Physical Therapy
at
MGH Institute of Health Professions
Summer 2010
Institute Mourns Passing of Marjorie Ionta Former Faculty Member was a Pioneer of Modern Physical Therapy The passing of Marjorie K. Ionta last March 25 is the end of an era for the profession of Physical Therapy in the Boston region. Miss Ionta, who was chief physical therapist in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital from 1958 to 1981, was one of the key members from the hospital responsible for the creation of the MGH Institute in 1977. “Miss Ionta was among “Her influence those stalwart pioneers who blazed trails for was important physical therapists, who to the formation understood the importance of diagnosis long of the MGH before it was fashionable, Institute.” and consistently demanded excellence and commitment,” said Leslie Portney, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and Interim Dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. “Her influence was important to the formation of the MGH Institute, and the expectations of innovation and professionalism that pervade all of our programs.” When Miss Ionta started her career in the 1940s, physical therapists were considered technicians dispensing doctors’ prescriptions. By the time she retired in 1981, physical therapists had become decision-making professionals.
High Standards She was considered a fair-minded professor who demanded and expected excellence from students and peers alike. “She had high standards,” said Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs BA Harris in a Boston Globe story that celebrated Miss Ionta’s career. “But if you were accepted by her, she would support you forever.” Miss Ionta graduated in Marjorie Ionta was one of the MGH 1935 from Boston Univer- Institute’s original faculty members. sity’s Sargent College with a degree in physical education. Ten years later, she earned a certificate in physical therapy with the help of the first training grant of its kind ever awarded by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis. She then joined the newly established physical therapy department at Massachusetts General Hospital. After stints at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC, and the Kaiser Foundation Rehabilitation Institute in California, she returned to Massachusetts General in 1955. continued on page 3
Department to Celebrate 30–Year History on October 15-16 Plans are underway to celebrate this coming October several milestones in the history of the Department of Physical Therapy. The department will commemorate the first cohort of students to begin classes in the department’s three degree options with several events over the weekend of October 15-16, 2010. The celebration is based upon when the first students began classes in each of the three degree programs:
• 1980: Post-professional Master of Science in Physical Therapy;
“This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the department’s role and history at the Institute,” said Department Chair Leslie Portney, DPT, PhD, FAPTA. “Our • 1995: Entry-level programs have grown in stature Master of Science in and prominence during the past Physical Therapy; 30 years. We’re looking forward • 2000: Entry-level to this event and hope everyone Doctor of Physical October 15-16, 2010 connected with the program can Therapy, and tran- www.mghihp.edu/pt30 join us.” sitional Doctor of continued on page 2 Physical Therapy.
Note from the Chair Hello from the Navy Yard! I am truly excited to present our first annual newsletter, which we hope will provide a source of news and information for our graduates, students, and friends of the Department of Physical Therapy at the MGH Institute. The Department will hit three milestones in 2010: it marks the 30th anniversary of the physical therapy program at the Institute, which started with our post-professional MS program in 1980; the 15th anniversary of our entry level program, which admitted its first class in 1995; and the 10th anniversary of our offering the DPT degree. We will celebrate these milestones this October with an alumni reunion event, and we hope all of you will be there to enjoy this special occasion with your friends and classmates. As we recognize the growth of our Department as one of the founding programs of the Institute, we are also pleased to welcome three new faculty members who will join our ranks. Dr. Pamela Levangie will start on July 1 as the Associate Chair of the department. In addition, Douglas Haladay, from the University of Scranton, and Janet Kneiss, of the University of Rochester, will join the faculty this summer.
A Banner Year We are also excited to recognize the remarkable year we have just completed. We are now part of the newly created School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, a change that signals the Institute’s tremendous evolution as a health sciences graduate school.
