So I know I want to work with prosthetics, no question about it.
I was dead set on doing biomedical engineering and concentrating in prosthetics. But now I discovered prosthetists.
What’s the difference? Which would I be better doing?
Also, if I don’t get a bachelor’s degree in O&P, then what would be a good one in order to get a master’s in an O&P program?
Also, which has better career prospects?
I’m not the most educated on this topic, but it would seem to me from some quick googling that O&Ps are technicians who work with individual patients to fit them with prosthetics currently available whereas an engineer is someone who is working on developing new/improved prosthetics generally.
Orthotists and prosthetists fit as well as fabricate prostheses specific to individual patients. They also work closely with therapists to train clients in using the prosthesis, as well as donning and doffing the prosthesis. IMO, Orthotists and prosthetists have more human contact than engineers do. I’ve worked with several Orthotists , all of them predict a shortage of trained professionals within the next 5-10 years.