UERM's Philippine School of Prosthetics and Orthotics inaugurated
MANILA, Philippines - The University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center Inc (UERMMMCI) recently inaugurated the Philippine School of Prosthetics and Orthotics (PSPO) at its campus in Quezon City.
The ceremonial ribbon-cutting was headlined by the guest of honor Viel Aquino-Dee , Tan Yan Kee trustee Shirley Tan Chua, UERMMMCI president Dr. Romeo Divinagracia and UERMMMCI- CAReS dean Dr. Raquel Cabazor. Also present during the inauguration were Wilson Young, UERMMMCI vice-chairman; UERMMMCI board of trustees Ramon Magsaysay, Jr., Jaime Bautista, Corazon Dela Paz-Bernardo, David Chua, Jesus Adelo Inciong, Carmelita Mateo , Cristina Mencias and Ester Garcia; Shuichi Ohno, executive director of Nippon Foundation; Carson Harte, CEO Cambodia Trust; Helen Cochrane, PSPO course director; Pauline Kleintz, WHO Western Pacific Region technical officer on disability; Dan Blocka, former president, ISPO; Dr. John Fisk, Cambodia trustee; Virginia Montilla, administrator of Tahanang Walang Hagdan; Jose Pepito Manio, Director KAMPI- BBCY; Rizal Morales, Head DOTC Task Force on Accessibility; Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., president Vicente and Juanita Hao Chin Chua Foundation; Fr. Arnold Abelardo, volunteer & advocate Persons with Disabilities; Lauro Purcil, Philippine Representative to the UN Commission on Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Rizalio Sanchez, National Council on Disability Affairs; Rob Lane, president Physicians for Peace and Architect Jaime Silva from United architects of the Philippines. Now, students can enroll and be part of PSPO’s programs and be catalysts of hope for the 4.5 million persons with disability (PWDs) in the Philippines.
PSPO is part of an international network with Cambodia Trust and Nippon Foundation as partners. These institutions’ main goal is to empower PWDs in every aspect of their lives—especially those who are poor, unemployed or those who do not have any access to mobility devices. Cambodia Trust and Nippon Foundation found UERM’s physical therapy and rehabilitation program to be of perfect fit and best matched their vision and philosophy. A $7 million grant for UERM’s PSPO curriculum, spread over 10 years through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), was signed in October 2010.
PSPO, which is under the UERMMMCI College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences, is currently accepting applications for the Bachelor of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics degree.
“Students would appreciate to know that our curriculum is based on and recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) standards,” Dr. Raquel Cabazor, dean of the College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences, UERM, said.
The degree program includes rigid and intensive practice and hands-on training on prosthetics and orthotics with subjects including anatomy and physiology, technical engineering, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and to name a few. Students will be mentored by an international faculty composed of experts in prosthetics/orthotics education from Canada, Japan, Sri Lanka and Cambodia. Some of PSPO’s future local faculties are now abroad for hands-on training and skills acquisition specific to this transfer of technology. The program will pave the way for more expertly trained professionals who will provide low cost, high quality and functional prosthetics and orthotics services in hospitals and healthcare facilities. The PSPO also plans to explore the various applications of local and indigenous materials in the development of mobility devices that are more affordable and readily available.
UERM-PSPO is housed in the newly-constructed Tan Yan Kee building that was designed for easier access and mobility of PWDs. Ramps, special elevators, extra wide door frames and accessible restrooms have been incorporated in the overall lay-out of the four-storey structure to ensure convenience and efficiency among the staff, patients and students. Classrooms for specific expertise such as Assessment, Casting, Workshop and Rectification are strategically located in the said building.
Inquiries for the school year 2012-2013 are welcome at tel nos. 713-3312; 715-0861 (local 291) and 516-1901. For more information about UERM-PSPO, visit their website www.uerm.edu.ph.
