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Each summer, nearly 1200 new cadets begin their training at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. Among the first tasks is getting military boots. Faculty and student volunteers from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM) have helped with this process for the past decade. When the podiatrist at West Point, COL Michael Neary, continued to see foot and ankle pathology, he asked for help in making objective functional measurements on the incoming class.
The student body at the academy is dynamic: all scholar-athletes at the oldest engineering school in the United States who, in addition to their studies, participate in NCAA sports, intramural contests, officer physical training and an annual Indoor obstacle course. If functional measurements on these cadets can be recorded early, changes due to their varied activities may be investigated.
To make these measurements on so many in such a short time requires a lot of help. Collaborators from NYCPM, the Hospital for Special Surgery, Harvard University, the West Point Medical Team and Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine (TUSPM) worked on a protocol to collect objective biomechanical data in about six minutes per cadet! In the 2013 data collection, ten students from TUSPM were needed. This year, a more concentrated protocol needs twenty volunteers from TUSPM.
The TUSPM students cannot commute to West Point so they need to be fed and housed for two nights. Research grant funding is not yet in place to accommodate these volunteers. Because this such a great opportunity for TUSPM students to participate in an intense data collection event, Temple University extended an opportunity to ask for grassroots funding contributions through the Owl Crowd Program. For a short time, interested individuals can support this collaborative project and support the educational experience for TUSPM students.
Contributions may be made through a secure Temple University website in just a few minutes. I donated $25. It was easy. Your donation of any size moves us closer to our funding goal. Everything donated goes right to this project. The university keeps nothing for overhead! You will be recognized on the donation site unless you opt for anonymity.
Use this link to support collaborative research in biomechanics. Use this link to help improve the wellbeing of future leaders of our women and men in uniform. Use this link to give students of podiatric medicine a great educational experience.

http://www.giving.temple.edu/s/705/giving/1colSocial.aspx?sid=705&gid=1&pgid=7078.

Thanks for your attention and kind consideration!

James A. Furmato, DPM, PhD
Assistant Professor and Chief Engineer, Gait Study Center
Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
Philadelphia

 

Thanks to everyone who responded to this posting with a contribution. We are up to 12% of our goal with a few more weeks left in the live campaign. The best way to help and be a part of this effort is to donate cash. If you know of others who would like to help, please spread the word?
:cool:
While I appreciate offers to send personnel and equipment, we have a limited workspace, the students are learning how to help and they will be ready to go!