Department Chair Dr. Leslie Portney
New Center Opens Perhaps one of our most notable projects this year is the opening of the Physical Therapy Center for Clinical Education and Health Promotion. The Center will provide dedicated quality clinical education experiences for our students, and offer onsite pro bono clinical services to members of our community who have limited access to physical therapy care. As you read more about this wonderful opportunity in this newsletter, please consider donating to support its development so that we can assure a strong community presence. As we begin the next academic year, we remain proud of our ranking and reputation and we need your support to maintain our standards of excellence. Whether it is through your participation in the Alumni Association, serving as a clinical or lab instructor for our students, contributing to the Institute Annual Fund, or just staying connected to our faculty and your classmates, we hope you will remain part of the Institute’s future. I look forward to seeing you in October and having the opportunity to share some memories with you.
As we begin the next academic year, we remain proud of our ranking and reputation and we need your support to maintain our standards of excellence.
We admitted our largest class ever in Academic Year 2009-10, which included expanding our international student MS program. Our faculty met this challenge with their typical dedication and energy to create exciting new opportunities for our students.
PT to Celebrate 30-Year History - continued from page 1 While exact details are still to be finalized, the celebration is expected to include a cocktail reception on Friday evening at the Institute’s Charlestown Navy Yard campus, presentations from three speakers on Saturday morning who will represent each of the three degree options, and a luncheon afterwards to conclude the festivities. All graduates, faculty, and students, as well as preceptors and former faculty, are invited to attend the celebration. Attendees will receive a commemorative booklet that will look back at the program’s 30-year history, and include stories on graduates and the programs’ achievements. The Department of Physical Therapy recently became part of the new School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, joining 2
Faculty members continue to publish and present research to a national audience, and to serve in many important national leadership positions. Our student-run Physical Therapy Club continues to receive national recognition by the APTA for raising thousands of dollars to support important charities, including the Foundation for Physical Therapy research.
Leslie G. Portney, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, Chair
the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Post-Baccalaureate Program in Medical Imaging. The move created a second academic unit focused on the rehabilitation sciences. The event will support the newly created onsite Physical Therapy Center for Clinical Education and Health Promotion, which opened its doors in May. “This is an exciting project for us, allowing us to develop practical learning opportunities for physical therapy students,” said Dr. Portney. Several opportunities exist to support the event, including purchasing an ad in the booklet and activity sponsorship. To learn more about supporting the project or to get the latest updates, please go to www.mhgihp.edu/pt30.
Dr. Pamela Levangie Named New Associate Chair The Department of Physical Therapy is very pleased to welcome a well-known and respected colleague, Dr. Pamela K. Levangie, PT, DSc, FAPTA, as our new Associate Chair. Dr. Levangie will join the faculty as a full professor on July 1, 2010, coming to the Institute following long time faculty and administrative positions at Boston University and Sacred Heart University, and most recently as a visiting professor at Simmons College. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to join the faculty,” said Dr. Levangie. “I recognize the excellent reputation that the faculty, staff, and students have earned nationally, and am excited to be part of such a dynamic and forward-thinking group.” Dr. Levangie received her Bachelor of Science in physical therapy from Northeastern University, her Master of Science from Boston University, and her Doctor of Science in Epidemiology from Boston University’s School of Public Health. She was a member of Boston University’s physical therapy faculty for 23 years before joining Sacred Heart in 1996. Her teaching has focused on kinesiology and research content, and New Associate Chair Dr. Pamela Levangie. she is the primary author of a widely used text entitled Joint Structure and Function: A Comprehensive Analysis, now in its fourth edition. She has been a curriculum consultant to several physical therapy programs, and presents regionally and nationally in the areas of research, kinesiology, and problem-based learning. Dr. Levangie has held many leadership positions in the APTA, including serving as President of the Section on Research, ex officio member of the Scientific Review Committee of the Foundation for Physical Therapy, and a member of the editorial board of Physical Therapy. In 2001, Dr. Levangie received the Baethke-Carlin Award for Excellence in Academic Teaching, and in 2009 she was elected as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow, the APTA’s highest honor. “We are truly fortunate to have Dr. Levangie join us at this critical time in the Institute’s growth,” said Department Chair Leslie Portney, DPT, PhD, FAPTA. “Pam has been a wonderful colleague for such a long time, and I am looking forward to working with her as we move forward.”
