get involved and get the facts

get involved and get the facts

4/18/2001

Hello to All,

Terry I hope you don't mind I borrowed your phrase...I liked it :)

I wanted to change the name of this submission because it has to do with the
educational programs, but with a different twist.

Awhile back I was speaking to the dept head of one of the P & O
programs...we were talking about the reduced number of applicants to the
colleges for health care professions across the board...O&P, other allied
health fields, medical schools...everyone.

This educator asked me if I would throw some of my thoughts out on the web
for discussion...so here I go...

1) Grassroots efforts...we as individual pracs have a responsibility to
get involved...on whatever level works for each of us individually. No, we
cannot all afford to put in residency programs, but we can do something!
For example speak at a local college, in a career survey class for Freshman,
to create awareness about O&P. Talk to civic groups, Boy Scouts,...

2) I have to admit that I am concerned about apathy in our educators. For
example...I am currently reviewing abstract submissions for the AOPA
National Assembly in Arizona later this year...I (so far) have not reviewed
a single submission from a P & O educator on this subject. Why not? If I
was an educator I would use every opportunity to speak publicly about the
dire straits of the colleges.

I am very interested in hearing from you out there on this topic. We as a
profession have to realize that we have to help ourselves...take action...no
matter how small...every effort is significant.

Best regards,

Lisa Schoonmaker, CPO