Lab is Child's Play for Students in Neurological Conditions II

Annual 'Baby Lab' Helps PY3 Students Learn About Developmental Milestones

Written by Emily Redpath (Class of 2023)

Some students from the DPT Class of 2023 will tell you that working with children is their dream, while others… Not so much. Either way, it is likely that everyone will encounter children throughout their future careers as physical therapists.  Therefore, it is important that everyone has the chance to interact with children of all ages to see the differences in language and motor development across childhood. 

In the annual baby lab, coordinated by Neurological Conditions II course instructor Jessica Luechtefeld, PT, DPT, PCS, students had the opportunity to play with children ranging from just a few months old to 9 years old. 

Students worked in groups to note different developmental milestones among the children while playing with them.  

The focus in lab was on gaining comfort playing with children and not on creating or performing interventions, however, the students were still able to see the importance of keeping kids engaged and making all activities centered around fun!

This lab would not be possible without the help of those who generously volunteered their children for participation. 

SLU PT Alumni Spotlight: John Schaefer, PT, DPT, CSCS

SLU PT Alumni John Schaefer Incorporates Other Passions into PT 

John Schaefer, PT, DPT, CSCS (Class of 2022) had experienced much uncertainty surrounding the field of Physical Therapy throughout his time at SLU. Having other interests including marketing, entrepreneurship, and journalism, he often asked himself how he could incorporate all these different fields into a future career and if PT was the right path for him.

As a PY3, he decided to start reaching out to PT’s around the country, who were pursuing unique ventures and doing things he didn’t know were possible under the title of DPT. He began recording these conversations and now routinely releases episodes on his podcast SnackBreak, under the parent company Orthosnacks (@orthosnacks), an educational platform and social media company focused on empowering students and clinicians to make the most out of their DPT with bite sized, digestible information.

John is currently an orthopedic resident training in Houston, TX @harrishealthsystems and just released the book THE RESIDENCY PLAYBOOK: A Step By Step Guide To Mastering the RF-PTCAS and Securing A Spot in Your Dream Physical Therapy Residency with the goal of demystifying the residency application process for future applicants! You can purchase the workbook on Amazon in either paperback or kindle format, as well as listen to the audio versions for free on Spotify and Youtube.

Thank you for your interest in the Program in Physical Therapy at Saint Louis University!

Thank you for your interest in the Program in Physical Therapy! 

We are happy to help you with any questions or concerns that you may have regarding our program. 

Here are a few quick facts about our program:

The Program in Physical Therapy is an early assurance DPT program. Students enter the program as freshman and continue to completion of the DPT degree without additional application or taking the GRE. This creates a comfortable atmosphere for friendships and cooperative studying with your classmates. Progression in the program is based on your own academic and professional performance. 

Our early assurance DPT program takes place over 6 years, including 2 summers. There are many opportunities in addition to our DPT program, to pursue minors, double majors, as well as to study abroad in the fall semester of your junior year.

Program in physical therapy faculty are recognized in their field holding a variety of clinical specialties, such as orthopedics, neurology, geriatrics, and wound care. Additionally, they are involved in research and scholarship related to the field of physical therapy presenting the latest evidence regionally, nationally, and internationally. 

Dr. Oluwatoyosi Owoeye with Jemma Jiyun Kim, SPT, with her 1st place winning research poster.

Some students find opportunities to engage in research during their time at SLU, often working in collaboration with faculty.

Dr. Jason Longhurst engaging in research with a student.

Program in Physical Therapy students, faculty, and staff are involved in service in the greater St. Louis Community.  Professional phase students evaluate and treat patients pro bono under the observation of a licensed physical therapist at The Health Resource Center Physical Therapy Clinic. 

SLU PT students at the pro-bono HRC PT Clinic.

One of the best ways to really experience a university is to visit. We encourage you to schedule a visit to Saint Louis University by contacting our Office of Admission at (314) 977-2500 or using this link. To learn more about the Program in Physical Therapy I encourage you to sign up for PT Academic Info Session. 

SLU Physical Therapy: Student Life

Physical Therapy Student Association (PTSA)

PTSA is our Department of Physical Therapy student organization that connects are first year students with our graduate level students and creates a community for them. They have multiple service opportunities, host multiple learning sessions with a diverse group of licensed PTs (dry needling, pelvic floor, etc.) as well as hosting social activities every semester that keep our PT students engaged while also providing an outlet for relaxation and fun!

Explore STL

St. Louis has so much to offer whether it be going to the St. Louis Art Museum, attending the Major League sports team games, or finding hidden gem restaurants, there is something for everyone. With Saint Louis University being located in Midtown, you get the best of both worlds; the exciting city life but also the exploration of the different neighborhoods that surround SLU.

