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What is YOUR Mission?
By Rob Kistenberg CP, FAAOP  Have you ever really thought about
it? As orthotists and prosthetists, we construct and
create. In addition, we possess something that differentiates us
from architects and engineers--those who fall under the overarching
heading of "builders." We possess a desire to serve the
extraordinary populations who have either lost or were born missing
limbs or who suffer from the broad range of diseases that leave
them in need of an external appliance for support or correction.
Because our "buildings" are designed to heal, we are healthcare
practitioners too.
At some point in our mutual histories, we decided that just
working in healthcare or being a builder alone would not
suffice--we needed to be both. The profession of orthotics and
prosthetics afforded an outlet for that unique combination. We
realized that we could help people recover from their disability
one brace or limb at a time. Perhaps upon this realization you
chose, as your mission in life, to utilize your skills and talents
towards creating devices that would make people's lives better. A
prosthetist/orthotist was born.
" Make your life a mission --not an intermission."
--Arnold Glasgow
A mission, as defined by Merriam-Webster is: "a specific task
with which a person or group is charged." Another definition
depicts the religious aspect of a mission: "a ministry commissioned
by a religious organization to propagate its faith or carry on
humanitarian work." While a mission may refer to a specific task,
("We're on a mission from God." --Elwood Blues from The Blues
Brothers movie), one's calling goes beyond this: "the vocation
or profession in which one customarily engages" or from a spiritual
core: "a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action,
especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence."
Whether you are a prosthetist, orthotist, or both, consider how
and why you became interested in our profession. Was it because you
enjoy the challenge of being charged with the task of solving
people's problems as they relate to orthopedic insufficiencies? Was
there a defining moment when you recognized prosthetics and
orthotics as the occupation for you and you never looked back? Did
you have an influential uncle, aunt, or grandparent who impacted
you as a child? Perhaps it was because you decided at some point
that you were called to help people however you could and making
limbs and braces was a profound way to do so? Amid the harsh
realities of insurance battles for authorizations and payment,
shriveling reimbursements, endless paperwork, and encroaching
competition, it is a good time to reflect upon that initial
motivation or inspiration that brought you to this point.
We are part of a vital network of medical professionals
dedicated to healing, uplifting, and nurturing. We do it because we
genuinely care. We do it because we can. As with the fit of any
device, situations and circumstances change, resulting in necessary
adjustments. Ask yourself if are you continuing to be true to your
mission or calling. Ask yourself, "Is it time for an
adjustment?"
Remember that we can touch the lives of human beings in need in
many different ways. It can be through mission work in war-torn,
landmine-laced countries or by volunteering in developing nations
with limited or no access to services. Your contributions to our
professional organizations further the evolution of our profession,
which in turn reaches out around the globe. Teaching or being a
positive mentor to students creates a legacy of excellence.
Whatever your fingerprint upon our profession may be, your service
is invaluable.
And never forget that something as simple as taking the extra
time to really get to know the persons sitting on your examination
table beyond their diagnoses can change their lives and affect
their perspective on their disability. 
Table Of Contents - November 2003
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