Professional Association of Orthoptics Germany

Professional Association of Orthoptics Germany ; (BOD)
purpose	Professional association
Chair:	Daniela Lemm
Manager:	Melanie van Waveren
Establishment date:	1971
Number of members:	approx. 1,300 (2018)
Seat :	Cologne
Website:	www.orthoptik.de

The professional association Orthoptik Deutschland e. V. (BOD) (formerly Association of orthoptists Germany ) is an association of nationally recognized orthoptists and orthoptists in Germany. It was founded in 1971 and, in addition to providing scientific and practical training and further education, serves in particular to represent the interests of its members in terms of professional interests vis-à-vis political bodies, medical associations, health insurance companies, related professions, rehabilitation facilities and self-help organizations. In addition, the association carries out appropriate public relations work and maintains both international communication with other professional associations, organizations and institutions, as well as interdisciplinary cooperation between all professionals who are active in the areas of prevention , diagnostics , therapy and rehabilitation .

Of around 2400 practicing orthoptists in Germany, around 1300 members (as of 2018) are organized in the professional association, which is divided into 9 regional associations. There is the possibility of membership in the form of an ordinary full membership and an extraordinary student membership.

The BOD is represented by one delegate each in the international International Orthoptic Association (IOA) and in the European Comité des Orthoptistes de la Communauté Européenne (OCE) . The international professional representation International Orthoptic Association has been calling for International World Orthoptic Day on the first Monday in June since 2013 .

The association is based in Cologne . 1. Chairman of the board is Daniela Lemm, managing director Melanie van Waveren in the main office in Reutlingen. There is an internal trade journal, Orthoptik - Pleoptik , which is distributed to members and interested parties once a year in a circulation of around 1500 copies.