More information on St. Louis

Student Life at SLU

SLU offers exciting events for all students to attend! Whether it be Fall Welcome events such as Paint SLU (first image) or the Vibe Concert put on by the Student Activities Board with big name acts such as Steve Aoki (second image), there is something for everyone!

I encourage you to check out our additional resources!

Being a Billiken: So much more than SLU’s mascot

SLU Student Profiles

Saint Louis University

SLU professors focus on student success

Program website: https://www.slu.edu/doisy/degrees/undergraduate/physical-therapy.php

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slupt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slu_pt/

Twitter: @SLU_PT

SLU PT Student Emily Redpath Uses Scholarship to Focus on Service in Belize

Cheryl L. Cavallo Memorial Scholarship Spotlight

by Emily Redpath (DPT Class of 2023)

The Cheryl Cavallo scholarship allowed me to spend 4 weeks of my clinical experience at Hillside Healthcare International in Punta Gorda, Belize! The clinic provides free healthcare services to members of the Toledo district, where 80% of its 30,000 inhabitants are living below the Belizean poverty line.  Through the clinic, I worked with another SLU PT student, Alysa Janke, SLU faculty member, Carol Beckel, PT, PhD, and the rehabilitation director, Julia Steiner, PT, to provide physical therapy services.  There are less than 20 licensed physical therapists in Belize and Hillside provides the only physical therapy services in the Toledo district, so this is an incredibly important service that this scholarship has helped me to offer. 

Carol Beckel, PT, PhD, Alysa Janke, Julia Steiner, PT, and Emily Redpath outside the outpatient physical therapy center at Hillside

Each morning we worked in the outpatient clinic and every afternoon we would travel around the town for home health visits. Providing home health visits was one of my favorite parts of the experience because it allowed me to get to know my patient’s values better so that I could form a strong connection to treat them in the most effective way possible.  Additionally, we travelled on mobile clinics to villages around the Toledo district to provide care in more remote areas. The mobiles had just started up again after the pandemic during my time in Belize, so the villages that we traveled to had not been visited by Hillside in over two years.  On the mobiles we evaluated patients with musculoskeletal complaints, created long-term treatment plans for them to perform during the time in between our village visits and educated people on what physical therapy is and how simple changes in their daily activities can help to alleviate their pain and make them move better.

The start of our 3 hour drive for a mobile visit to a rural village

Looking out on the village from the mobile clinic location

Another one of my favorite parts about this experience was the interprofessional care that we were able to provide. On our mobile visits, Alysa and I co-evaluated patients alongside the medical students and residents.  We got to work through patient cases together as an interprofessional team and ask questions of each other not only on mobiles, but with many patients at the clinic.  Each student had a different way of treating a patient’s diagnosis, so it was enlightening to view each patient from each medical professional’s lenses.  It was a great way for Alysa and I to advocate for physical therapy as well because the medical student and residents were able to see first hand what we do and how we can help patients.

Treatment team of doctors, residents, medical students, pharmacy students and physical therapy students

SLU PT students Alysa Janke and Emily Redpath presenting about causes of low back pain to other students

Taking blood pressures and blood sugars and educating patients on healthy habits at the monthly health fair

Overall, this has been one of the most meaningful experiences that I have had during my time at SLU.  I was pushed out of my comfort zone and feel that I grew not only as a practitioner, but as a person.  This experience challenged my creativity skills in treating patients to create interventions that did not use typical resources found in clinics back in the states.  I furthered my love for physical therapy because I saw truly how impactful it can be to people’s lives, even if they are only coming a few times a month. Dr. Carol Beckel said it best upon her departure from the clinic, “A portion of my heart stays behind each trip.” This rings true for me after returning to campus from this clinical experience. I will never forget the people that I met on this rotation and I will always think of the experiences I had in Belize as I move forward in my education and career. I am beyond grateful for the Cheryl Cavallo scholarship that helped me to live out this dream and provide physical therapy to the wonderful people of Belize. 

Celebrating the amazing experience 

To support this scholarship, sign up for our annual Hustle for Your Health 5k at this website: https://alumni.slu.edu/s/1264/17/interior.aspx?sid=1264&gid=1&pgid=7723&cid=12360&ecid=12360&_ga=2.140536311.492866999.1663102199-1303666273.1663102199

SLU PT Alumni spotlight - Brian Schwabe, PT, DPT, SCS, COMT, CSCS

SLU PT Alumni Spotlight - Brian Schwabe, PT, DPT, SCS, COMT, CSCS

Director of I.O. Sports Therapy, Irvine Orthopedic Sports Therapy

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Current Town/City: Los Angeles, CA

SLU DPT Class of 2013

Interests, Activities, Clubs, and Professional Organizations

Personal Development, Business & Finances, Sports Physical Therapy, The Beach!

