By Da’ Ron Frost
Opinion Editor
The Orthotics and Prosthetics (O&P) Department at Cal State Dominguez Hills has named Mark Muller department chairman.
O&P is the evaluation, fabrication and custom fitting of artificial limbs and orthopedic braces.
Muller replaces Scott Hornbeak, who had chaired the department since 1994, and remains on the faculty as a senior member.
“The O&P program at CSUDH has steadily grown over the past 22 years and continues to be a major influence in O&P education, with approximately one out of every 13 U.S. practitioners being a CSUDH alumni,” Muller said to Dateline Dominguez. “We plan to continue Scott [Hornbeak]’s dreams as we expand the program into new areas and new technologies.”
In 2006, Muller joined CSUDH and began working on new curricula in areas known as “gait and biomechanics”, as well as upgraded coursework.
Before joining CSUDH, Muller worked in private practice and taught at Northwestern University outside of Chicago.
Muller, who has more than 15 years of experience, is a former president of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists and, according to the college, has lectured nationwide.
He earned a certificate in prosthetics and orthotics from Northwestern, his master’s in instructional technology from Cal State Fullerton and his bachelor’s from New York’s Stony Brook University in material science and engineering.
Muller also specializes in media education and instructional design. In 2014, he won an Outstanding Educator award from American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetics.
The CSUDH O&P Department provides students with unique “hands-on” learning opportunities. A key feature of the program is a chance for faculty and students to rotate through and work with injured veterans at an on-site facility at the Veterans Affairs hospital in nearby Long Beach.
The program is almost entirely conducted in Los Alamitos in a 12,000-square-foot O&P Education Center containing classrooms and several laboratory spaces. The majority of the courses are offered in that facility, or at the center in Long Beach.
The CSUDH O&P Department has a three-year plan. The goals include implementing an assistant-level curriculum, a post professional master’s program, increasing clinical research and improving manufacturing.
