POTA Conference 2008 . . . A GREAT SUCCESS!
Attended by over 525 practitioners and students – the highest number of attendees at a POTA Conference – the 31st Annual Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Conference was a huge success! Held this year on October 3rd and 4th in King of Prussia, POTA Conference 2008 – Enriching Lives, Creating Possibilities – was a great opportunity for practitioners and students to network and participate in two full days of educational sessions, exhibits and social events.
The conference was organized by the Local Conference Committee (LCC) and POTA Central Conference Committee (CCC). POTA extends a heartfelt Thank You to the LCC for their dedication and hard work . . .Conference Co-Chairs – Michelle Baun & E. Adel Herge; Program: Stephen Kern & Tracey Vause-Earland; Registration: Donna Alleborn & Megan Link; Exhibits: Natalia Stroutinsky & Shannon White; Special Events: Ruth Bloxton & Jeanne Coviello; People Power: Caryn Johnson; and Secretary: Beth Konde. In addition to the LCC members, there were numerous other volunteers involved in making the conference a great success . . . A special Thank You to the practitioners who served as Conference Proposal Reviewers. Through their efforts, the quality of the conference was set, assuring a diverse presentation of topics pertinent to today’s practice . . . over 80 education opportunities (Institutes, Short Courses and Posters) were included in the 2008 POTA Conference. In keeping with efforts to increase student participation in conference, over 30 POTA student members provided people power during the conference, serving as session greeters/conveners, selling raffle tickets, and running prizes at the raffle drawing. Any conference would not be a success without the financial support of our sponsors. This year’s sponsors included Gold Level: Austill’s Rehabilitation Services, Inc., Centers for Rehab Services, Chatham University, Genesis Rehab Services, Thomas Jefferson University, Moss Rehab / Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, Pediatric Therapeutic Services, and Somerset Medical Center; Silver Level: HCR ManorCare, Philadelphia University, and Temple University; Bronze Level: Elizabethtown College and University of Pittsburgh; Breakfast with the Educators: Chatham University, Duquesne University, Elizabethtown College, Misericordia University, Philadelphia University, Temple University, Thomas Jefferson University, Towson University, and University of Pittsburgh.
The “kick off” for the 31st Annual POTA Conference was on Thursday evening at the Welcome to Conference Social sponsored by Temple University. Attendees received a Conference Tote Bag sponsored by Genesis Rehab Services. The Conference Program Guide was sponsored by the Philadelphia University, and Conference Name Badges were sponsored by Chatham University. Conference participants enjoyed Breakfast with the Educators on Friday – special thanks to the schools who supported this event. POTA Conference 2008 officially began on Friday with the Opening Ceremony, which featured welcoming remarks by POTA President, Sharon Kurfuerst, followed by the Keynote Address sponsored by Austill’s Rehabilitation Services, Inc. The Keynote Address was presented by Catherine Riley, Nola Riley and Molly Riley-Cygan. Their one-of-a-kind presentation . . . Realistically Speaking: Growing UP with DOWN Syndrome . . . provided insight into what it is like to grow up with a disability from three different viewpoints: a parent – Nola, a sibling – Molly, and the individual – Catherine. They encouraged us to empower others as they shared their inspirational philosophy that includes high expectations, realism, and humor that led all three of them on a journey of disability advocacy and Catherine to becoming a successful teacher’s aide. Attendees enjoyed lunch sponsored by Pediatric Therapeutic Services and were able to Meet the Authors at the Friday Poster Session sponsored by Elizabethtown College.
Friday evening highlighted POTA: Taking Care of Business & Celebrating Our Profession-Awards Ceremony & Celebration sponsored by Centers for Rehab Services and Genesis Rehab Services. The POTA Business Meeting, brought members up-to-date with past, current, and future POTA activities and included Sharon Kurfuerst’s Farewell Presidential Address and Cathy Dolhi’s Inaugural Presidential Address!
This year’s award recipients included:
The Stephen L. Heater Award of Outstanding Achievement: C. Thomas North, PhD, OTR/L
OT Award of Recognition: Caryn R. Johnson, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Master Clinician Award: Edward J. Mihelcic, PhD, OTR/L
Academic Educator Award: Angela N. Hissong, DEd, OTR/L
Student Award of Recognition: Caitlyn Capella, OTS (University of the Sciences of Philadelphia)
Award of Appreciation: Joseph V. Pettinati, MBA, MEd
President’s Award: Ellen Kolodner , MSS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Reba M. Sebelist Scholarship: Hannah Ritter (University of Pittsburgh) and Laura Waterstram (University of Pittsburgh)
2008 POTA Scholarships in memory of Helen Hopkins: Amalie Andrew (University of Pittsburgh), Erin Gaydos (Gannon University), Victoria Ginder (Misericordia University), Kimberly Heffner (Pennsylvania College of Technology), Pamela Koscho (Community College of Allegheny County), Heather Roseti (Philadelphia University), Lindsay Schroll (Saint Francis University), Lawrence Stevenson (Temple University), and Lindsay Swan (Chatham University).
Saturday was the second and final day packed solid with educational sessions, exhibits and social events, including the Annual POTA Raffle. The day started off with the Centennial Vision Breakfast sponsored by Thomas Jefferson University. AOTA Board of Director, Dr. Janice Burke, presented The Road to the Centennial Vision . . . an update on how AOTA is advancing occupational therapy into the 21st century and how WE . . . occupational therapy practitioners and students . . . can put AOTA’s Centennial Vision into action every day. Attendees enjoyed lunch sponsored by Moss Rehab / Albert Einstein Healthcare Network and were able to Meet the Authors at the Saturday Poster Session sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh. After lunch, representatives of the PA Licensure Board and POTA’s Legislative Chair, Legislative Lobbyist, and Legal Counsel addressed a “full house” audience during the Forum on Licensure and Legislative/Regulatory Issues: Building Our Future sponsored by HCR ManorCare. The new PA Licensure regulations for continuing competence and their impact on our ability to maintain a license to practice occupational therapy in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were presented in addition to featured updates related to the POTA’s legislative agenda.
To ensure continuing education credit, attendees received Certificates of Attendance, upon completion of all educational sessions, including the Keynote Address, Legislative Update, and Poster Sessions. New this year . . . POTA videotaped select sessions at conference . . . they will be offered as continuing education opportunities through the POTA Website in 2009.
The online POTA Conference 2008 Evaluation was a great success! Thank you for your feedback! Congratulations to Susan Aiken-Beckman – winner of the evaluation drawing for the $50 Registration Gift Certificate for POTA Conference 2009!
Last, but not certainly least, the LCC and CCC are sincerely grateful to the countless people who provided support to the conference in various ways, including the over 45 vendors who filled the Exhibit Hall and numerous businesses and individuals who provided over 100 fabulous items donated for the Annual Raffle.
Thank You . . . to the attendees, sponsors, presenters, exhibitors, contributors, & volunteers of POTA Conference 2008
It is with great anticipation that POTA looks forward to next year’s annual conference – POTA Conference 2009 in Pittsburgh at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel, October 30 & 31, 2009! Visit www.pota.org for details. See you there!
