Exceed Scholarship Appeal

Urgent call to help us train the next generation of Prosthetist Orthotists in Cambodia

People with disabilities who need Prosthetic and Orthotic (P&O) services depend on the highly trained specialists who deliver life-changing treatments.

P&O services are delivered by Prosthetist-Orthotists (POs) and Prosthetic/Orthotic Technicians (POTs), but there is a global shortage of these professionals. In most lower-income countries, it is estimated that 80-90% of those who need P&O support cannot access services.

Exceed’s internationally-renowned Cambodia School of Prosthetics and Orthotics (CSPO) – now called the Department of P&O at the National Institute of Social Affairs – has trained P&O students from disadvantaged backgrounds in Cambodia and 30 other lower resource countries for many years. Most of these students depend upon scholarships but, in current economic conditions, these essential scholarships are very difficult to find.

This has the potential to make the global shortage of P&O professionals even worse.

That’s why Exceed is launching a global appeal for individuals and organisations to sponsor P&O students from disadvantaged backgrounds to study in Cambodia:

Associate Prosthetist-Orthotist (APO) – a 3-year residential programme costing $12,000 per year ($36,000 in total), covering tuition, travel and all other costs. APOs are clinicians who will each treat up to 10,000 patients over their careers.

Prosthetic/Orthotic Technician (POT) – a 1-year residential course costing $8,000.  POTs are trained to manufacture P&O devices, enabling APOs to focus on clinical practice and maximise the number of patients they can treat.

APOs and POTs are trained to international standards set by the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics and the World Health Organisation. They are a vital element in the physical rehabilitation care pathway, which cannot exist without P&O professionals.

Please help us to train the next generation of P&O professionals by sponsoring a student from a disadvantaged background to train with Exceed. For more information, please contact one of the following people:

 Sisary Kheng, CEO Exceed Worldwide – sisary@exceed-worldwide.org
Thearith Heang, Country Director, Exceed Cambodia – thearith@exceed-worldwide.org
Phearsa Thor, Head of Student Teaching, Exceed Cambodia – phearsa@exceed-worldwide.org

‘LMIC LIMBS’ Report Published

Exceed Research Network member, the University of Southampton has published a final report on the ‘LMIC LIMBS’ project. This multi-partner research programme focused on appropriate digital technologies to improve Prosthetic and Orthotics (P&O) services and increase access to these services in lower resource settings. 

The project was based on the fundamentals of collaboration and co-design, to ensure that it was driven by technology pull, rather than technology push and the research team included academics from the Universities of Southampton and Salford, NHS (UK National Health Service) prosthetic rehabilitation specialists and NGO Exceed Worldwide. 

By working with stakeholders to design and implement the project, LMIC LIMBS ensured that the digital technologies being explored were appropriate, suitable, and sustainable in the context of lower-resource settings. The research was conducted in Cambodia - which has a network of physical rehabilitation centres providing P&O services to the population - and included research capacity building for Exceed Worldwide staff.

View the full report here.

Exceed Worldwide Appoints New Country Director

Thearith Heang, Country Director Cambodia

Exceed Worldwide is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Thearith Heang as our Country Director for Cambodia. Thearith trained as a Prosthetist Orthotist, has worked for Exceed since 2004 and succeeds Dr Sisary Kheng, who is our new CEO, as Cambodian Country Director.

During more than 20 years’ service, Thearith has held a number of operational and management positions with Exceed, in Cambodia and across Southeast and South Asia. These roles have included Assistant Lecturer and Quality Manager positions in Cambodia and leadership and development roles in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar. His work in Myanmar included establishing the Myanmar School of Prosthetics and Orthotics and acting as Country Manager.

Carson Harte, Dr Sisary Kheng (CEO), Thearith Heang (Country Director Cambodia)

Exceed Worldwide is committed to the development of strong local leadership and Thearith’s appointment and commitment will ensure that Exceed programmes develop smoothly and that our Cambodian team continues to engage productively with the Royal Government of Cambodia and other key partners and stakeholders.

We wish Thearith well in his new role.

Exceed Worldwide Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Sisary Kheng, new CEO of Exceed Worldwide

Exceed Worldwide is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Sisary Kheng as our new Chief Executive Officer.

