Tausha Duncan is a Senior Provider Relations Analyst with CGS Jurisdiction B and is the Community Coach for the States of Kentucky and Illinois. She began her career with CGS in 2015 as an Appeals Analyst and came to the Provider Outreach and Education team in 2017.

Professional Experience: Nearly 25 years of Healthcare Administration experience. Worked in all types of healthcare business functions such as Revenue Cycle, Managed Care Contracting, Credentialing, Finance, Medical Malpractice, Consulting, Sales & Marketing.

David Collins has over 32 years of expertise in Orthotics and Prosthetics, maintaining a primary focus on pediatric orthotics and specializing in the orthotic management of pediatric orthotics and Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis. He has held director roles with Shriners Hospitals for Children and running manufacturing/distribution centers, research and development, sales/marketing, and business development and Clinical Education programs at Spinal Technology.

Scott became involved with the P&O industry and an adaptive life when leg was amputated in 1970. Always leading an active lifestyle he developed passions for scuba, rock climbing, skiing, biking and kayaking. While working for Yosemite search and Rescue In 1996 Scott entered the field as a patient model /athlete working with Hosmer Dorrance in San Jose, California. With a history of building adaptive devices for sports and an education in tool making it quickly developed into a full time job. While with Hosmer he was trained as an upper extremity technician and worked with several leaders in the industry helping to develop and field test new products. In an effort to work more directly with patients Scott went on to work at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and eventually relocated to Western Washington. There with his two partners he helped start Fabtech Systems serving as Technical Director, creating and refining new products and processes.

Mike's passion for the O&P industry started while working as a technician. He managed a lab in Colorado, where he worked for eight years while becoming a certified prosthetic technician. His lab regularly applied adjustable elements to their devices which laid a foundation of technical expertise in fabricating adjustable devices. After working for an O&P distributor for 3 years as a territory manager, Mike joined the Click Medical team in 2022. He operates on both the sales team and the technical staff in his role as Technical and Sales Support Specialist.

Valerie Vastola, an accomplished Account Success Manager at CBS Medical Billing and Consulting, boasts over 25 years of extensive experience in office management software, and corporate administration, and has a profound understanding of Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P). With a track record of excellence, Valerie excels in developing workflows, implementing processes, and delivering exceptional service to clients. Her expertise extends to Change Management, aiding clients in enhancing their operational efficiency to focus more on patient care.
Valerie's journey began with eight years at an O&P facility where she held various challenging roles spanning from office and billing management to business administration. She further honed her skills with four years of providing on-site training for specialized O&P software, impacting over 275 facilities nationwide. Followed by a decade-long tenure at a specialized EMR company where she provided education, training, and implementation in the O&P industry. Valerie’s profound understanding of business intricacies, including insurance and reimbursement, workflow processes, and electronic medical records implementation, has solidified her reputation as a trusted advisor in the healthcare industry.
Her commitment to navigating healthcare's evolving landscape and leveraging digital tools for streamlined workflows is evident in her passion for assisting her team and clients alike. Valerie's expertise, coupled with her dedication, makes her an invaluable asset to CBS Medical Billing and Consulting, where she excels in maximizing operational efficiencies and client satisfaction.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Valerie finds joy in various pursuits, travel, shopping, working out, and cherishing moments with family and friends. Residing in Liberty Twp., OH, Valerie values the flexibility of remote work, enabling her to provide unwavering support to her team and clients while maintaining a fulfilling work-life balance.

Greg Steward, CPO, holds a Master's degree from Cal State Dominguez Hills. With over a decade of experience in the field, Greg began his journey as a clinician and has since evolved into a Key Account Clinical Education Manager with Thuasne NA , where he leverages his expertise to drive innovation and excellence in patient care.

With a tenure spanning over 35 years in business management, Scott Williamson has dedicated over two decades exclusively to the O&P (Orthotics and Prosthetics) arena. He stands tall as the founder and CEO of Quality Outcomes and currently spearheads initiatives as the Executive Director for Education and Business Intelligence at OPIE Software.

Scott's driving mission is clear: to empower and support leaders in the orthotics and prosthetics realm. He does this by offering cutting-edge practice management solutions combined with insightful data analytics intertwined with his background in economics and game theory. This unique approach ensures that decision-making is consistently informed, whether it's about clinical outcomes or business strategies.

Data forms the bedrock of Scott's vision for the O&P profession. His unwavering dedication is evident in his commitment to data-informed collaboration, fostering shared best practices, and refining workflows and care delivery processes. Scott is deeply motivated by the potential of data to propel the entire O&P profession into new realms of excellence.

