Philippine School of Prosthetics and Orthotics: A trailblazer in Philippine healthcare education
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine School of Prosthetics and Orthotics (PSPO), under the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMMCI) College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences, is a pioneer in producing qualified healthcare professionals who cater to the needs of Filipinos relying on assistive devices.
After the UERMMMCI formalized a partnership with the Nippon Foundation and Exceed Worldwide (formerly Cambodia Trust) in October 2010, the PSPO has since been a catalyst for social change by pioneering research and works in the field of Prosthetics and Orthotics (PO) education.
The Nippon Foundation provided the funding, while UERM supplied the logistics, infrastructure and utilities. Thus, establishing the first and only PO school in the country, filling a gaping void in Philippine healthcare and disability care.
The impact of PSPO
After 10 years of providing accessible and affordable PO service, the UERMMMC and the Nippon Foundation held its handover ceremony last July 31.“It was a great honor for UERM to partner with The Nippon Foundation (TNF) in the establishment of the PSPO. We share Nippon’s vision of empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs),” enthuses Dean of the College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences Dr. Raquel Cabazor.
The institution itself is geared toward training, service and research on the fabrication, development, and clinical application of mobility devices for PWDs. Addressing the needs of PWDs in a country that was formerly bereft of accessible and affordable PO service is one of PSPO’s most salient goals.
Notably, they were at the forefront of providing the Z-MORPH service, the benefit package that made lower limb prosthesis more affordable for PWDs. It was launched by former President Benigno Aquino.
PSPO’s education and research
Through the years, the efforts of PSPO graduates have made prosthetics and orthotics services more accessible to different parts of the country. Graduates have cemented themselves as important players in not only the healthcare sector, but also as entrepreneurs, researchers, and educators.
KrishaTansiongco, a graduate of the school and currently stationed at the UERM Hospital, says that because of the small volume of students, teachers are more attentive, which greatly benefitted their education.
Alumnus Julian Cadavillo cited the opportunities that came his way, which he attributed to PSPO’s wide network and the care shown by his professors during his years at the institution.
In 2019, PSPO alumni established the Association of Filipino Prosthetists and Orthotists (AFPO) to frontline national efforts to integrate prosthetists and orthotists as key members of the Philippine healthcare system and to lobby for health policies that will support the development of the profession.
According to PSPO program director Anna Margarita Lugue, the institution is focused on driving forward research focused on addressing concerns related to access, affordability, and appropriate assistive technologies.
PSPO in today’s healthcare space
Since 2015, PSPO has Been considered a major player in PO world congresses, with PSPO students being called to present their works on the international stage.
“Research is really important. We source a lot of the components for the devices from America or Germany, but the Filipino build is different,” explains Dr. Josephine Bundoc. These overseas components generally require modifications to fit Filipino measurements and are more expensive. The priority, then, is to propel research that finds local alternatives that are as durable and safe while being more affordable.
“All research works in PSPO, whether we like it or not, are pioneering works in the field of PO in the Philippines. We take our research seriously. We are lucky to have UERM, Nippon, and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) supporting us in all our research undertakings,” Lugue affirms.
The DOST reached out to the PSPO to be a niche center in PO due to their unique position, shares Bundoc. The NICER Program provides research grants for R&D. The possibility of having student research funded for pilot and viability bodes great things for the future of the field in the Philippines.
One notable student research is the viability of abaca as a possible raw material for components in assistive devices, Bundoc shares.
In 2018, the PSPO was also recognized as a contributor to the education standards published by the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) to guide educational institutions in ensuring proper training of PO students internationally.
According to Lugue, the PSPO was only able to achieve so much in 10 years because they were guided by “a clear vision and commitment to the upliftment of the quality of life of Filipino PWDs.”
Internationally acclaimed and recognized
Living up to their mission of providing equitable, holistic, and quality healthcare, the PSPO continues to spearhead technological advances and remains passionate regarding policies promoting disability rights across the country.
Their Bachelor of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics (BSPO) curriculum remains the only CHED-accredited PO training program in the country and remains as one of the only 20 institutions worldwide recognized by the ISPO as having a clinician level program. The ISPO granted the PSPO a Category 1 level of accreditation, the highest level granted for PO training programs around the world.
“The program was created with a clear understanding that its graduates will be nothing less than trailblazers in the field of healthcare. It is one of the youngest, if not the youngest healthcare profession there is in the country.”
Originally a five-year course, the program underwent meticulous review and was granted national accreditation in 2013. The course itself is “engineering, science, and art all in one,” according to Lugue.
Now a four-year curriculum, the BSPO recently implemented a mix of offline and online courses as a response to the pandemic.
“The professionals we produce will meet a lot of opportunities with very less competition but not without the challenges of a novel profession,” Lugue enthuses.
The BSPO course is currently accepting admissions for the upcoming school year.
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For inquiries, call 8713-3312 to reach the College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences. Contact the Admissions Office at 8254-4119 or email them at [email protected]. Follow UERMOfficial’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube for more updates
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