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New Degree Available Due To Increase in Diabetes
Amputees
posted 05/29/04
A new bachelor’s degree program in orthothics and prosthetics
is being offered in 4 schools.
The courses on devices supporting the spine or extremities and
on artificial limbs often lead to highly paid jobs as baby boomers age.
As baby boomers age, and more diabetes is being diagnosed, the need for
artificial limbs is expected to increase, creating more of a demand for the
degree.
The growing popularity of orthotics, devices that support the spine or weakened
extremities, and prosthetics, which are artificial limbs, have created more
jobs. Demand for artificial limbs is expected to grow as people age and have
amputations due to diabetes, stroke and severe trauma. And the need for
professionals who help people use them will increase exponentially by the year
2020, according to the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education.
The closest O&P baccalaureate program is at the Texas Southwestern Medical
Center. St. Petersburg college is talking with the University of South Florida
and the Shriners Hospital of Tampa to work on creating a master's and Ph.D.
program, so that Tampa Bay can become a center for O&P.
"SPC will offer the four-year degree program, an associate's degree program and
a separate one-year certificate program in O&P for those who have completed
their course work, but only need certification.
During the first-year residency, O&P practitioners earn from $20,000 to $28,000.
With five years' experience, the salary rests between $40,000 and $60,000. After
that, salaries rise to $60,000 or more. Six-figure salaries are not uncommon.
Starting this summer, students will still be able to apply for the program, said
Furlong. Those beginning students won't be able to take core O&P classes until
they finish basic education courses, he said.
Twenty-four students will be accepted for the 2005 school year and 24 more will
be allowed in the second year. A limited number of students will be admitted
into the certificate program.
Source: Diabetes In Control.com.
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