Ukraine O&P refugees
Cheryl Lewis
Description
Collection
Title:
Ukraine O&P refugees
Creator:
Cheryl Lewis
Date:
4/13/2022
Text:
Hello All,
I've been wondering what I could do about Ukraine - we all feel so helpless. I finally realized that maybe there was something.
The mass exodus from the war in Ukraine is made up of many professionals – including orthotic and prosthetic professionals. I came to realize that many of us are short staffed in these highly skilled professionals, my clinic included. I began to ask my municipality and federal government about connecting with professionals – obviously it is very difficult to connect with the Ukrainians right now. They are trying to organize databases and willing to help if a Ukrainian candidate is found.
Further investigation indicates that most of the P&O professionals in Ukraine are more like technicians and may require further schooling in a Category 1 country to be credentialed. I have no doubt there are many very skilled Ukrainian technicians who could solve some of our staffing issues. I myself have 2 techs but I thought I would put it out there – If you want to try and help there are avenues to make it happen. ISPO and other groups can try to connect to refugees seeking a job. We all know how specialized our field is – these folks will need O&P facilities to hire them so they can return to what they are trained to do and they may not know how to make it happen.
Like I said – I just thought I would put it out there. It make take some work but these folks need to work when they get here!
Ukraine Strong.
cheryl
Cheryl Lewis BSc(HK), CO(c)
Certified Orthotist
Owner, CK Ortho Inc
Ph 519-436-9670
I've been wondering what I could do about Ukraine - we all feel so helpless. I finally realized that maybe there was something.
The mass exodus from the war in Ukraine is made up of many professionals – including orthotic and prosthetic professionals. I came to realize that many of us are short staffed in these highly skilled professionals, my clinic included. I began to ask my municipality and federal government about connecting with professionals – obviously it is very difficult to connect with the Ukrainians right now. They are trying to organize databases and willing to help if a Ukrainian candidate is found.
Further investigation indicates that most of the P&O professionals in Ukraine are more like technicians and may require further schooling in a Category 1 country to be credentialed. I have no doubt there are many very skilled Ukrainian technicians who could solve some of our staffing issues. I myself have 2 techs but I thought I would put it out there – If you want to try and help there are avenues to make it happen. ISPO and other groups can try to connect to refugees seeking a job. We all know how specialized our field is – these folks will need O&P facilities to hire them so they can return to what they are trained to do and they may not know how to make it happen.
Like I said – I just thought I would put it out there. It make take some work but these folks need to work when they get here!
Ukraine Strong.
cheryl
Cheryl Lewis BSc(HK), CO(c)
Certified Orthotist
Owner, CK Ortho Inc
Ph 519-436-9670
Citation
Cheryl Lewis, “Ukraine O&P refugees,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed May 7, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/255891.
