i read the tag to this forum and i thought, "finally, the forum i've been searching for..." - unfortunately this section is empty. here's my attempt to make this the forum ive been searching for...

i recently graduated from college with a degree in electrical engineering. in the near future i plan on entering medical school...for personal and professional reasons, my ultimate career goals are related to prosthetic development, particularly aimed at neural prosthetics.

i have be searching for an opportunity to learn and work with a prosthetic company, if you might have an opportunity or need, please respond.

Believe it or not, you're not alone. I am an electronic bench tech with machine shop training who would love an opportunity to work in a prosthetics lab. I've always had the desire to help others, and the mechanics of these devices fascinate me. I just can't seem to find a company with an opening.
How 'bout it, folks? So Calif? Anyone?

I am also fascinated by prosthetics and am currently applying to programs to become a certified practitioner. I have found it more difficult to break into the field than I had anticipated though. To get into a program you need experience in the field but there are very few opportunities to learn and work with a prosthetic company without the proper education experience and certification.
I am always looking for opportunities in the Boston area to help me get closer to my goal of someday becoming a practitioner. if you have any suggestions or opportunities, I would appreciate your response.

Hello everyone. The P&O industry is a lot different than what you might see on TV. Hopefully, Discover will do it right! I've been in the field 10 years, so maybe I can make it a little clearer.

To break into the field, you have to volunteer somewhere and gets some clinical experience. Most of the schools require/recommend this experience. For a list of the schools, check out http://www.ncope.org To volunteer, just call any local P&O practice - we love volunteers.

The University of Washington (Seattle) has a P&O program and their engineering department works very closely with them developing some ground breaking new research, data, and products. Also check out Georgia Tech.

If you want to do patient care, check out the schools listed on http://www.ncope.org and go through the steps to become ABC certified - check out http://www.abcop.org

Here's the process. The are both bachelors programs and post-grads. All will get you the education that you need. This is 2 years for both prosthetics and orthotics. Some of the programs are split, so check out the details.

Then you do a residency for both prosthetics and orthtotics, a year each. But you get paid! At the end of each residency you are eligible to sit for you board exams.

2 years of school. 2 years of residency. In reality, it all takes about 5 years.

For the engineers, it's a little different than you might think. If you are looking to do engineering, you'll want to check out some of the larger companies who do R&D. (Ossur, Otto Bock, Seattle Systems/Truelife...just to name a few.) Many of these big companies have moved their engineering to other countries (Iceland and Germany) but Seattle Systems is obviously in Seattle and Ohio Willow Wood, a big CAD-CAM player, is obviously in Ohio. Townsend Design is in California. Google 'em.

All facilities are different. Some use the latest technology out there, some don't. Some allow you creativity, and "inventor's license" and some don't. There are as many types of practices out there, as there are people who think their way would be better.

Don't despair. It's a very rewarding field and worth the time and effort.

Hi. I am a certified Prosthetist/orthotist (CPO) in Worcester interested in your request. Presently managing an office in which I am looking at our future expansion.Would like to know about you and your plans. Let's discuss.

quote:

Originally posted by sbprosth:
I am also fascinated by prosthetics and am currently applying to programs to become a certified practitioner. I have found it more difficult to break into the field than I had anticipated though. To get into a program you need experience in the field but there are very few opportunities to learn and work with a prosthetic company without the proper education experience and certification.
I am always looking for opportunities in the Boston area to help me get closer to my goal of someday becoming a practitioner. if you have any suggestions or opportunities, I would appreciate your response.

Hello.

I am a senior in high-school looking to study Mechanical Engineering in college. I was wondering if anyone has any advice as to what I should study or become involved in to persue a career in prosthetic design. Honestly, most of the information i've found online or in magazines does more to showcase the technologies rather than illustrate the profession. I plan to try and find an internship or volunteer over the summer somwhere involved in this field, but I don't know where to look.

If anyone has any advice, guidelines, or something of this nature that you think would be helpful to someone my age, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Thanks

Also check out the website http://www.opcareers.org for career information.