Dr. Schwabe presenting at APTA Combined Sections Meeting.

If you could come back to SLU and teach a class, which class would you like to teach?

Sports Physical Therapy Seminar.  This class helped me start my vision of what was possible in sports PT. I would love to share my experiences with students.

Dr. Schwabe at the NFL Combine

What was the most valuable lesson — inside or outside the classroom — you learned at SLU?

What you become in the process is more important than the dream. My experience at SLU taught me that the person I was becoming and the struggle I endured was the most important part of my growth process as not only a person, but a health care provider.

Tell us about one of your professional accomplishments thus far.

Ignoring the traditional path of physical therapy and creating my own dream career.  While I wasn’t always the strongest academic test taker (despite the endless hours in the library), I always had a burning desire to excel and build a unique career in sports physical therapy.  I was fortunate that a few professors in SLU’s PT program believed in me and gave me a reference/opportunity to land a sports residency position with USC.  From there I worked hard, ignored the many naysayers, and created a dream career working as an out of network/cash based sports therapist working with athletes of all levels and traveling with entertainers and professional athletes.  

Dr. Schwabe during Concierge Performance Therapy services.

What advice do you have for students getting ready to graduate with their DPT?

Know that despite challenges our profession faces, there has never been a greater time to become a physical therapist, help more people than ever before, and build out the career you envision through hard work and perseverance.   

Is there anything else you would like to share?

My time at SLU was an incredible experience.  I am extremely grateful for the mentorship, support, and experiences at SLU. There is no doubt in my mind that without SLU I would never have accomplished what I have in my professional career.  

This is one of several posts featuring SLU PT Alumni experiences. The Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy wants to recognize the exciting and innovative things our alumni are doing, here in St. Louis and around the world. For more information for and about SLU alumni experiences go to: http://www.slu.edu/alumni-and-donors/.

Welcome to the 2022-2023 SLU SSM Health Physical Therapy Residents!

Welcome to the new SLU SSM Health Physical Therapy Residents!

We are welcoming four physical therapists in the orthopedic program: Drs. Mark Welegala, Andrew Elston, Jazmon Carroll, and Allie Wilson.  

Drs. Welegala, Elston, Carroll, and Wilson

We welcomed two physical therapists to the women’s pelvic health program:  Drs. Laura Erb and Bri Mulhearn.  

Drs. Erb and Mulhearn

The residents are graduates from Univ of Missouri – Columbia, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston, and our own Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy.  

Additionally, Dr. Carroll (SLU alumni) and Dr. Wilson hold licenses in athletic training.  We are so excited to Welcome you to the Residency!  

For more information on the SLU-SSM Health Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency Program, visit https://www.slu.edu/doisy/degrees/ssm-residency.php or contact the Residency Program Director, Dr. Chris Sebelski at chris.sebelski@health.slu.edu.

For more information on the program, visit https://www.slu.edu/doisy/degrees/ssm-womens-health-residency.php or contact the Residency Program Director, Dr. Jill Imgarten at jimgarten@ssm-select.com OR the SLU Director of Residency Education, Dr. Chris Sebelski at chris.sebelski@health.slu.edu.

Faculty Spotlight - Jessica Luechtefeld, PT, DPT, PCS

Hello! I’m Jessica Luechtefeld, an adjunct faculty member within the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at Saint Louis University.  I am the course coordinator for the Neurological Conditions II course. I am a practicing pediatric physical therapist, providing early intervention services through Missouri First Steps in rural Missouri and outpatient and aquatics through ShowMe Therapy in Washington, Missouri.

I have had a wide variety of pediatric experiences throughout my career. I graduated from the University of Missouri with my DPT, during which I completed pediatric clinicals as well as participated in various volunteer opportunities working with pediatric patients. I then completed the Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency at Creighton University. My time as a pediatric resident gave me the opportunity to work and learn in a variety of pediatric settings, including outpatient pediatrics, aquatics, the NICU, schools, and inpatient rehab. Since completing my residency education, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of pediatric settings, including outpatient, schools, and early intervention.

Research collaborations with colleagues led to the opportunity to present at various conferences over the past several years. Research during my residency education led to presenting at the APTA Pediatric Annual Conference in 2020 on clinical reasoning when working with patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Collaborations with colleagues from the University of Missouri led to presenting at Combined Sections Meeting in 2022 and several manuscript publications, all discussing the results of a nationwide survey about providing pediatric physical therapy services using telehealth during COVID-19.  

I’m hoping to grow my pediatric team of professionals at Saint Louis University for assisting with both on-campus and/or off-campus lab experiences with the students. Please reach out to me at jessica.luechtefeld@health.slu.edu for more information or with any questions.