Steering the educational and clinical support initiatives in the allied healthcare industry for over 20 years, Justi's journey has been defined by a commitment to enhancing orthopedic outcomes and advocating for disability rights. Her expertise in lower extremity orthotics, autism, and pediatrics, bolstered by a Doctor of Philosophy in Nonprofit Management, enable her to contribute her clinical expertise on a variety of topics. Her deep orthotic and prosthetic clinical experience with Shriners Hospitals as well as her time with Allard make her a knowledgeable presenter for the O&P profession.

Elisa Collingridge received her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan. After working as an Orthotic and Prosthetic Assistant, she went on to receive her master’s degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics from Northwestern University in 2017. Elisa has always had a passion for contributing to O&P education and has given guest lectures for renowned hospital systems. With over five years of clinical practice, she now joins College Park Industries as a Clinical Education Specialist.

Dr. Richard is a pediatric psychologist who has provided psychological consultation and care to children for almost 20 years. She completed her internship at the North Texas VA Medical Center and her fellowship at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, TX. She received her Masters and PsyD in Clinical Psychology at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Richard served as Director of Psychology in Dallas, TX prior to joining NCH Behavioral Health team, specializing in Pediatric Orthopedics, in 2021.

Raymond Speelman is the Product Manager of Lindhe Xtend, based in Stuart, Florida.
Raymond Speelman began his career in the U. S. Navy before entering the O&P field in 1999. After 16 years of clinical experience as a technician, an orthotic fitter, prosthetist, and an owner Ray joined WillowWood and spent 8 years as a Regional Account Manager and as a member of their education team.

In January 2023 Ray joined Lindhe Xtend as their new Product manager. Ray is now part of the team responsible for helping bring new products to market as well as product life cycle management.

Steve Kulifaj is a certified and licensed orthotist-prosthetist with more than 25 years of clinical experience. Steve’s passion for pediatrics began early in his residency at Detroit Children’s hospital and he went on to establish a pediatric specialty team in Minnesota, co-founded a three facility O&P practice in Minnesota, and provided pediatric care in Minneapolis and Hennepin County Medical Center’s pediatric specialty clinic as well as provided both clinical and practice leadership in Oregon, California and Nevada. Steve is a passionate educator and speaker who has given multiple presentations both nationally and internationally with special focus on the importance of the multiple disciplinary approach to pediatric care. Constantly looking to push the envelope of advancing clinical treatment techniques and as a lifetime learner, Steve looks to share ideas and gain knowledge everywhere he travels. Steve currently serves as an Education Consultant for Surestep with nearly a decade of commitment to sharing Surestep innovations and education.

Jason M. Jennings CPO, LPO is the owner and president of Capstone Orthotics and Prosthetics. Jason has over 25 years of experience in his profession and is dedicated to improving the lives of those he serves.

After graduating from California State University at Dominguez Hills, he completed his orthotics residency at the University of Oklahoma and his prosthetics residency at the University of Michigan. He subsequently passed the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics certification exam to become a Certified Prosthetist and Orthotist. Jason has an extensive professional history of leading and managing O&P practices. He has been a residency director for many years and has mentored and developed many colleagues in the field. Jason has also continued to develop himself clinically through continuing education courses, manufacturer's training seminars and becoming Licensed through the Dynamic Bracing Solutions Clinical Network. Jason has dedicated his life to learning and practicing Advanced Triplanar Management and has subsequently established himself as a leader and expert in the field.

Justin Pratt, CP -Justin is an ABC Certified Prosthetist who completed his P&O program in Pittsburgh, PA in 1994. He holds a BS in Intelligence Analysis from APU which he completed in 1996. Continuing his work on prosthetics, he has been a lab technician, progressing to a Practitioner’s Assistant then he pursued his certification with ABC. Acquiring CP status in 2004, Justin continued as a Certified Prosthetist with Progressive Prosthetics in VA Beach, VA until joining Ossur as a Regional Clinical Manager in 2010. Since joining Ossur, he has proven successful as a Clinical Specialist as well as a National Clinical Manager of Bionics. In April of 2015, Justin was appointed to the role of Director of Ossur Academy. Throughout his career, he has worked with a patient population that was very diverse and dynamic. He provided treatment to a population ranging from children, active adults, athletes, geriatrics, and members of the US Military’s Special Warfare units. He joined Ossur with a vast knowledge of products, fabrication techniques, and unique approaches to patient management and business management.
Upon joining Ӧssur Americas, Justin was assigned to the role of Clinical specialist, which serves as a clinical educational resource for Certified prosthetists as well as various Ӧssur teams within sales and marketing. Justin then transitioned to supporting the education and continued development of POWER KNEE, focusing on this technology while supporting various other aspects of the business. In Spring of 2015, Justin was assigned to be the Ӧssur Academy Director, managing the Ӧssur Academy team which held responsibilities with Education platforms, strategic planning, and execution of various clinical projects, supporting the marketing team as well as Research and development. In April of 2020, Justin was promoted to Sr. Director of Ӧssur Academy Americas, Prosthetics. This continued the responsibilities with his clinical team as well as extended with the Touch Solutions/Upper Limb Bionics Team.