Formerly Exceed Country Director for Cambodia, Sisary succeeds long-term CEO Carson Harte. She is a prominent figure in the global Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) community and brings a wealth of experience in leadership, P&O education, service delivery, inclusion, research and international development - across the NGO, public and private sectors - to the role.

Sisary is committed to the care and support of people with disabilities and to the creation of sustainable health systems that incorporate P&O, are equitable and accessible and able to meet the needs of all people with disabilities, regardless of income, background or location. Her PhD research at the UK University of Salford, reflected this theme by focusing on stakeholder perceptions of financing models for P&O sustainability in Cambodia.

Dr. Sisary Kheng with her PhD Certificate

Sisary’s leadership and learning is grounded in practical involvement in Cambodia’s development journey. This experience, along with her vision for the inclusion of P&O services in all health systems, as part of the drive for universal health coverage, will direct her work in her new, international role as CEO of Exceed Worldwide.

Sisary Kheng early in her career as a prosthetist/orthotist

We wish her well as we look forward to a new chapter in the Exceed story.

Congratulations to Dr Sisary

Everyone at Exceed congratulates our esteemed colleague Sisary Kheng on being awarded a Doctorate in Prosthetics and Orthotics.

Sisary received her degree at an annual graduation ceremony at the UK’s University of Salford on 17th July 2026, after completing her thesis through the University’s Centre for Doctoral Training for Prosthetics and Orthotics. Her theses is entitled, ‘Transitioning Beyond Aid Dependency: Exploring the Perceptions and Attitudes of Key Stakeholders on Financing Models of Prosthetic and Orthotic Service Sustainability in Cambodia’ and the research has already influenced Royal Government of Cambodia thinking and policy about the planning and delivery of physical rehabilitation services.

Dr Sisary Kheng

Commenting on the award Sisary said, “This PhD achievement is tribute of success for my team, my organisation, my board and the passion of Exceed’s as a whole towards health equity and sustainability of services for those who are in need of physical rehabilitation services in Cambodia. The findings and implications are transferrable to other countries where transitioning from aids dependency to national government ownership with higher commitment and integrated financial system for holistic care for people with mobility disability".

David Boone (Chair, Exceed Worldwide), Dr Sam Curtin, Dr Sisary Kheng, Prof. Malcolm Granat

Exceed was represented by Exceed CEO, Carson Harte and Chair of the Board of Trustees, Dr David Boone and Board member Dan Blocka. Speaking on behalf of Exceed, Carson congratulated Dr Kheng and said “We are delighted to celebrate the award of her PhD, so richly deserved and hard won. She’s now superbly equipped enabled and empowered as Exceed’s new CEO!”

Carson Harte (Outgoing CEO, Exceed Worldwide), Dr Siary Kheng, Prof. Malcolm Granat

The academic team who supervised Sisary’s PhD included Prof Malcolm Granat and Dr Sam Curtin of University of Salford.

Prof Grant offered his congratulations to Sisary by saying “It has been a privilege to supervise Sisary and to watch her develop into an independent researcher, educator and leader. I am immensely proud of what she has achieved and confident that her influence will extend well beyond this PhD, both within Cambodia and across the international prosthetics and orthotics community.”

Dr Sam Curtin added “It’s hard to put into words what Sisary’s achievement represents. Six years of relentless effort, balancing full‑time work, research, teaching, and service, all while lifting others along the way. Her PhD captures exactly who she is: a visionary committed to sustainable change. She is a force of nature - unstoppable, generous, and deeply driven by her mission to serve people with disabilities and to inspire those she teaches.”

Before the graduation ceremony, Sisary, Carson and David participated in a Centre for Doctoral Training Workshop, speaking upon key topics and developments in the Prosthetics and Orthotics education and services sector.

Seminar: Prosthetics and Orthotics Delivery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Prosthetics and Orthotics Delivery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Research • Implementation • Future Partnerships

Friday 17 July
Pier 8- Inside the Lowry, Salford Quays, Manchester M50 3AZ
09:15–12:30

If you are interested in prosthetic and orthotic services, education, global research, and showcases on impact implementation, particularly in less-resourced settings, come and join us either in person or virtually for this very special seminar on Friday July 17th 2026!

All times are BST (current UK time)