The International African American Prosthetic - Orthotic Coalition

is a collaboration of men and women promoting the benefits and pleasure of Prosthetics and Orthotics to young African Americans. The Coalition also strides to keep those in the field up to date on current technologies and policies in P&O. This all got started back in 1990 when two young men of African ancestry spotted each other at a national meeting and decided that together they could do more.

The first organizational meeting was held in Louisville, KY. It was there in September 1991 that Sam D. Benson, C.O. signed the Articles of Incorporation of International African-American Prosthetic-Orthotic Coalition, Inc. The founding members of the IAAPOC are Sam D. Benson, C.O., Frank Daniels, C.O., Count Fields, C.O., Charles Grantham, C.P., Michael A. Lewis, C.P.O., Timothy Howard McCluney, C.O., Charles "Lucky" Moore, C.P., Otis V. Petties, C.O., and Jack Steele, C.O.

Early on, the meetings were held in Memphis, TN. These early meeting were mainly about business. Basic topics such as membership, meeting location, and the Coalition's role in P&O were discussed.. Well attended, these meeting were often energetic and very intense. Now the meetings have expanded to include educational programing, vendor exhibitions, and continuing educational credits. Ths IAAPOC has also established a scholarship fund to assist students who pursue their education in P & O.

In 1995 the Coalition ventured out of Memphis and held it's annual meeting in New Orleans. Past meeting and host are as follows:

Louisville 1991                    Sam Benson

Memphis 1992- 94               Jack Steel / Otis Petties / Sammie Wicks

New Orleans April 1995        Tony Thaxton Jr.

Chicago April 1996              Charles Grantham / Mike Lewis

Birmingham April 1997         Charles Moore

Los Angeles April 1998         Joseph Alexander

Atlanta May 1999                Aubrey Smith

Memphis May 2000              Memphis Crew

Virginia Beach April 2001      Michael Smith

Phoenix April 2002              Ronald Favors

Charleston April 2003          Russel Riley

Memphis April 2004             Memphis Crew

New Orleans May 2005        Cheryl Boissiere/ Bernadette Douroux/ Marlon Moore/

                                       Tony Thaxton Jr.

Chicago May 2006               Charles Grantham / Mike Lewis

Virginia Beach May 2007      Michael Smith

Baton Rouge April 2008       Marlon Moore

Houston  April 2009            Stacey Linton