More Information
History
The George Brown College Prosthetic & Orthotic programs has supplied personnel for the Prosthetic and Orthotic profession for over thirty years. It has the only full-time technical training program in Canada and one of three in North America. Throughout the seventies the program had an optional third year that was clinically based. After the inception of the two year Clinical Methods in Orthotics and Prosthetcs program in 1979, the optional third year was discontinued.
The first class was selected in the Spring of 1970 and the Prosthetic-Orthotic Technician Program began the following September. At that time, the program was based out of the Casa Loma Campus at George Brown College. Due to the lack of available space at the Casa Loma Campus and the lack of proximity to a patient care facility, both of the College's Prosthetic & Orthotic programs moved to West Park Hospital (Weston) in the summer of 1981. In the summer of 1995 the programs moved to the Sunnybrook Health Science Centre and are currently located in the Sunnybrook Centre for Independent Living (SCIL). Over 8,000 square feet of space was renovated and allocated solely for the programs use. The programs are now located in one of the best facilities for Prosthetic & Orthotic education in the world.
The George Brown College Prosthetic-Orthotic Technician Program is the only technical training program in Prosthetics and Orthotics in Canada. It is a two year diploma program which accepts twenty-five students each year. All students entering the program have at least the equivalent of an Ontario High School Graduation Diploma. Many also have varying degrees of work related experience or have completed a previous University or College program.
The Clinical Methods in Orthotics and Prosthetics Program evolved out of the current two year Prosthetic-Orthotic Technician Program. Due to the natural progression of the profession and the demand for higher skilled clinical professionals, a strong movement formed to initiate a new program solely dedicated to the development of clinical skills necessary to enter the Prosthetic and Orthotic profession. In the late 1970's, the following group of individuals were instrumental in the creation of the program:
- Dr. Geoff Fernie, Ph.D., P.Eng.,
- Karl Ruder, C.P.O., F.C.B.C.,
- Jack Bradbury, C.P.O., F.C.B.C.
- Dieter Bochmann, C.P.O., F.C.B.C,
- Guy Martel, C.P.O., F.C.B.C.
The program's first class was selected in the Spring of 1979 and the program began the following September. The program's first two years were based out of the Casa Loma Campus at George Brown College with clinical sites at West Park Hospital, and the Ontario Crippled Children Centre (now the Bloorview MacMillan Rehabilitation Centre) in the Toronto region, and Chedoke-McMaster Hospitals in Hamilton.
Faculty
Full-time Faculty:
- Gord Ruder, B.Sc., M.Sc., C.O.(c) - Coordinator
- Dan Blocka, B.Sc., C.O. (c), F.C.B.C.
Part-time Faculty:
- Carla Michelin-Clarke, B.Sc., R.T.O.(c), C.O.(c)
- Michael Lue-Kim, B.Sc., R.T.P.O.(c)
- Leann McMunn, R.T.P.O.(c)
- Jennifer Wright, C.P.(c)
- Dave Ritchie, C. Ped. Tech. (c)
- Kyla Lau, B.Sc., R.T.P.(c)
- Emily Enright, B.Sc., R.T.O.(c)
- Amy Richardson, B.Sc.
- Jesse Soriano
Administrative Assistant:
Clinical Program Faculty
Head Clinical Instructors:
- R. J. Clements, B.Sc., C.P.(c) - Sunnybrook Centre for Independent Living
- Ken Roczniak, C.P.O.(c) - West Park Health Care Centre
- Laurie Vanderhaeghe, B.Sc., C.O. (c) - Chedoke Rehabilitation Centre
- Sharon Carr, B.Sc., C.O.(c) - Chedoke Rehabilitation Centre
- Dan Mead, B.Sc., C.P.(c) - Chedoke Rehabilitation Centre
- Shane Glasford, C.P.(c) - Bloorview Kids Rehab
Part-time Instructors and Other Lecturers:
Sunnybrook Centre for Independent Living:
- Winfried Heim, M.Sc., C.P.(c)
- Karen Fairley - Physiotherapist
Chedoke Rehabilitation Centre:
- Don Weber, B.Sc., C.O.(c), F.C.B.C.
- Larry Anweiler, C.O.(c)
- Brad Hardeeng, C.O.(c)
- Alex Moote, R.T.O.
- Mike Hall,C.O.(c)
- Pat Reilly, B.Sc., C.P.(c)
The Hospital for Sick Children
- Samantha Lam-Bellissimo, M.Sc., C.O.(c)
- Kathleen Orsi, B.Sc., C.O.(c)
Freedom Prosthetics
- Brad VanLenthe, B.Sc., C.P.(c)
West Park Health Care Centre
OrthoProActive Consultants
- Krista Holdsworth, B.Sc., C.O.(c)
Grand Rounds
The Prosthetic & Orthotic Programs since 1979 have required students to present various topics in a more formalized setting to try to enhance their presentation skills and to encourage them to continue this activity into their professional lives. These sessions normally take place on the evening of the first Tuesday of every month. They occur in either the McLaughlin Educational Centre Lecture Theatre or in Harrison Hall. Both these venues are located in the Sunnybrook Health Science Centre. We welcome anyone interested to please attend the sessions.
