Snow Storm of the Millennium!

BCIT class of 2008 just got back from our, originally, two day course with Ohio Willow wood.

Our stay was extended by the Snow Storm and we had two-and-a-half extra days to explore Columbus. Because we had a "Team Master" other wise known as a Teacher with us we covered some course material and now get an Extra Week Off of School!



We also made it to the Columbus vs. Tampa Bay Hockey Game, Lots of Fun!

Thank you to Ohio Willow wood, Des and Lorn!

Good Luck to the class to have Research work done over our time off!

Happy Spring Break and Easter!

These are the Daves I know

Anyone in the P + O field will know that there tend to be a lot of certifees named Dave. At BCIT we have a few teachers named Dave and I thought this Kids in the Hall song was appropriate.



I find James/Jamies are quite popular also; however, I don't know a song that fits this well.

School is off to a fast start, we are currently immersed in Upper Extremity Orhtotics as well as getting to work on our Research Projects.

Last Days of the Work Term...

Well our four week work terms are coming to an end. Its exciting/scary to think the next time we spend that much time in a clinic it will be for our internships. I can't speak for everyone but I found this past four weeks taught me REDICULOUS amounts. With a year and a half under our belts, we had so much more knowledge going into our placements that we were able to take more out of the experience.

There were only two of us in Vancouver this month but everyone else will be returning on Sunday (Superbowl Sunday that is) and then its back to class on Monday. David Gans will be teaching us upper extremity orthotics for the whole week and he has already warned us to "be prepared!!". Monday we also have our proposals due for our end of the year projects. This last semester is shaping up to be a crazy one.

This was a picture of us in San Fran last year, we all look forward to the trip later this semester to a course put on by Ohio Willow Wood. I can only imagine the awesome memories that we will make.....CAN'T WAIT!
Talk to you all soon.

Ortopediske hjelpemidler a.k.a What we will be some day... Certifees

Hallo from Norway!

Well it is January 2008, and we are the class of 2008 so that means that we are on the Home Stretch.
The 11 of us are spread out across Canada and Europe (London, Eng and Trondheim, No) and everyone is doing well.

This past weekend I was traveling around Norway and went to Bergen, the home of G. H. Armauer Hansen. In 1873 he isolated the bacteria that caused Leprosy and it was the first bacteria found to cause disease in man... But I couldn't go into the old Leprosy Hospital, which maybe was a good thing... Don't laugh I was disapointed!


More Updates to Come!

Ha Det Bra! (Goodbye!)

The Final Countdown with Eleven Poppers Popping

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Well you might think of that as is a weird title (check the video I've attached) but I think that's what bests describes how we are feeling today. Today is our last day of exams of this term before we head to our respective homes for Christmas. The Final Countdown has been somewhat of our theme song in class the past little while, as the final countdown to this term. And as the twelve days of Christmas are upon us, the eleven of us are popping with excitement that we get to spend the next while with our families and loved ones. Popping with relief that this term is finally over with only one term to go. And finally, popping with nervousness in that today we are about to take part in a practical exam that is to somewhat mock what we might encounter in our Certification exams in 2 1/2 years, and convey to our examiners everything we have learned in the past few months. I'm thinking, if I'm this nervous for this little exam that is worth 10% of our Prosthetics grade, how nervous am I going to be at the Certification exams when it's worth my future?

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However, this term has been great, for that a special thanks has to go out to Jamie Little and Dave Moe, who have been teaching us Trans-Femoral Prosthetics this past term and have done a great job, Jason who is our fearless leader and of course Desmond Cook who has been leading us in the lab right from day one and has taught us all so much. Yes even me Dez. Everyone has done a fabulous job with all of the clinical projects. I think everything we have learned the past year and a half is all coming together very well, and with one term to go and still so much more to learn i think anyone who is lucky enough to employ any of us, after we have graduated, will be glad they did.



I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and I hope that the New Year brings you Health and Happyness.

We recently had the privelage of meeting with Arnie Pentland, the founder of O&P in Canada.  It was interesting to hear the stories that shaped our profession in the early days.  This put into perspective what we are studying and how it affects people today and years later too.  This is a recent class picture with Mr. Pentland.

On another note, we start final exams in two weeks from today.  Yes, this snuck up on us faster than previous semesters it seems.  The semester has been fun though; we have seen a good cross-section of KAFO and transfemoral patients.  We are also gearing up for our January practicum, where our class is going to spread out across Canada and overseas.  Look for new and exciting posts in the New Year with our stories from practicum placements.

19 Days of Stress Left!!!

I can't believe how fast this semester has flown by.  I seem to remember people saying last year that second year was way easier than the first...well I have yet to see it.  We seem to have way more assignments this year with at least 2 things due every single week and the so-called "midterms" have seemed to be going on for the entire semester we still have 1 or 2 more and then finals start the following week.  

But enough with the complaining, we have been doing so really fun stuff this semester, the transfemoral fittings have been going surprisingly well for most of us...well surprising to our teachers but we all know we have skills!!  Kidding, but the biggest challenge has just arrived with our CAD-CAM fittings, which we just got back from central fab and found that the majority of the sockets look nothing like our patients limb.  

Besides class we have had a few exciting things going on outside of class, tomorrow a group of us will be attending the CFL western final...to cheer on the Riders, of course!!!   Go Riders!!

I would also, like to use this forum to thank the entire class on behalf of Duane, Lisa and myself who have recently received achievement awards for last year.  Our entire class is extremely bright and we work as such a great team helping each other out where we need it.  I would love it if we could all receive awards...but sorry guys although I love you and am grateful for all your help  I am not willing to give up any of my award.  Seriously though, thank you guys!!

Sorry, no pictures this time.  I will try to get some over the next few weeks.