Awards

One of the key activities of the Pedorthic Foundation is to recognize through awards and other means people and companies that make significant contributions to pedorhtics. In addition to providing a spotlight for pedorthic achievements, these awards:

  • Encourage innovation, excellence and contributions to the profession
  • Bring recognition to individuals, companies and the profession itself, as well as to the Pedorthic Foundation
  • Generate funds to continue and grow the work of the Foundation.

The Dawn Janisse Award

Following the death of his wife Dawn in 2002, Dennis Janisse established a special fund in remembrance of Dawn and her unique ability to inspire and serve. During the Foundation’s earlier years, Dawn Janisse contributed countless hours to the Foundation, using her own design and fabrication skills to create art and objects the Foundation could use to raise funds for its work. The Dawn Janisse "Making a Difference" Award is given to a person, company or group who has made a significant or extraordinary difference in or for the pedorthic profession. The fund is administered by the Pedorthic Foundation and additional donations are greatly appreciated. Previous winners of the Dawn Janisse "Making a Difference" Award include:

  • Nancy Hultquist, MS, author and editor. She conceived of and wrote the first series of brochures explaining to the allied health fields and the public what pedorthics is and how pedorthists make a difference to patient’s quality of life; developed Current Pedorthics, the first full-color magazine ever to cover the subject; and served as voluntary staff to the Foundation for several years..
  • Randy Stevens, C.Ped., former president of the Pedorthic Footwear Association, whose work with federal officials on behalf of pedorthics contributed to recognition of the field by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, several state licensing agencies and a variety of other national organizations.
  • Wayne Decker, C.Ped., co-author of Contemporary Pedorthics and a well-known teacher of pedorthics, who has served both as a faculty member of the associate degree program in orthotics, prosthetics and pedorthics at Oklahoma State University and as a frequent speaker at PFA Symposia and other national and international conferences where pedorthics is on the program..
  • Jacqueline Wertsch, M.D., a leading physiatrist, researcher and professor at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. Dr. Wertsch has also served as chairwoman of National Institutes of Health committees awarding research grants to medical researchers in a several arenas. She has served pedorthics by being a medical advisor to both the Pedorthic Footwear Association and the Pedorthic Foundation..

Recipients of the Dawn Janisse "Making a Difference" Award are selected by a Foundation committee. Nominations for the Award are submitted by Foundation Board members and by other members of the pedorthic community. The nomination form is being updated and will be available in early 2012. Generally, nominations must include a brief description of an individual’s or company’s contributions to the field and the reason those contributions have "made a difference" for pedorthics. If you have questions please send them to info@pedorthicfoundation.org.

The Richard B. Schwartz Award

Richard Schwarz is one of the pioneers in the field of pedorthics. In the early 1970s, he became one of the first 50 people certified to practice this profession. Dick shaped the growth of Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. as a maker of comfort and wellness footwear and orthotics and the leading producer of digital foot-scanning technology. He has also encouraged the growth of the profession by developing educational programs for practicing and would-be pedorthists, hiring certified pedorthists to explain pedorthic products to health care providers, and encouraging and reward innovation and invention in pedorthics. After more than 40 years of Dick's leadership and achievements, it is time to recognize him with an ongoing award named in his honor. Reflecting Richard's own accomplishments, this award will recognize and honor an individual or company for advancing the profession of pedorthics. Because pedorthics is a relatively young profession, the concept of advancing it is intended to be broadly interpreted and might, for example, be in areas such as innovation in products or techniques, product development, patient care, education, pedorthic awareness, humanitarian work or other distinguished contributions that bring additional stature, respect, advancement or honor to the practice of pedorthics. Consideration will be given to individuals and companies that have given exceptional service or commitment to the Feet for Life program. The award is not intended to recognize someone for a lifetime's body of work, but rather is focused on specific accomplishments which may be either ongoing or completed and which bring additional stature, respect, advancement or honor to the practice of pedorthics. Individuals and companies who are directly or indirectly involved in pedorthics are eligible for the award. These recipients can include credentialed pedorthists, educators, researchers, manufacturers, humanitarian workers, inventors, writers, charitable groups or supporters, and others whose accomplishments meet one or more the the criteria detailed above.

Other Awards

As with scholarships and research, the Pedorthic Foundation is structured to allow individuals, companies and other entities to set up designated funds in the Foundation in honor of individuals or achievements. Such awards may be one-time only awards, or may be ongoing ones that are given on an annual or other basis. For information on how to set up or sponsor such a fund, please click here. The Foundation is currently considering establishment of additional awards, possibly in one or more of the following areas:

  • "Pedorthist of the Year" — a credentialed pedorthist nominated by one or more peers.
  • Outstanding Research Contribution Award — for a person, company or group who completes research that contributes to the advancement of the profession .
  • Educational Advancement Award — for a person, company or group who develops or provides an educational program, presentation or experience that advances the pedorthic profession.
  • Lifetime Achievement Award — for a person, company or group who has devoted a lifetime to the practice of pedorthics, including bringing awareness of the field to a broader audience of individuals or potential practitioners..

If you would like to sponsor an award or nominate an individual or company for consideration by the Awards Committee, please contact info@pedorthicfoundation.org .