The Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy in the Doisy College of Health Sciences is a graduate program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. In the Jesuit traditions of the pursuit of truth, development of the whole person, and commitment to service and justice, our community – faculty, staff, and students – prepares doctors of physical therapy who provide reflective, person-centered care that is interprofessional and evidenced-based.
SLU PT Clinical Site Spotlight - Captial Region Medical Center
By Hannah Pierson (Class of 2022)
This
past spring, I helped patients alongside my two clinical instructors, Lacey Hale, DPT & Alex Flanagin, DPT, in a
hospital-based outpatient setting. Not only did I learn a tremendous amount
about orthopedic injuries & conditions, but my clinical instructors also showed me
how to genuinely connect with patients and assist them in their goals. I loved
how each day; patients would pick up conversations with me & clinical
instructors from their previous visit---it never seemed like time went by from
being away. Throughout the rest of my PT career, I will hold these connections
close and never forget to laugh & smile each day 😀
Thank you, Lacey & Alex, for welcoming me with open arms and for being wonderful mentors for me!
This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy students featuring their clinical site and their clinical instructors. The number, quality, and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU PT Program.
SLU PT Clinical Site Spotlight - Mercy Hospital By: Jacquelyn Cameli (DPT Class of 2022)
I am so thankful to have had my clinical experience at Mercy Hospital for Acute Care Physical Therapy, in Springfield, Missouri. I especially enjoyed the fast-paced schedule, as well as the diverse workday, variability, and unpredictability that occurred from day to day regarding my patient caseload in being that no two days were the same. I evaluated, educated, and treated patients on the Cardiac Floor, Emergency Department (ED), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Oncology Floor, Neurological Floor, COVID Step- Down Unit, Burn Unit, Orthopedic Floor, Gynecology Floor, as well as within Psychiatric Center. I enjoyed working with patients thoroughly, and problem-solving scenarios to ensure that patients were discharging safely and appropriately, as well as discussing different rehabilitation options (Inpatient Rehabilitation (IPR), Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), Home Health Physical Therapy, Outpatient Physical Therapy) when appropriate. I am very thankful for each patient interaction and to have been involved within their care. I am thankful for all of the health care professionals at Mercy Hospital that I crossed paths with including other Physical Therapists (PTs), Nurses, Personal Care Assistants (PCAs), Physical Therapy Assistances (PTAs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), Speech Therapists (STs), Respiratory Therapists (RTs), Hospitalists, Surgeons, and Medical Doctors (MDs).
Thank you to Rebecca Herron, PT, MPT, for being my clinical instructor! I am thankful to have had the opportunity to have had my clinical experience with you at Mercy Hospital and to have learned from you. I appreciate everything you have taught me to enhance my clinical knowledge and skills as a Student Physical Therapist. I appreciate the questions you asked me, and how you allowed me to discuss my plan of care and findings with you. I appreciate you allowing me the opportunity to engage with patients and be involved with their care through performing tasks, treatments, and evaluations within the hospital. I have learned so much from you about Acute Care. I appreciate all the learning opportunities you coordinated for me at Mercy Hospital in being able to observe Surgeries at Mercy Orthopedic Hospital, as well as observing a Swallowing Study with Speech Therapy. I am thankful to have had your leadership throughout my clinical experience! I will continue to utilize everything you have taught me!
This is one of a series of posts by the Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy students featuring their clinical site and their clinical instructors. The number, quality, and diversity of clinical instruction are major assets for the SLU PT Program.
#ChoosePT Spotlight - submitted by Brianne Ernst (Keller)
I was 10. I sat in the pediatric neurologist’s office as he ordered an MRI of my brain. A stroke or a brain tumor. Which was it? What did that mean? What was going to happen to me?
As I sat there a couple weeks later trying to wrap my head around the final diagnosis - an intrauterine stroke, a stroke before I was born - he wrote a script for physical therapy.
Physical therapy? I didn’t know it in that moment, but those two words would change my life. I met the most hardworking, compassionate, and motivational physical therapist. Dan stood by my side while I cried and struggled through the exercises and became outwardly frustrated more times than I would like to admit. I was not a good patient. But that didn’t stop him. He pushed me to do better. Over the next 10 years, with multiple wrist fractures, patellar dislocations, wrist surgery, and knee surgery, he was always there with a smile on his face.
He worked magic. He healed me. He helped me achieve the impossible. He is the reason I became a physical therapist. I want to help my patients achieve what they feel is impossible. And that is why, every day, I #ChoosePT.
Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy held its White Coat Ceremony for the DPT Class of 2024, on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at St. Francis Xavier College Church and livestreamed on YouTube.
During the ceremony, incoming Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy students are cloaked in their first white coat as a symbol of their formal initiation to the profession of physical therapy, an acknowledgment of their accomplishments thus far, and a glimpse into their future as doctors of physical therapy. Kim Levenhagen, PT, DPT, WCC, CLT, FNAP, Associate Professor in the Program in Physical Therapy, served as the mistress of ceremonies for the event.