Kevin took a great interest in the field of prosthetics and orthotics after becoming a transfemoral amputee as a result of a motorcycle accident at age 19. As an active amputee and a “MacGyver” of sorts, he found a professional calling in the unique challenges and puzzles the prosthetic and orthotic profession presents. After earning his B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Colorado-Boulder, he went on to obtain his prosthetic certificates from Century College in White Bear Lake, MN in 1997. He spent over 20 years in prosthetic and orthotic clinical practice in the Las Vegas, NV area and then in southern Idaho before joining WillowWood Global in Research and Development. He has always had an interest in education and has recently become WillowWood’s Clinical Educator for the West and looks forward to the new challenges and helping clinicians and their clients achieve their best outcomes.

Dr. Castleberry is a Research Scientist with the Hanger Institute for Clinical Research and Education. He began in this role after spending time in academia as an assistant professor, and subsequently as a lecturer. Todd has served as a principal investigator and co-author on multiple conference abstracts and manuscripts and serves as an editor for two journals. Todd’s research focus has previously investigated the effects of supplements and exercise in both healthy individuals and individuals with type 2 diabetes. In his current role, Dr. Castleberry is co-investigator on multiple federally funded grants investigating improved outcomes in orthotic and prosthetic care. He coordinates activities across these clinical research studies, analyzes patient reported outcomes and clinical data, and contributes to knowledge dissemination through manuscripts and conferences.

Dr. Kathryn Lawson (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice. Her practice,
Restoring Health to Healthcare, is focused on the mental health needs of healthcare professionals.
She earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Georgia State University in 2001 and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Auburn University in 2006. Before beginning independent practice, she worked for the federal government for nearly 15 years, holding
positions in federal corrections and the VA healthcare system as a staff psychologist, program manager,
and clinical director. She is a current member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the
International Association of Hospital Security and Safety (IAHSS), and the Georgia Psychological
Association (GPA) and is a past member of GPA’s Continuing Education Committee and the Editorial
Board for Psychological Services. Dr. Lawson is active in advocacy efforts focused on improving the
safety of healthcare professionals and on reducing barriers to mental healthcare in that population.

Jak Kesselring, CO, MSPO, is a dynamic professional at the forefront of the biotechnology and healthcare sectors, specializing in prosthetics and orthotics, with a distinguished career spanning clinical practice, education, and consultancy. Holding a Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Appalachian State University, John's foundation in medical science is robust and well-rounded. His journey began in clinical settings, where his work at leading U.S. research and clinical groups honed his skills in patient care and interdisciplinary collaboration and further transitioned to Director of Clinical Education at a major international medical device manufacturer allowing him to leverage his clinical expertise in curriculum development, business development, and strategic leadership. He is excited to share this expertise in Orthotics and Prosthetics in this session!

Lisa Abernethy, MSPO, CPO/L, is the Associate Program Director of Clinical Education in the Baylor Prosthetics and Orthotics Master’s degree program. She has experience in a large clinic in the Houston Medical Center where she was cranial team lead, but also treated a wide variety of O&P pathologies. Her cranial research focus is on cranial specialization, parental anxiety, and long-term psychosocial outcomes of untreated plagiocephaly. She is currently the treasurer of the AAOP Craniofacial Society, the Secretary of the TSOPP, and a POP ambassador.

Glen Thompson is currently a Regional Business Development Manager in the western region for Integrum Inc. While in this position, he also serves with the American Academy of Orthotist and Prosthetists as the co-chair of the Bone Anchored Prosthetics Society and the vice chair of the Outcomes Research Committee. Prior to these positions, he graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering from Dordt University in 2017 and his Master of Science degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics from Baylor College of Medicine in 2019. While at Baylor, he was also the recipient of the Lehmann Outstanding Student Award. Glen is passionate about the development of osseointegration and driving evidence-based outcomes within clinical practice. When he is not working, you can find him on a golf course or enjoying a nice hike.

Shane is the Vice President of Scientific Affairs. He entered the field of O&P as a technician before transitioning to working as an orthotist/prosthetist, and finally into his role as a principal investigator. Shane has co-authored more than 40 peer-reviewed manuscripts, published 3 book chapters, and presented more than 100 conference abstracts within the field of orthotic and prosthetic rehabilitation.

He is a Fellow with Distinction of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP), and was recognized in 2020 with their Research Award. He has previously served on the Academy’s Board of Directors, and currently serves as the Research Director for the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) and Chair of the Center for Orthotic and Prosthetic Learning (COPL).

Shane has been supported by private grants as well as government grants from the National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense. In addition to his research work, he continues to see patients.