Complex Rehab ‘Takes Next Step' with New Program

Published in Complex Rehab on September 14, 2020

HME News reported that more than anything, the University of Pittsburgh’s new Master of Rehabilitation Technology program will help to raise awareness among young professionals that specializing in assistive technology is a valid profession, says Mark Schmeler. 

So far, the department has received MRT applications from 10 students, mostly with engineering or pre-health science degrees, with a goal of up to 20 for the first year of the program. 

"There’s a lot of potential workforce talent out there that we haven’t tapped in to," said Schmeler, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, an associate professor and vice chairman for education and training the Department of Rehabilitation Science & Technology at UPitt. "Kids coming out of college don’t know what they want to be when they grow up and the only thing they’ve seen is about PTs, OTs, PAs or medical school. We needed to find a way to let them know what a great opportunity the field of AT is."

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