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Created Department of Physical Therapy is one of three programs in new academic unit MGH Institute of Health Professions has announced the establishment of its newest unit, the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS), which is comprised of the Department of Physical Therapy, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and the PostBaccalaureate Program in Medical Imaging. “As one of the few independent health professions graduate schools in the country, the Institute is now positioned to focus on the strengths of each of our programs and to identify the unique contributions made by all of our academic programs,” noted Provost and Academic Vice President Alex F. Johnson, PhD. “With our two schools in place, we are now in a position to continue to develop the Institute, acknowledging our interprofessional nature, but also the distinctiveness of each of our programs.” In 2009, the Institute renamed the Graduate Program in Nursing as the MGH Institute School of Nursing. Leslie Portney, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, has been named interim dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She will continue in her current role in the physical therapy department. “Creating the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is an opportunity to expand opportunities for interdisciplinary education as well as consider the creation of new complementary programs,” said Dr. Portney, who joined the Institute in 1990. “The three programs can work together within the culture of rehabilitation and begin to work on the contributions we can make to this discipline.” Dr. Portney was named a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association in 2002, the organization’s highest honor. She has served as the Chair of the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and is currently heading the formation of the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy.
Institute Mourns Marjorie Ionta - continued from page 1 Miss Ionta was one of the Institute’s first faculty members when the school was founded in 1977, and was named its first professor emerita. She also was a founding member of the American Physical Therapy Association. In 2009, the Institute paid tribute to Miss Ionta to celebrate the 25th anniversary of establishing the Marjorie K. Ionta Fund. Each year, the fund distributes cash awards to current Institute students who demonstrate excellence and outstanding humanistic qualities. In addition, grants are distributed to students, faculty, or alumni to support clinical research and advanced clinical training. 3
First-Year DPT Student Named Schweitzer Fellow Even though Cecilia Jiang is fortunate enough to be healthy, she has spent much of the past five years helping people with disabilities. Her efforts have resulted in her being named a 2010 Albert Schweitzer Fellow.
During the next year, she plans to facilitate discussions on the Boston graduate school campus, focusing on health care disparities, cross-cultural sensitivity, and the spiritual aspects of caring for individuals with disabilities. One thing she wants to ensure is creating something that continues after her year-long fellowship ends. “I’ve seen too many programs fall apart after the person behind it leaves,” noted Jiang, who will receive a $3,000 stipend as a Fellow.
“People with disabilities are just as important as everyone else,” said Jiang, a first-year student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the MGH Institute. “I hope to be able to do something that will help them and their families have a better quality of life.” She will work with Asian families through the non-profit organization Joni and Friends of Greater Boston, for which she already volunteers. Her project aims to connect these families with suitable respite care resources, and connect the mothers with bimonthly support groups through the non-profit organization.
Cecilia Jiang, class of 2012.
Jiang, who grew up in Taiwan, graduated in 2008 from the University of Virginia with a degree in biochemistry.
“I was thrilled to learn of this award for many reasons, given Cecilia’s commitment to serving diverse populations through being a volunteer,” said Assistant Professor Elise Townsend, DPT, PhD, PCS, Jiang’s advisor in the Department of Physical Therapy. “I am looking forward to seeing her rise as a leader in the years to come.”
Assistant Professor DJ Mattson, EdD, DPT, SCS, will serve as Jiang’s academic mentor during the Fellowship, which began in April.
PT Club Raises $4,000 from Annual Dodgeball Tournament The annual Dodgeball Tournament this past April was a day of fun and fierce competition, with 19 teams - several of which included Institute students and alumni - competing for bragging rights and fun prizes. The Institute’s Physical Therapy Club raised $4,000 to support the Foundation for Physical Therapy as part of the APTA Miami-Marquette Challenge. The amount garnered the Institute an Honorable Mention Award for the fifth consecutive year. “It was a great end to a lot of hard work from a group of really dedicated students, a real cause for celebration,” noted Alyssa Myleski, who co-chaired the tournament for the PT Club. “Students look forward to this annual tournament as a social event,” said Dr. Donna Applebaum, one of the PT Club Faculty Advisors. “It also demonstrates the students’ recognition of the importance of funding physical therapy research, to contribute to the body of evidence to support clinical care.”
