Preston N. Madler, BOCO, was elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification International at the group's March 2008 meeting. He succeeds Teresa Alpert-Leibman, C.Ped., BOCO, CO, BOC pedorthist.

Madler served 23 years with the U.S. Air Force before retiring as a senior master sergeant in 2007. A disabled veteran, he served his entire USAF career in the field of orthotics. He studied at Northern Michigan University for two years before joining the Air Force, where he began his orthotic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.  Madler ended his military service at the same base as 4J0X1 course supervisor in the 59th Medical Wing, Wilford Hall Medical Center, managing the largest orthotic laboratory in the Air Force; he also saw more than 800 patients per month and oversaw the USAF's orthotic program worldwide. In addition, he was responsible for the Air Force's Orthotic Apprentice course, which he developed and helped teach.

Noting that BOC's Board of Directors includes representation from all U.S. regions and across all five disciplines that BOC certifies, Madler said it is an honor to accept the chairmanship. "This Board is a great cross-section of practitioners elected by the entire certificant body of BOC, a true representation of BOC," he says.

Madler's special areas of interest as BOC chair include state licensure, facility accreditation and forming alliances with other practitioner groups to advance BOC's certificants. "We are focusing on state licensure requirements, to make sure that all certified practitioners have licensure access and, more importantly, patients have access to a sufficient population of qualified practitioners," he emphasizes. "Our facility accreditation program is one of the best. As the Centers & Medicaid Services (CMS) update requirements for DMEPOS facilities that bill Medicare Part B, BOC implements the standards, assuring the public of the safety and qualifications that a BOC facility provides."

Strengthening alliances with other practitioner groups will, he believes, help strengthen the field's ability to advocate for both practitioners and patients. "We are working with the Pedorthic Footwear Association (PFA) to make sure our pedorthists have a voice, and we are in lockstep with the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) and the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) for orthotic and prosthetic parity."

Describing his commitment to practitioners, Madler points out that "BOC represents the person who maybe could't finish their degree due to lack of funds or time, or to family commitments. But we recognize that doing the job is, in and of itself, a great education. We are proud to be an inclusive, rather than an exclusive, organization. It is impossible to pass our exams without immersion in serious self-study and classes at higher education institutions, but we are committed to keeping the pathway open for individuals who understand "doing" as well as reading. BOC's credentialing process has been recognized by the U.S. Congress. We must also strive for recognition across all states and with third party payers. The public deserves no less."

Madler put action behind his words by taking the opportunity during a national policy forum for brief discussions in mid-March with CMS administrator Kerry N. Weems and with Frederick Downs Jr., chief prosthetics and clinical logistics officer at CMS. He also met former Senator Robert Dole, who takes an active interest in health care issues.

Before being elected to BOC's Board of Directors, Madler served the organization as a member of the item writers committees for the orthotist examinations and the clinical simulation examinations from 2004 through 2007. He also served as a reviewer for the video practical exam, and is a member of BOC's facility accreditation site surveyors group. He has chaired BOC's By-laws Committee and the Certification Ethics Review Committee, and was elected vice chairman of BOC before being chosen as chairman.

Madler is also an ABC-certified orthotist and is licensed to practice orthotics in Texas, here he recently formed DVet Technological Solutions, Inc., which provides custom computer programming, software and hardware and other technological solutions to government agencies and private sector industries.

"Preston's background and skills in OP&P and his talents as a leader will serve BOC well," says BOC president Greg Safko. "The Board of Directors has worked hard to solidify BOC's programs and activities over the past year under Teresa Alpert-Liebman's guidance, and now Preston is prepared to lead us to the next level. I look forward to working with him."

BOC offers certification in five practice specialties: orthotics, prosthetics, orthotic fitting, mastectomy fitting and pedorthics. In addition, BOC is one of the deemed providers of facility accreditation recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.