“From Denmark to Sweden for the unique programme Prosthetics and Orthotics”

Lasse B. Westendorp is currently studying his fourth semester at Prosthetics and Orthotics. First, he started an educational programme in Sports science in Denmark but decided to challenge himself and move to Sweden to study for what he really wants to work with – helping patients in need of prosthetics and orthotics.

When it comes to picking a university, the choice was easy, since the School of Health and Welfare at Jönköping University is the only place in Scandinavia offering a three-year programme in Prosthetics and Orthotics.

“For me as an international student, even if I’m only from Denmark, I really feel like Jönköping is a student-oriented city. It is easy to connect with people when you live in a student accommodation and come from a different country, says Lasse”

The programme is a mixture of theory and practice. It’s never far between what is taught in the lectures and putting it to use in practice in the student clinics located at the school.

"Our program really uses theory to understand the craftsmanship of the field. It’s fascinating that we already in school get to test the whole treatment process with actual patients. From assessments of their needs, to making the prosthesis or orthosis - and then seeing them again to follow up, test, and modify the device until it is fits perfectly. This procedure is just the same as in the professional life" says Lasse.

Besides the studies, Lasse has been involved in a study-social organisation at the School of Health and Welfare, called Cellskapet. They are involved in planning and carrying out different events such as the Kick Off week for students.

“I joined to get to know more people and learn more Swedish, but it became so much more. As a student it is quite easy to isolate oneself and therefore my tip to prospective students is to get involved. The more you give, the more you get back. To be involved in planning the Kick Off week and then see how well everything turned out is my best moments so far during my study time, and I still have about half of it left," says Lasse.