NAAOP Selects Inaugural Fellow for 2018

The National Associ

The 2018 Fellowship is a 10-week program based in Washington D.C. As the NAAOP Fellow, Ver Kuilen will learn about orthotic and prosthetic policy, advocacy, and how NAAOP and other O&P organizations function on behalf of O&P and within the broader rehabilitation/disability policy and advocacy community at both the federal and state levels. NAAOP General Counsel Peter Thomas noted that “Nicole distinguished herself among several superlative candidates for this inaugural NAAOP Fellowship. We only wish we could have accepted all the candidates and hope an expanded Fellowship program in the future will make room for these and other highly qualified individuals.”

Ver Kuilen lost her leg to bone cancer at age 10. She recently completed a 1,500-mile triathlon down the Pacific coast to raise awareness about challenges amputees have accessing appropriate prostheses. She filmed a documentary about her journey and has taken her message to D.C., educating policymakers about these issues. Ver Kuilen graduated with High Distinction from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business in 2013. She has worked at the Clean Energy Coalition, a nonprofit consulting firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and also served as Assistant Director for the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability.

When told of her selection as the inaugural NAAOP Fellow, Nicole said, “I am honored to be selected as NAAOP’s inaugural health policy and advocacy fellow. In the 16 years I’ve been an amputee, I’ve realized our amputee community is systematically being denied the appropriate technology and care we need to live our best lives; this isn’t right. I believe, through our collective efforts, we can create the largest movement in America for mobility rights.”

George Breece, NAAOP Executive Director said, “Nicole was the top selection for each of our Fellowship Committee members. She embodies what the next generation of O&P advocates will be. After her Fellowship experience, we believe Nicole will be an even greater O&P advocate and we know we will be a better organization because she was our inaugural NAAOP Fellow.”

For more information contact: George Breece, NAAOP Executive Director georgebreece@naaop.org or 910 583 2161