Board Member Profile- Shannon Coupens

​Shannon Coupens is a distributor at Zimmer Biomet in Oregon

OW:  How long have you been associated with Operation Walk – Freedom to Move and what is your roll in (or specialty you bring to) the organization?
SC:  I have been associated with Op Walk-Freedom to Move from the very beginning, when it was only a hope.  My responsibilities include working with one of our corporate partners to procure, ship, and manage total hip implants and instruments for the mission.  I also assist the Dominican circulating OR nurses during our surgeries and help with the instrument cleaning and sterilization.
 
OW:  What about the organization makes you want to donate your time and expertise.
SC:  I continue to be motivated by being a part of a team that relieves the suffering and helps restore mobility to people who would not be able to get the help otherwise.  Every year I look forward to seeing the friends we have made among the staff at the hospital.  I am especially struck by the number of young people with crippling osteoarthritis that we have been able to help. 
 
OW:  Who inspires you in the organization?
SC:  I am inspired by every member of the team who returns.
 
OW:  What is your background in charity or in healthcare?
SC:  I have been an orthopedic implant vendor for 34 years and have observed thousands of orthopedic procedures.
 
OW:  If you could tell the world one thing about why this mission is important, what would that be?
SC:  ​Our mission is important because we bring state-of-the-art treatments and technologies to a remote corner of the world and greatly improve the lives of patients and healthcare workers there.

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"Movement is life, freedom, and independence."
​-Dr. Paul Duwelius, Founder of Freedom to Move