80% of the world’s amputees live in developing countries, and only 2% have access to prosthetic care. 

– World Health Organization

“I can’t study abroad. It won’t fit in my curriculum.” “I want to help people.” “I want hands-on experience.” These are comments often made by undergraduate biomedical engineering students at CSU. The undergraduate program in the School of Biomedical Engineering listened to these students and created a new, hands-on, short-term, study abroad opportunity that focuses on user-centered design and gives students the opportunity to design and test prosthetic technology in a low-resource environment.

The program is partnering with the Range of Motion Project (ROMP), an international, non-profit, mobility organization based in Denver that works to bridge the gap between access and resources available in America to people with amputation in the developing world.

On November 14, 2017, 20 students attended an information session to learn more about the education abroad experience. “Our students want to make the world a better place and ROMP is currently doing that, so it was a perfect fit,” said co-leader, program creator, and BME academic advisor Deb Misuraca. “Our hope is that students will come away from this experience with a stronger base of knowledge and hands-on experiences in prosthetic and orthotic care, a greater sense of purpose, and a stronger connection to the global community.

In May, Misuraca and BME senior design instructor and research scientist Ellen Brennan-Pierce will co-lead an 8-day, study abroad experience with 24 CSU students in Quito, Ecuador to provide prosthetic and orthotic care to people in need. “Our students are incredible and I cannot wait to see what they are capable of,” said Misuraca.

To learn more about ROMP, visit http://rompglobal.org.