WATERLOO, Iowa (June 10, 2015)—Amy Van Dyken-Rouen, a six-time Olympic gold medalist and T-12 paraplegic, will headline the 14th annual VGM Heartland Conference. Van Dyken-Rouen was the first woman to win four gold medals in one Olympic Games, but was severely injured one year ago in an ATV accident. Her spinal cord was severed, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Van Dyken-Rouen’s story recently caught national attention on Good Morning America, when she stood on her own for the first time since the accident.
Van Dyken-Rouen’s story of overcoming obstacles will not be lost on the more than 500 medical equipment providers attending the conference, who assist injured, disabled and aging people every day. Also attending are nearly 300 exhibitors from more than 70 major medical equipment manufacturers and vendors. In total, the group of more than 1,000 represents businesses from more than 40 states, including Hawaii.
VGM’s Heartland Conference will feature 73 educational sessions, 71 speakers and specialized hands-on training for complex rehab technology and home modifications, offering a total of 21 contact hours of education. Attendees will also enjoy networking opportunities that include a hog roast and fireworks.
New to the conference this year are VGM TIP Talks. They are short, powerful talks from business innovators and one political guru. The talks will include Trevor Hendrickson, co-founder of Kailo Healthcare Technologies, and Kris Hansen, CEO of Western Home Communities, who will discuss the future of big data technology in health care. Venessa Dixon, vice president of business development at Edison Nation, will focus on their role in health care product development and how they make new health care ideas come to life. Edison Nation partners with inventors to take their product ideas to store shelves. Dr. Chris Larimer of the University of Northern Iowa will examine the first-in-the-nation role of Iowa caucuses and offer his predictions for the upcoming presidential primaries in Iowa.
Also new to the conference is the unveiling of Access Day USA, a national campaign to provide home modifications for people in need. It has the support of Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, who has signed proclamations declaring June 17 Access Day USA. On that day VGM employees will install two wheelchair ramps at the home of nine-year-old Natalie Olsen and her family in Cedar Falls as a gift from all Heartland Conference attendees. Access Day USA, with charter sponsors EZ-ACCESS and VGM, are planning to host similar events across the country in 99 other locations throughout 2015.
VGM Heartland Conference will take place June 15-18 in Waterloo, Iowa. For more information visit vgmheartland.com.
