Careers and Scholarship

Tens of thousands of dollars in Scholarships have been awarded!

Beginning nearly ten years ago, the Pedorthic Foundation expanded its activities into assisting persons seeking pedorthic careers. The primary activity has been in the area of providing scholarship assistance to people committed to becoming credentialed pedorthists. There are presently three "named" scholarship funds, set up to honor of individuals who helped to shape the field of pedorthics. Scholarships are also awarded from the general fund. During its first decade of providing education assistance, the Foundation has awarded tens of thousands of dollars.I

n 1999, the Pedorthic Foundation established a scholarship program and began awarding financial assistance for the study of pedorthics. The first scholarships were set up by individuals who wanted to recognize key people in the profession. With the support of hundreds of individuals and companies, tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships have been and continue to be awarded.

Aristotle Mirones Memorial Scholarship Fund

The late Aristotle Mirones was a well known and respected pioneer in the field of pedorthics. He founded ARIMED Orthotics Prosthetics Pedorthics, a multiple-location company headquartered in New York City, and his two sons followed him into the practice. Following his death in July 1998, the Pedorthic Foundation established an educational fund in his name, at the request of the Mirones family, to help defray the cost of education to aspiring pedorthists. In addition to providing the initial funding, the Mirones family has made subsequent donations to the fund, which also accepts donations from other contributors. The Foundation continues to solicit contributions for this fund. To donate click on the Donate button

Sidney Pols Memorial Scholarship Fund

The late Sidney Pols was an admired pioneer in the pedorthic field who invented or developed a variety of techniques and devices that advanced the practice of pedorthics. He counseled people coming into the industry, as well as guiding many of its leaders. Following his death in 2000, P. W. Minor & Son led a fund-raising effort to establish a memorial fund in his honor. Numerous individuals and companies have since contributed and the fund continues to seek additional donations. The fund provides scholarships that underwrite pedorthic education. To donate click on the Donate button.

Dennis Janisse Scholarship

Dennis Janisse is one of the most respected teachers in the field of pedorthics, and his presentations and generous friendships have inspired scores of individuals to study pedorthics. In his honor, Robert Schwartz, C.Ped., established a five-year Dennis Janisse Scholarship in 1999, in recognition of Janisse's work as a prime mover in the publication of the first pedorthic textbook and other outstanding contributions to the pedorthic profession. After the initial five years, Dennis Janisse himself has continued to sponsor the scholarship, which enables one student per year to undertake an education in pedorthics.

In addition to the three scholarship funds listed above, the Pedorthic Foundation also at times awards scholarships from its General Fund. Scholarships are provided for students who take a NCOPE approved pre-certification courses (see list below).

Scholarships for 2012

The Pedorthic Foundation will be providing a limited number of scholarship grants in the fall of 2012. These will be both cash scholarships and tuition-free, or reduced fee entry, to specific educational programs.

If you are interested in applying, please complete and submit the following application form. After it is received and reviewed, a representative from the Pedorthic Foundation will contact you with additional information (including award dates).

Requirements and Application

To access, or print, the application form, please click here. Application requirements are detailed on the form. If you have specific questions regarding the Pedorthic Foundation's scholarship program, please contact info@pedorthicfoundation.org or call 866-921-8645 ext. 101.

All scholarship payments are made directly to the school upon receipt of a copy of course application completed by the student.Foundation scholarship applications are reviewed by a committee that makes it decisions based on information provided by applicants regarding their interests, experience, and financial situation, but financial need is not the sole factor..

Pedorthic Education

In the last twenty years, while the pedorthic profession has grown into a key member of the health care team, so have the number of schools that offer pedorthic education. Most students that participate in these educational programs do so in the pursuit of their pedorthic certification. Students are required to take a specific amount of education before an aspiring pedorthist is qualified to take the certification examinations. See certification requirements below. Below is a list of schools that offer pedorthic courses that are approved by the National Commission on Orthotic & Prosthetic Education (NCOPE). For course dates, admission requirements and other information, please contact the schools directly. The below list is from the NCOPE website on May 9, 2012.

NCOPE Approved Pedorthic Courses – As of 2/23/09

Dr. Wm Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine / Rosalind Franklin University
Contact: Ellie Wydeven
3333 Green Bay Rd
North Chicago, IL 60064-3095
Phone: 847-578-8410
Fax: 847-775-6521
E-mail:
www.RosalindFranklin.edu

Eneslow Pedorthic Institute's Pedorthic Pre-Certification Course
Contact: Sarah Goldberg, C.Ped
Educational Coordinator
470 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-477-2300 ext. 211
E-mail:
www.eneslow.com

Foot Solutions Pedorthic Pre-Certification Course
Pedorthic Training Center
2359 Windy Hill Rd., Suite 400
Marietta, GA 30067
Phone: 866-338-2597
E-mail:

International School of Pedorthics
P.O. Box 2748
Broken Arrow OK 74013
Phone: 702 449 0974
E-mail:

Northwestern University Prosthetic Orthotic Center
680 North Lake Shore Drive
Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-503-5700
E-mail: Desmond Masterton C.O., C.Ped.

Pro-Learn, L.L.C.
6604 Suite A, Skyline Drive
Tulsa, OK 74107
Phone: 918/606-2861
Fax: 918/446-8243
E-mail:
www.pro-learn.com

Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
Contact: Kendrick Whitney, DPM
Main Contact: Carol Romano
8th at Race Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-625-5352
podiatry.temple.edu

The Robert M. Palmer, MD
Institute of Biomechanics Inc.
Contact: Pam Haig, C. Ped.
1601 Main Street
Elwood, IN 46036
Phone: 765-557-7216
Fax: 765-557-7223
E-mail: and
www.rmpi.org

Certification Requirements

To become a certified pedorthist, you must take a pre-determined number of course hours in pedorthics and pass a certifying examination overseen by either The American Board of Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC), or Board of Orthosis/Prosthesis Certification, International (BOC). Both the ABC and BOC are independent certification bodies that are recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and set standards for the profession. For more information, including FAQ's:

The American Board for Certification in Orhothics, Prosthetics and Pedorthics (ABC), www.abcop.org
Board of Certification/Accreditation International(BOC), www.bocusa.org

For information on certification in Canada, go to the Pedorthic Association of Canada (PAC), www.pedorthic.ca