For neural work, look into Duke. Look for Duke neurobiologist Miguel Nicolelis, colleague John Chapin at Duke's Center for Neuroengineering. The researchers published their findings in the May 11, 2005, issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. Lead author on the paper was Mikhail Lebedev in Nicolelis's laboratory. Other coauthors were Jose Carmena, Joseph O'Doherty, Miriam Zacksenhouse, Craig Henriquez and Jose Principe. See http://www.dukemednews.org/news/article.php?id=9413
Jose Carmena is very generous with his time. He spoke to a meeting of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society about this research in 2005.

Since you live in Boston, you should check out the Newington Certificate Program in Prosthetics, located in Hartford CT. I went to school there and thought it was great. It's a post bachelor program, so you need to have a bachelor degree to even apply. Plus you need to have completed the prerequired classes (i.e. anatomy, physics, biology, etc.). I didn't have a lot of actual prosthetic work experience either when I began my schooling (just a few months of volunteering). They will accept people who haven't had a lot of experience because they know that you will learn when you get to school. In addition to the class room, they require you complete an internship (which they will help you set up) for 2 full semesters. Don't let your lack of experience prevent you from applying. I too remember having a really hard time trying to get in an O&P shop for some experience, prior to school. I was glad Newington was willing to give me a chance.
But if you can get in somewhere for at least a little experience, even on a volunteer basis, it will help you in the long run.
Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by sbprosth:
I am also fascinated by prosthetics and am currently applying to programs to become a certified practitioner. I have found it more difficult to break into the field than I had anticipated though. To get into a program you need experience in the field but there are very few opportunities to learn and work with a prosthetic company without the proper education experience and certification.
I am always looking for opportunities in the Boston area to help me get closer to my goal of someday becoming a practitioner. if you have any suggestions or opportunities, I would appreciate your response.

When I had my leg amputated below the knee 2 years ago I Was interduced to my prosthetist. Who was going to take care of me and help me. Well he did the opposite. I was told to wear sock after sock after sock. First he wanted to get me up to 17 then he said Lets get to 32!!! Only to learn he did not want to make me anothe socket because he did not want to deal with the Insurance company. I have nerv damage because of all the socks I could not shrink properly. I chabged Prosthetist and what a major difference. I was told that a amputee should never go over 7 pr 8 socks tops! Because I had to wear all those socks I can not have a tight fitting socket. My nerved are still damaged. Ant amputee out there make sure he or she is good and knows what they are doing. And dose not care about the insurance, This person was in business for himself. Not with a major company. I now gor to Hanger. ANd I am getting the help I need. Iam about 1 year behind because of all the socks the first person made me wear. Tahnks!

I, too, am a senior in high school looking into a college education in mechanical engineering. When I graduate from that I am hoping to go into the NUPOC program in Illinois.

I have been interested in P&O ever since I had a scoliosis brace. I have done my research but am still somewhat bewildered at the process of breaking into the feild.

If anyone has any ideas about volunteer oppourtunities around ASU I am very interested to hear.

quote:

Originally posted by esther57:
Also check out the website http://www.opcareers.org for career information.

For neural work, look into Duke. Look for Duke neurobiologist Miguel Nicolelis, colleague John Chapin at Duke's Center for Neuroengineering. The researchers published their findings in the May 11, 2005, issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. Lead author on the paper was Mikhail Lebedev in Nicolelis's laboratory. Other coauthors were Jose Carmena, Joseph O'Doherty, Miriam Zacksenhouse, Craig Henriquez and Jose Principe. See http://www.dukemednews.org/news/article.php?id=9413
Jose Carmena is very generous with his time. He spoke to a meeting of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society about this research in 2005.

Thank you for the information. I have tried getting in touch with Dr. Nicolelis about a year ago, but he seems to be too busy (no response). I have been a member of IEEE EMBS for just over a year as well...Since Dr. Carmena is generous with his time I will try getting in touch with him.

Wow I just want to say thanks to the people here, I've wanted to go into prosthetics for the longest time but have always been in the dark and this has totally opened my eyes and turned on a big light and everything, and it's very encouraging.

I'm 19 and just got into Northwestern for this year, and plan to be going into Mechanical Engineering, and was just wondering if anyone could shed light on what's the best route to take to go into O&P there, and if there are opportunities to involve myself in the field while I'm still getting my bachelor's.

Thank you!

I am going to be a sophomore in high school. I have always been interested in the medical field. This looks like an interesting career and I love the show Rebuilt. Thanks for all the websites/ information.