A Message from Director of OPGA, Jeff Kessler: Building the Next Generation of O&P Advocates Starts Now

Published in Orthotics & Prosthetics on July 08, 2026

By Jeff Kessler, Director of OPGA

If we are not actively developing the next generation of leaders and advocates, independent O&P will lose ground. It is that simple.

That is why OPGA continues to invest time and access into programs like the George and Dena Breece Fellowship.

Recently, we had the opportunity to host Elijah Brummond, the 2026 NAAOP Breece Fellow, at OPGA and across VGM. This was not a meet and greet. It was a working session designed to show how advocacy, policy, and business realities intersect in O&P.

During his visit, Elijah met with key leaders across VGM, including our government relations team, talent acquisition professionals, and data and operational experts. He also spent time with a local provider and visited the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

Elijah Brummond, 2026 NAAOP Breece Fellow, and Director of OPGA Jeff Kessler

Why does this matter to you as an OPGA member?

Because the future of reimbursement and regulatory policy depends on people who understand both patient care and business reality.

Elijah saw firsthand:

How policy decisions influence reimbursement and directly impact clinic revenue
Why workforce challenges are one of the biggest threats to growth and access
How data, operations, and advocacy must align to protect independent providers

This is the work OPGA is doing behind the scenes with your membership dollars. Not just reacting to policy, but helping shape the people who will influence it for the next decade.

Elijah is sharp, engaged, and asking the right questions. That matters. But more importantly, he now has a clearer understanding of what is at stake for independent O&P and the role organizations like OPGA play in protecting it. We believe strongly that investing in leaders like Elijah is not optional. It is essential to ensuring that independent providers continue to have a voice in Washington and in statehouses across the country.

Thank you to NAAOP for continuing to develop leaders through the George and Dena Breece Fellowship and for being a partner in strengthening the future of this profession. We look forward to seeing what Elijah does next. More importantly, we know efforts like this are how we protect and advance O&P for the long term.

Elijah Brummond, 2026 NAAOP Breece Fellow, and Director of OPGA Jeff Kessler