Professional Activity Resources
Professional Activity
Each resident regardless of their chosen program type and track must complete a professional activity. There are 2 acceptable ways to complete the professional activity: deliverer an O&P awareness presentation or volunteer for an O&P organization (professional or humanitarian). Documentation of completion will require materials used to participate in the activity (such as presentation slides) and contact information for a person at the organization where the presentation or volunteer activity was performed.
O&P Awareness Presentation
The purpose of a the O&P Awareness Presentation is to promote the O & P profession. It encourages the resident to develop their skills in public speaking and confidence when interacting with others in a professional environment. This presentation should integrate current information that can be referenced to partner O&P organizations.
Potential Audiences:
- Community service organizations (Ex: Rotary International)
- Youth oriented programming (Ex: Boy Scouts of American)
- School-based audiences (Grade School to Post-Secondary)
Volunteer for an O&P Professional Organization
There are numerous NGO and not-for-profit organizations that could benefit from a resident practitioners insight and effort. Volunteering for an O&P organization enables the resident to see the value that is provided to multiple stakeholders including practitioners, the local community, and the patients we serve. A wide variety of volunteer roles and responsibilities are acceptable.
Example Volunteer Activities:
- Fund-raise for a not-for-profit organization
- Coordinate a used component drive for an international O&P care organization
- Assist with a career day hosted by the Academy or AOPA designed to educate local high school students about the O&P profession
- Attend a pro-bono clinic and assist credentialed practitioners in providing clinical services
Are you having trouble identifying if a specific activity could be counted as a professional activity? The chart below should be helpful in guiding the resident and director/mentor in making an appropriate determination.
