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The Ontario Association for Amputee Care (OAAC) is an organization dedicated to the ongoing advancement of the care of individuals in the province of Ontario who are, or who may be at risk of, living with major limb loss. The OAAC membership is composed of individuals from various disciplines who network within and between both urban and rural centres within the province where individuals may receive acute and rehabilitation services following an amputation.  Members of the OAAC have varied interests in both the prosthetic and non-prosthetic aspects of amputee care, and these interests span the continuum from pre-amputation preventative care strategies to the very latest prosthetic technologies in use after a major limb amputation.

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OAAC members include physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, therapeutic recreation specialists, registered dieticians, social workers and prosthetists, among others. The Association meets on a bi-annual basis so that members can share research findings, case studies, educational and program delivery initiatives. As well, corporate sponsors participate in the conferences, thereby providing additional networking opportunities for conference attendees.

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In order to engage and involve as wide a membership as possible within the province and across Canada, the OAAC makes available up to five travel bursaries for each bi-annual conference. The purpose of the bursaries is to assist individuals from Northern Ontario and from other provinces to attend the OAAC conference. Two of the bursaries will be provided to assist individuals who wish to present as part of the Scientific Program. Three of the bursaries will be provided to assist interested individuals to attend the conference so that they may network with colleagues who work in amputee care. Of note, conference attendees will be considered members of the OAAC for a period of two years following registration for any given conference.

Details of the travel bursaries are as follows:

Amount - Bursary amounts will depend on whether or not the applicant presents as part of the Scientific Program for that conference. Successful applicants who present, will be awarded a bursary in the amount of $500.00 (up to two per conference). Successful applicants who wish to attend for OAAC membership and networking opportunities (but who do not present), will be awarded a bursary in the amount of $300.00 (up to three per conference).

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Eligibility - Individuals from Northern Ontario or from other provinces in Canada are eligible to apply, although preference will be given to Ontario residents. Northern Ontario is defined as all areas North of, and including, the districts of Parry Sound and Nipissing.

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Selection Process - A panel of three judges comprised of current OAAC members shall review applications and select the bursary recipients. One panel member shall be the Chairperson of the conference Local Organizing Committee (LOC), who is de facto Chairperson of the OAAC. A second member shall be a current member of the OAAC, who is also a member of the LOC, and who is involved in the organization of the Scientific Program of the conference in question. The third member shall be an OAAC Member-at-Large who has indicated an interest in reviewing bursary applications, and who is selected by the OAAC Executive.

Application Process - Interested applicants should submit a completed application form with their Abstract or Rationale once the Call for Abstracts has been sent by the LOC.

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Disbursement - Once selected, bursary recipients shall be notified of their selection by the Chairperson of the OAAC. The Treasurer of the OAAC shall provide a cheque in the amount of $500.00 to the Presenter Bursary recipients following completion of their podium presentation at the conference for which the bursary was applied for. The Treasurer of the OAAC will provide a cheque in the amount of $300.00 to Member/Attendee Bursary recipients following their registration at the conference in question.

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RATIONALE: Describe how membership and attendance at this OAAC conference will contribute to improved care of your patients living with major limb loss. (300 words max)

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