East Tennessee State University (ETSU) celebrated the launch of its Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics Program (MSOP) on June 25, the first of its kind in Tennessee and one of 15 programs nationwide.
“Since I joined the university in 2023, I have been counting down the days to this moment,” said Kyle Leister,PhD, CPO, ETSU’s O&P program director. “This is an exciting moment not just for ETSU, but for the entire state. There is a growing demand for certified orthotists and prosthetists nationally, and we are eager to do our part in training the next generation of practitioners.”
The MSOP at ETSU is a two-year advanced degree that will offer a unique and comprehensive curriculum to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and techniques necessary to excel in the field of O&P. The program will emphasize interprofessional collaboration and teamwork with other healthcare disciplines to enhance patient outcomes.
Applications for the first cohort, which will begin in January 2025, are open until September 1.
June 25 also marked a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Karl Fillauer Learning Center in Charles Ed Allen Hall (Building 2) on the campus of the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, where ETSU students will learn to use state-of-the-art equipment to craft custom O&P devices.
The center is named for Karl Fillauer, former board chairman of Fillauer, Tennessee.
“The field of orthotics and prosthetics has been my life’s work, and it is a great honor to be part of the launch of the new orthotics and prosthetics program at East Tennessee State University,” Karl Fillauer said. “I hope this new program and state-of-the-art facility will inspire students to innovate and develop even more ways to empower those in the limb loss and limb difference community.”
“As the CEO of Fillauer and a proud member of our family-founded company, we are so grateful to East Tennessee State University for recognizing my father and his invaluable contributions to the industry by naming the learning center in his honor,” said Michael Fillauer, CPO/L, CEO.
