Eric

i am sitting here waiting for Harry Hlavac to cook a roast, so heres my
thoughts:

At 01:03 27/10/98 EST, you wrote:
>1)  What direction should the curriculum take?  (increase content, decrease
>content, broaden focus)

The direction we have taken at LaTrobe is to expose them to all the
theories, facts, ideas and the evidence for each, but most importantly try
and give them the tools to make there own minds up. (we even had a debate
two weeks ago between 4 different camps). I have a paper almost completes
on the teaching philospophy behind what we do - i will send a copy when I
get back to Aus.

Decreasing content is not an option - a more flexible delivery may be the
answer (Harry has filled me in on some of the background to the reasons you
may have asked the questions)

>2)  What should a student know about biomechanics upon graduation?

Based on the reponse from Susan and similar comments I have heard, perhaps
graduates need to know more ..... but its the periennial problem of what do
you drop to fit it in - again maybe the delivery mode being changed can
accomadate it.

>3)  What are the most important facts for a physician to possess in order to
>successfully treat patients with orthoses?

...I'll pass on this one for now (too much jet lag to think about it) - but
I guess the most important skill is knowing the indications for all the
prescription variables.

>4)  Is it beneficial for student to be able to fabricate an orthosis?  Have
>made an orthosis?  Seen one made?

I have always considered that they need to make enough, so that they can
better understand how they work ... BUT I can't work out how many that
should be. At the end of the day, most will send out to labs, so the most
important skills to be learn from making some while a student is how to
adjust the plastic etc, so they can deal with problems.

>5)  Which biomechanical concepts should a student be able to apply to
surgical
>procedures?

Knowing the functional outcome of the procedure.
Useing more conservative modalities instead of surgery (....otherwise stop
whinging about managed care)

>meeting.  For those of you going to the conference, looking forward to seeing
>you there.

See you Friday.


Kind Regards
CP                                        ______
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Craig Payne			email:	[log in to unmask]
Department of Podiatry		phone:	(+61)(3) 9479 5820
School of Human Biosciences	fax:	(+61)(3) 9479 5784
Faculty of Health		home:	(+61)(3) 9470 1685
LaTrobe University		mobile:	(+61)(0419) 103327
Bundoora, Vic 3083
Australia http://www.health.latrobe.edu.au/hs/schools/pod/home
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