The “Medulla Oblongata” team, which included several Institute first-year DPT students, prevailed as champion. Other teams represented physical therapy programs from Boston University, Franklin Pierce College, and Simmons College, as well as therapists from Bay State Physical Therapy and Community Rehab Care which serve as clinical education sites for Institute students.
Students To Deliver Shoes to Underserved Children The Institute’s PT Club chose Shoes4Kids as part of its Physical Therapy Month activities as this academic year’s community service project. Two shoe drives garnered 75 pairs of brand new shoes and socks that will be donated to children in homeless shelters and other programs in the Boston area during the PT 2010 annual convention which is being held this year in Boston. “The project promotes health and fitness, helps local communities, and allowed the PT students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills while tackling problems of underprivileged and underserved children,” explained third-year DPT student Kristin Schram, who chaired the project.
First-year Entry-level DPT students Jodi Brown, Jami Swedick, and Vanessa Kennedy (first three from left) were on the winning Medulla Oblongata team.
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The non-profit Shoes4Kids has distributed more than 1,200 new athletic shoes since it started in 2006.
More than 100 Students Graduate at 2010 Commencement A total of 105 students in the Department of Physical Therapy officially graduated at the 2010 Commencement ceremony on May 8. For the first time, the Institute held its Commencement ceremony at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston’s Back Bay, which allowed graduating students to invite as many people as they wanted to the day-long event. During the traditional awards ceremony, held in the morning before the afternoon’s main event, students with their family and friends listened to keynote speaker Kristin Parlman, DPT ’03, PT, NCS, describe her career at Massachusetts General Hospital. She also told them of her two-week visit earlier that spring to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake (see story, page 7).
2010
Department of Physical Therapy Award Winners Each year during Commencement, the Department of Physical Therapy presents several awards to its graduating students. Below are the 2010 winners:
Marjorie K. Ionta Award for Clinical Excellence, Professional Program Tara McCrystal
Marjorie K. Ionta Award for Clinical Excellence, Post-Professional Program Dilshad Farheen Sulaiman
Adams Fellow Award, Professional Program Eric Richard Smith 2010 Watts Award recipient Marianne Beninato with Provost and Academic Vice President Dr. Alex Johnson (left) as CSD Chair Dr. Gregory Lof and other faculty members applaud.
Student speaker Samantha M. Laskey described how the Class of 2010 went from a collection of individuals to a team of peers who had chosen to spend their rare free time together.
Adams Fellow Award, Post-Professional Program Hetal S. Kulkarni
Department Chair Leslie G. Portney, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, who also is Interim Dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, gave opening and closing remarks. The awards were presented by Assistant Professor DJ Mattson, EdD, DPT, SCS; Clinical Assistant Professor Mary Knab, DPT, MS; Assistant Professor Elise Townsend, DPT, MS; and Clinical Assistant Professor, and Director of Clinical Education Donna Applebaum, DPT, MS. Associate Professor Marianne Beninato, DPT, PhD, received the 2010 Nancy T. Watts Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Beninato, who has taught at the IHP since 1995, was cited for her passion for teaching students in the Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Master of Science in Physical Therapy for International Students degree programs.
Mary Mankin Prize Ankita Choski
A sixth award, the Outstanding Clinical Educator Award, was awarded to Joel Fallano.
