Issue 158 Item 13 New Degree Available Due To Increase in Diabetes Amputees

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.

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FACT: For all ages, 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, but at age 45 and older almost all people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Ann Intern Med. 2004; 140:211-219.