Creating a Mobile O&P Lab Through User-Centered Design Process

G. Eli Kaufman is a board-certified prosthetist/orthotist at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, WA, and he is the co-creator and Program Coordinator for Mobile Prosthetic and Orthotic Care (MoPOC), a national program focused on reducing barriers to O&P care for military Veterans enrolled in healthcare at the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Prior to MoPOC, Mr. Kaufman was a Research Prosthetist at the VA Center for Limb Loss and MoBility (CLiMB). He has served as a board member and Treasurer for the NW Chapter AAOP, a board member of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System Process Improvement Board, and a board member and Secretary for the Board of Delegates at Homestead Community Land Trust.

Daniel Abrahamson is a board-certified prosthetist/orthotist serving at the VA Puget Sound in Seattle Washington. He is currently the National Program Manager for the Mobile Prosthetic and Orthotic Care program (MoPOC), a program that he co-created, focusing on eliminating barriers for the provision of O&P care in the Veterans Health Administration. He spent 11 years as the Assistant Director at the University of Washington’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Prosthetics and Orthotics Program. He has 23 years of experience as a teacher, researcher, and clinical care provider for people with amputations and orthotic needs. He has co-authored 7 peer reviewed publications and is co-author on several patents. He served on the Washington State Health Technologies Assessment Committee, the UW Prosthetics and Orthotics Advisory and Evaluation Committee, and the Br. Tarcissius Prosthetics and Orthotics Training College Nsawam Ghana collaborative learning community. He is a former president of the NW Chapter of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetist. He is currently a mentor to the Chair of the VA OPPCS Hires Task Force and a member of the Washington State Orthotics and Prosthetics Advisory Committee. In 2022 he was honored with both the National Field Leadership Award and the Under Secretary for Health’s Dr. Robert L. Jesse Award for Excellence in Innovation.

In 1988 Jim Young's world changed after a near fatal motorcycle crash while goimg home on leave from the USAF. After three years of extensive limb salvage attempts the decision to amputate the Left limb above the knee was made. Less than stellar prosthetic care from his first clinician drove Jim to persue a career in the prosthetics profession. Constantly striving to improve his knowledge base Jim sought out innovators, and prosthetic clinicians who literrally wrote the books on lower limb prosthetics. Jim always makes himself availible to serve as a patient model for whoever claimed to have the "best" emeriging technique for socket design, knee or foot developement, (how better to evaluate a concept or design.) Jim's long held habit of attending meetings and conferences whenever possible allowed him to grow a massive network of mentors and colleages from around the globe, that has came in handy when faced with an unusual challenge, or building a world class line up of speakers for a local conference.As an amputee, clinician, and advocte Jim has served on many boards and committes from city and county political efforts, state gubanatorial appointments, to local and national prosthetic and orthotic organizations. Outside interests include traveling with his wife Pam, being a Pawpaw to 4 grandchildren, golfing, fishing, and is a singer/songwriter with an impressive collection of musical instuments, specifically guitars.