, thanks to hard work, perseverance, and personalized orthotic and prosthetic care. The Ceremony opened and closed with performances by eight-year-old Tessa Puma, who uses a custom-designed above-knee prosthesis as a competitive hip-hop dancer. The complete Opening Ceremony can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Tire83ZHs.
At the Feb. 20 Hanger Clinic Dinner & Awards Ceremony, Maja Kazazic shared her personal journey, which began when she was severely injured in a bomb explosion during the Bosnian conflict at age 16, and continued through her emigration to the U.S., where she received orthotic and prosthetic care and resumed a full and active life. Through her Florida-based Hanger Clinic team, which includes Area Clinic Manager Chris Toelle, LCO, and Clinic Manager Shalyn LaTorre, LCPO, Maja was introduced to and adopted a Great Dane puppy named Rosie, who is also a lower extremity amputee. Now Rosie is Maja’s service dog, and the pair travel the country sharing their story of overcoming adversity and embracing hope.
More than 150 instructors presented close to 100 courses throughout the week, and for the second year, the Education Fair featured a full day of clinical keynote sessions delivered by physicians, scientists, and therapists from major medical institutions across the U.S. These included presentations on clinical outcomes measurement and utilization within orthotics and prosthetics, and innovations that are moving the field of O&P into the future, from telemedicine applications in amputation care, to neurally-integrated assistive technology. These well-received sessions were designed to provide attendees with access to the leading minds revolutionizing patient-centered, data-driven care.
This year’s Education Fair also included its sixth annual “Women in Leadership” series, designed to foster the growth and engagement of women at Hanger. This year’s offerings included a workshop on unconscious bias, and a panel of women leaders at Hanger, moderated by Jean Ann Bailey, Regional Vice President, Hanger Clinic. Panelists included Shelley Coull, PT, Clinic Manager, Hanger Clinic; Peggy Burns, Area Administrative Manager, Hanger Clinic; Kim Wiley, VP, Clinical Technology and Business Intelligence, Hanger; Molly McCoy, CPO, Clinical Documentation Improvement, Clinical & Scientific Affairs, Hanger; and Shannon O’Shea, CPO, Clinic Manager and Clinical & Scientific Affairs team member, Hanger Clinic.
With more than 115 exhibits and over 370 exhibitor representatives, the Education Fair was packed with members of the O&P community and manufacturers demonstrating the latest in O&P and rehabilitative technology. Several exceptional supplier partners were recognized at the sixth annual Hanger Partner Awards on Feb. 20, for their role in manufacturing products used to deliver exceptional orthotic and prosthetic care and empower patients’ lives every day. The award winners are carefully chosen by members of Hanger’s clinical and operational teams; the partners recognized this year include: PLS for being a “Rising Star,” Fillauer for “Collaboration,” Townsend Thuasne USA for “Innovation,” and College Park Industries for “Operational Performance.”
About Hanger, Inc. – Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Hanger, Inc. is a leading provider of orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) patient care services and products. The company operates as an ecosystem of diversified companies delivering complementary solutions to individuals and providers with O&P needs, and is organized in two business segments – Patient Care and Products & Services. Through its Patient Care segment, Hanger provides comprehensive, outcomes-based O&P services to individuals of all ages at more than 925 Hanger Clinic locations nationwide. Through its Products & Services segment, Hanger serves the broader O&P community and skilled nursing facilities through designing and distributing branded and private label O&P devices, products and components, providing consulting services, and offering post-acute rehabilitative solutions. Rooted in clinical research, excellence, and innovation, Hanger is a purpose-driven company focused on empowering human potential. For more information, visit corporate.hanger.com.
Contact:
Annie Myers
External Relations Manager
(210) 440-7380 or [email protected]