Michael May, S.J., Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and well known to the students during their pre-professional phase, led the ceremony in a prayer for the physical therapist.
Fred Pestello, Ph.D., president of Saint Louis University, delivered the keynote address.
Dr. Pestello shared some of the reasons he chose to join the ceremony. "Over the course of your career, you will positively impact tens of thousands of people, make a difference in their lives, men and women for and with others. I thank you for this dedication to this work and I have an understanding of how difficult and challenging it is."
Alysia Beirne, SPT, Class of 2022, addressed the Class of 2024 as the White Coat Ceremony student speaker. The Program in Physical Therapy Faculty chose Alysia to be this year’s White Coat Ceremony speaker because of Alysia’s dedication to service to the University and profession.
Alysia said "I recently completed twenty weeks of my clinical experience this summer where I got to see firsthand how respected this program is in the world of PT. You get held to a higher standard because you are representing SLU. Therefore earning your white coat is a pretty big deal. It is your rite of passage moving into the clinical world of physical therapy." She went on to say, "This program doesn't just make good therapists but puts us on the path to become great ones."
During the ceremony, students from the Class of 2022 coated the Class of 2024 students as a symbol of passing on the responsibility of patient care in the profession of physical therapy.
Afterward, Ann Hayes, PT, DPT, professor in the Program in Physical Therapy, gave the Oath of the Physical Therapist, in unison with faculty, professional phase students, and practicing clinicians.
Dr. Hayes also recognized the 2021 Florence P. Kendall Service Award winner, Paula Burnett, PT, for outstanding service to the health care community as well as serving as a life-long role model who exhibits intellectual curiosity, persistence in the pursuit of excellence, dedication to the profession, the dissemination of knowledge, and enthusiasm for living life to its fullest. She is the Director of Rehabilitation Services at the Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City, Missouri, and has worked tirelessly for her profession serving in a variety of roles for the Missouri American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Paula Burnett with Florence Kendall
Ms. Burnett shared these words with the Class of 2024. "Congratulations on choosing a profession where you can improve a person’s quality of life. As a DPT, I challenge you in this profession to: dedicate yourself to lifelong learning; promote and advocate for your profession; be thankful for the profession you have chosen, your teachers, mentors, peers, and the patients you have the opportunity to learn from. Never underestimate the difference you can make.”
"Know that today you are stepping onto the path that was started by all of the preceding students who have matriculated through this curriculum," said Dr. Levenhagen. "You will follow their footsteps and create your own. In the future, you will reach back as alumni to help students develop skills in clinical settings. We all cannot wait to watch you make your way down this path."
You can learn more about the event on the Doisy College of Health Sciences website.
SLU PT Alumni Spotlight - Rachel W. P. Condon, DPT, DSc, FAAOMPT, OCS, CSCS
Rachel (Pollock) Condon (DPT Class of 2010) has recently been selected for promotion to Commander in the US Navy. In her current role, she is the Associate Director of Clinical Support Services at Naval Medical Center San Diego. She oversees all of Rehabilitation Services, Radiology, Pharmacy, Laboratory Services, and Breast Health at the Navy’s largest hospital. She also serves as the Department Head of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Chiropractic Services. She is also an assistant professor for the DPT program through Army/Baylor University as the intern director at the Naval Hospital.
She is married to Greg Condon (DPT class of 2012) and they have two wonderfully bright children ages 5 and 2.
You can find a previous spotlight on Condon on our blog.
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 SLU-SSM Health Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residents!!! Pictured from left to right: Juan Paz, PT, DPT, Shelby Wilson, PT, DPT, Benjamin Modde, PT, DPT.
The SLU-SSM Health Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency Program is an accelerated post-licensure program to advance the orthopedic skills of physical therapists. It is the only ABPTRFE accredited orthopedic physical therapy residency in Missouri. Founded and accredited in 2014-2015, this unique collaboration between Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy and SSM Health Physical Therapy currently has 3 Residents and has graduated 16 licensed physical therapists. In addition to clinical practice and teaching in the entry-level DPT program, each resident completes over 150 hours of mentoring and over 300 hours of educational experiences.
Congratulations to the graduates of the SLU-SSM Health Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency of 2021! Pictured from left to right are Hiral Tailor, PT, DPT, Christine Chansamone, PT, DPT, and Mary Kimbrough, PT, DPT.
The SLU-SSM Health Physical Therapy Orthopedic Residency Program is an accelerated post-licensure program to advance the orthopedic skills of physical therapists. It is the only ABPTRFE accredited orthopedic physical therapy residency in Missouri. Founded and accredited in 2014-2015, this unique collaboration between Saint Louis University Program in Physical Therapy and SSM Health Physical Therapy currently has 3 Residents and has graduated 16 licensed physical therapists. In addition to clinical practice and teaching in the entry-level DPT program, each resident completes over 150 hours of mentoring and over 300 hours of educational experiences.
