St. Anthony's 2009 Triathlon

As the first major race on the U.S. calendar, St. Anthony's Triathlon has kicked off the triathlon season in North America for the past 26 years. On race day the athletes swim through the brisk waters of Tampa Bay, bike along glimmering waterways and quiet harbors and run through picturesque neighborhoods and past cheering spectators. This race contains the world's top professional triathletes as they compete for $60,000.

Gainesville Prosthetic's Sean Mello competed in his first Triathlon this year by finishing the St. Anthony's Triathlon in 2 hours and 28 minutes! Due to the weather, the swim portion was cancelled, but Sean was able to complete the 40K bike in 1 hour 15 minutes and the 10 K run in 1 hour 4 minutes. He finished 2nd overall in his group. We are proud of Sean and his continued efforts of supporting the Challenged Athletes Foundation to provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics.

Congratulation to DeAnna on becoming a certified and licensed Prosthetist

DeAnna M. Clough, MSPO, CPO, LPO has become a certified and licensed prosthetist after passing the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC) prosthetic exams and obtaining Florida licensure. ABC practitioner certification is awarded as an attestation of competency for the public, those who require orthotic/prosthetic services, and those in other health professions. The awarding of ABC practitioner certification provides the certified practitioner with an appropriate and meaningful recognition of professional competence. The examinations measure the candidate's knowledge of orthotics and prosthetics, their analytical and problem solving skills as well as clinical, patient management and communication skills. ABC practitioner certification is the profession's highest standards for professionals providing patient care and technical services. At Gainesville Prosthetics, we pride ourselves in being an ABC accredited facility where all of our practitioners are ABC certified prosthetist-orthotists.

Welcome Stephen B. Fletcher, CPO, LPO

Stephen B. Fletcher, CPO has recently joined Gainesville Prosthetics as a clinical prosthetist/orthotist. He has extensive experience in various practice settings, including serving as director of Shands Hospital O&P department as well as being employed as a staff prosthetist/orthotist for a mid-sized independent organization. He also has experience as Virginia Prosthetics' Residency Program Director.

Mr. Fletcher also served as chair of the initial Florida O&P licensure board. He joined the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC) in 1993 as a volunteer orthotic examiner and eventually served on the exam committee and did a rotation as an exam auditor and site coordinator. He was selected to join the board of directors in 2002 and went on to serve as president of ABC in 2007.

Paul Teaching at St. Pete and Geargia Tech

As part of our mission to educate the community and the profession, our staff is involved in lecturing to orthotic and prosthetic students as well as other allied health professionals. Paul is currently an adjunct faculty member of both the Georgia Institute of Technology Masters of Science program in Prosthetics and Orthotics as well as the St. Petersburg College Orthotic and Prosthetic Baccalaureate program. This fall he instructed the Georgia Tech students on casting and fitting techniques for transfemoral (above knee) prostheses, as well as proper evaluation and documentation procedures using electronic medical records software, OPIE.

OPIE Software is a new approach to practice management, built to address the challenges that we all face in today's healthcare market. OPIE was created by practicing O&P professionals and expert software developers here in Gainesville, Florida.

The St. Petersburg College students were instructed on basic electronic medical records processes in their new high tech instructional facility that allowed for interactive hands on training. Students of both institutions attend continuing education seminars that are presented by Paul through live webcasts throughout the year to keep up with new advances in the OPIE software.

CAF Triathlon

Established in 1997, the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) is a unique organization that recognizes the athletic greatness inherent in all people with physical challenges and supports their athletic endeavors by providing grants for training, competition and equipment needs. It is the mission of the Challenged Athletes Foundation (http://www.challengedathletes.org/) to provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. The Challenged Athletes Foundation involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life. This year, the CAF held it's 15th annual San Diego Triathlon Challenge, which is a half-Ironman distance event featuring world-class challenged athletes, professional triathletes, celebrities and other able-bodied participants on one of the most breathtaking courses in the country. Over the past thirteen years, this event has helped raise over $16 million to support thousands of challenged athletes.

Gainesville Prosthetic's very own, Sean Mello competed in the event this year. Sean is a 42 year-old veteran who in May 2003 was injured at a military training event on the water that lead to his right transtibial amputation. Prior to his accident, he was an active person who enjoyed running, biking and diving amongst other activities. Following his accident, Sean began running again with the aid of a prosthesis designed for running. In 2007, the idea of biking again began to surface in Sean with it culminating after a September 2008 meeting with the Florida chapter of CAF. Here, Sean was told about the San Diego Triathlon Challenge to be held on Sunday, October 26, 2008. Shortly after his meeting, Sean was introduced to a member of the Operation Rebound group. Operation Rebound provides unparalleled sports opportunities and support to our troops and veterans of any branch of service and first responders who have suffered permanent physical injuries in the line of duty. With only 5 weeks to go before the triathlon and a bike from Operation Rebound, Sean formed a team for the relay triathlon, in which he would be competing in the bicycling portion of the race. After finishing the 56.2 mile bike race in 3 hours and 34 minutes, Sean affirmed he was hooked on bicycling! Gainesville Prosthetics is very proud of Sean and his many accomplishments and will be supporting him as he trains for the St. Anthony's full marathon in St. Petersburg, Florida on April 26, 2009. When asked what was next for Sean, he revealed his vision to be in the Hawaii Ironman in four years.