THE DATES FOR THE GRANDS SESSIONS THIS ACADEMIC YEAR ARE AS FOLLOWS:
- October 4
- November 1
- December 6
- January 17
- February 7
- March 15 (Thursday)
- April 3
- May 1
Most presentations will be available via the Sunnybrook Mediasite Upcoming Events page
Application Information
Application is made through the Ontario College's Application Service (OCAS). APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 1st of the year applied. An application for the program can be obtained by either contacting the Prosthetic & Orthotic Program's Faculty Office at Sunnybrook, the George Brown College Enquiry Centre, or OCAS directly. Telephone numbers and addresses are listed below. Applications can also be submitted on-line via OCAS's web page. The URL to submt an application via the internet is at the Ontario Colleges website
Applications are processed by OCAS and the candidate names and related information are passed on to the George Brown College Admissions Department.
For the Clinical Methods Program, the Admissions Department checks if the candidate meets the academic requirements to apply to the program. The program then receives all names of those who have applied and then arranges the admissions test for those who have met the academic requirements.
For the Technicians Program, Those who are deemed academically acceptable by the College Admissions Department will be scheduled by our faculty office, for testing at the Sunnybrook Center for Independent Living. This testing will involve interviews & manual dexterity testing
Those who apply should submit the appropriate documentation supporting your application to the Prosthetic & Orthotic Faculty Office at Sunnybrook. This would normally include a resume, letters of reference, confirmation of any related work experience, and any other pertinent data that can be used during the evaluative process. In addition to sending your academic transcripts to the application centre (OCAS), you must send a copy to the Faculty Office at Sunnybrook. Please check the detailed application process information for each program by going to either the Clinical Program or Technical Program. This information should be received by the Faculty Office in an appropriate time period before the final stage of each program's selection process.
Recommendations
Before applying, potential candidates of the program can contact the Prosthetic and Orthotic office, to visit the school and talk with faculty and students. While you are at the school you can also browse through our newly developed multi-media presentations on both of the programs.
Due to the specialization and unique characteristics of this profession, it is recommended that those who wish to enter this profession and program, visit rehabilitation and orthotic and prosthetic facilities to see the types of devices made and the special skills required to fabricate and fit them.
Volunteering in a facility will enable you to learn and experience first hand more about this profession, and what it involves, and would soon tell you if you are suited to and will enjoy this type of work.
Application Information:
Prosthetic & Orthotic Faculty Office,
c/o SCIL, 2075 Bayview Ave.,
Toronto, Ont. CANADA, M4N 3M5
Tel: 416-480-5783
Fax: 416-480-5975
Ontario College Application Services,
60 Corporate Court,
Guelph, ON, N1G 5J3
Tel: 519-763-4725 OR 888-892-2228
Fax: 519-763-4866
E-mail: customercontact@ontariocolleges.ca
Enquiry Centre,
George Brown College,
P.O. Box 1015, Station B,
Toronto, ON, M5T 2T9
Tel: 416-415-2000 OR 800-265-2002
Fax: 416-415-4993
Testing Information
This page will be used to inform applicants of both of our programs of scheduled dates and times for admissions testing, interviews, and manual dexterity testing. During the selection process we encourage all applicants to check this page for information updates.
NOTE: All applicants with an e-mail address; please forward you e-mail address to: email_action("prostheticsorthotics"); prostheticsorthotics@georgebrown.ca
This will help facilitate better communication between our office and the applicants to the program
Clinical Program Selection Process
The importants dates for the 2012 process are as follows:
Application deadline: February 1, 2012
Admissions Test: Saturday March 10, 2012
9:00 am in McLaughlin Lecture Theatre EG61 OR Harrison Hall EG21)
Clinical Application Package due: Tuesday March 20, 2012
Interview Date: Saturday March 31, 2012
Please go to the Clinical Program Selection Process for details on the process.
Technical Program Interviews & Manual Dexterity Testing
2011 Application Process
Application deadline: February 1, 2012
THE INITIAL PROGRAM TESTING DATES ARE:
Saturday March 24 & Saturday April 21st
Admissions Testing process is to be completed by the end of May
The interview, manual dexterity testing & program written test will take place at the Sunnybrook Health Science Centre.
Links and Resources
Contact Us
Mailing Address:
Prosthetic & Orthotic Programs,
c/o SCIL, 2075 Bayview Ave.
Toronto, ON. M4N 3M5
Phone: 416-480-5783
Fax: 416-480-5975
Email: email_action("prostheticsorthotics"); prostheticsorthotics@georgebrown.ca
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