ISPO Celebrates IPOD 2026: Putting People at the Heart of Prosthetics and Orthotics
International Prosthetics and Orthotics Day (IPOD) 2026 was a wonderful opportunity for the global prosthetics and orthotics community to come together and celebrate the people who make our profession what it is.
This year, ISPO brought the community together around the theme PEOPLE, recognising that behind every innovation, every clinical intervention and every advancement in prosthetics and orthotics are people whose lives, experiences, knowledge and dedication shape our profession.
Through our I AM P&O campaign, ISPO invited members, professionals, students, partners and the wider community to share their stories, celebrate their contributions and show what being part of the prosthetics and orthotics community means to them. The I AM P&O templates provided an accessible and engaging way for individuals to express their connection to the profession, highlight their identities and amplify the voices of the people behind the work.
A Global Celebration, Powered by Our Community
The response from the community was truly encouraging! Across social media, we saw greater engagement, participation and enthusiasm, with individuals and organisations sharing their I AM P&O messages, photographs and reflections.
We were also delighted to see the involvement of our partners, who joined the celebration and helped amplify the message. Their participation reinforced the importance of working together to recognise the people, partnerships and collective efforts that continue to advance prosthetics and orthotics around the world.
Adding to the celebration, we received special messages from ISPO leadership:
- Sandra Ramdial, ISPO President, shared a message recognising the importance of people within our profession and the global community.
- David Constantine, ISPO Immediate Past President, joined the celebration with his reflections on the PEOPLE theme.
- Bryan Malas, ISPO President-Elect, also shared a message highlighting the significance of recognising and celebrating the people who contribute to prosthetics and orthotics.
These messages reflected a shared appreciation for the professionals, users, educators, researchers, students, partners and advocates who make our community stronger.
A Big Thank You to Everyone Who Took Part!
A heartfelt shoutout to everyone who participated in IPOD 2026! Whether you downloaded an I AM P&O template, shared a photograph, created a social media post, recorded a message, encouraged a colleague to participate or helped spread the word, you played a part in making this celebration meaningful.
We are grateful to our National Member Societies, partners, organisations, individual members and the wider P&O community for embracing the campaign and helping bring the PEOPLE theme to life.
Every contribution matters, and together, we demonstrated the strength, diversity and spirit of our global community.
PEOPLE: More Than a One-Day Celebration
While IPOD provides a special moment each year to celebrate our profession, the PEOPLE theme is not something that should be limited to a single day.
It is an opportunity to reflect on who we are, the people we serve, the people we work alongside and the people who inspire us to make a difference. It reminds us that prosthetics and orthotics is ultimately about people, their aspirations, their experiences and their opportunities to participate fully in life.
We encourage everyone who has not yet shared their I AM P&O story to do so! Continue using the campaign templates, share your reflections on social media and help keep the conversation going. There is no need to wait until the next IPOD to celebrate the people behind prosthetics and orthotics.
Let’s keep the PEOPLE theme alive – because our profession is, and always will be, about people.
Explore the IPOD 2026 campaign resources, download the I AM P&O templates and join the conversation:
ISPO IPOD 2026 – Advocacy and Awareness
#IPOD2026 #People #IAMPandO #ISPOInternational
