The Tamarack Awards Exclusively for NUPOC MPO Students
The Tamarack Award Established 2014
In December 2014, the Tamarack Award was established at NUPOC by J. Martin Carlson, CPO, FAAOP. In 2016 and again in 2018 Mr. Carlson established additional annual Tamarack Awards. Each annual award represents a monetary prize of $2,000. The annual Tamarack Awards are conferred on three NUPOC MPO students who demonstrate excellence in orthotics and submit an original essay that details his/her commitment to orthotics. The NUPOC teaching faculty anonymously evaluates and votes for the student awardees in December of the second year of MPO training.
Goals of the Tamarack Award
The Tamarack Awards reward outstanding students who demonstrate excellence in orthotics. Students who best exemplify these characteristics are selected as award recipients:
- Clear understanding of the principles of orthotic management
- Personal commitment to patient-focused clinical care
- Strong interest in advancing the effectiveness of orthotic treatment
Eligibility for the Tamarack Award
The competition is open to all full-time candidates enrolled in the second year of the Master of Prosthetics and Orthotics (MPO) degree program at the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center (NUPOC).
Recognizing J. Martin Carlson and His Service to P&O
J. Martin "Marty" Carlson, CPO, FAAOP, owner and chief engineer of Tamarack Habilitation Technologies (Blaine, MN), has established the Tamarack Award at NUPOC. Mr. Carlson holds degrees in aeronautics and mechanical engineering and certifications in prosthetics-orthotics. He is a published researcher, teacher, entrepreneur, and innovator who developed the Carlson AFO Modification technique, the Gillette orthotic seating system, Tamarack ankle joints, and others. Mr. Carlson was recognized by the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists with the Titus-Ferguson Award (2009) and the Clinical Creativity Award (1997).
NUPOC deeply appreciates the generosity of Mr. Carlson for bestowing the annual Tamarack Awards at NUPOC.
Tamarack Award Winners Express Appreciation
Anna Atkins, 2020 Tamarack Award winner
Nicolette Chamberlain-Simon, 2019 Tamarack Award winner
Casey Gruber, 2019 Tamarack Award winner
Jennifer Pudlo, 2019 Tamarack Award winner
Tamarack Award Recipients
Awardees
2020/MPO 2021
Anna Atkins, Kevin Clark, Kendra Hercules
2019/MPO 2020
Nicolette Chamberlain-Simon, Casey Gruber, Jennifer Pudlo
2018/MPO 2019
Kristin Barth, Maureen Connelly, Abbey Senczyszyn
2017/MPO 2018
Kyle Miller, Sheila Pach
2016/MPO 2017
Samantha Wright, Joshua Zumbrun
2015/MPO 2016
Kate Binder
2014/MPO 2015
Christian Rae S. Figueroa