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MS Program Focuses on International Students The Department of Physical Therapy has learned a great deal over the years from the international students who have chosen to study at the Institute. They bring a wide variety of cultural and professional viewpoints, providing a truly global perspective of physical therapy practice. These energetic and inquisitive physical therapists have come to the IHP to advance their knowledge and skills beyond the opportunities available in their home countries.
and clinical needs of these students,” said Dr. Leslie Portney, Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy. “We are truly excited about this new curriculum and the emphasis being placed on the whole patient,” added Dr. Brudvig. “A new sequence of courses in clinical management allows international students to practice foundational skills,
This year, the Department completed a significant modification in the post-professional Master of Science program to focus solely on the distinct educational needs of our international students. “The revised curriculum provides a generalist approach that gives students an opportunity to consider all systems that may be affected by injury or disease,” said program coordinator Dr. Tracy Brudvig. “Students may choose to focus on neurologic or orthopaedic physical therapy, but always in the context of the whole patient.” Over the past few years, international students have come to the IHP from all over the globe, including India, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Brazil, Taiwan, Pakistan, India, Nigeria, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Argentina and Venezuela. “Because of the diversity of backgrounds and models of physical therapy practice in other countries, our postprofessional curriculum can now address the specific knowledge
A group of international students celebrates graduation.
communication and clinical decision making. They also have a chance to expand their expertise and hands-on skill by working with clients in the new Physical Therapy Center for Clinical Education and Health Promotion.”
Clinical Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and Manual Therapy Recredentialed The Department of Physical Therapy received the recredentialing certificate for its Clinical Residency in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy and Manual Therapy at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting last February. The residency program, which was originally credentialed in 2003, prepares clinicians to sit for board certification and is an important component of the Institute’s commitment to post-professional education. “The residency, which is in keeping with the mission of the Institute and the Department, has allowed practicing clinicians to attain advanced knowledge and skills in the area of orthopaedic practice,” said program coordinator Dr. Aimee Klein. To date, five residents have completed the program, including three who have already attained board certification in orthopaedic physical therapy. Three residents are currently completing their residency requirements. The clinical residency combines didactic education and advanced clinical experiences across the continuum of orthopaedic practice. The department is in the process of reconfiguring the residency model. This will allow for greater collaboration between academic and clinical partners by employing residents and sharing in the education and mentorship of these clinicians. “This network will facilitate stronger relationships with our clinical partners, and will address workforce needs as well,” noted Dr. Klein. To apply for the residency program in Fall 2011, please visit www.mghihp.edu/pt. 6
In Memoriam
Dr. James J. Leonardo, PT, DPT ’09 1955-2009 Our community lost a dear friend and colleague in 2009. Dr. James Leonardo was a graduate of the transitional DPT Program at the Institute, and founder of Leonardo Physical Therapy in Wilmington, MA. Jim lost a courageous battle with cancer in June, 2009. Jim was a dedicated professional who left a legacy of compassion and intellectual curiosity. He was especially proud that he was able to complete his DPT, despite his failing health. We mourn his passing, and will continue to be inspired by his commitment to learning and quality care.
New Center for Physical Therapy Clinical Education and Health Promotion to Provide On-Campus Clinical Experience for Students The Department of Physical Therapy has always been known for its innovative methods of physical therapy education. That tradition continued in May 2010, when the MGH Institute opened the Center for Physical Therapy Clinical Education and Health Promotion. “The Center gives our students another way to get hands-on clinical experience,” said Jane Baldwin, DPT, Associate Director of Clinical Education and Clinical Assistant Professor who oversees the Center along with Clinical Assistant Professor Mary Knab, DPT, MS. Student clinicians, supervised by Institute faculty, provide pro bono services to individuals in the local community who may not otherwise have access to physical therapy care or those whose insurance benefits have expired but still need continued therapy. Students apply the skills they have learned from Institute faculty to care for clients with a range of orthopedic, neurological, and multisystem impairments. Depending on client and community need, group therapy/interventions, wellness intervention, and care for individuals across the life span may also be introduced.
Long-Discussed Concept The idea of creating a pro bono center for the local community had been discussed for several years. “The Center is one of the many ways that our students are able to embrace and exercise the core values of our profession,” added Dr. Knab. International students in the Master of Science in Physical Therapy program are working with patients this summer. Students in the Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program are expected to be added in the Fall. The new Physical Therapy Center is the latest in-house clinical facility for Institute students. It joins the Speech, Language and Literacy Center and Aphasia Center for speech-language pathology students, and the simulation labs used by nursing students.
“Ultimately,” said Dr. Baldwin, “students from across the Institute’s disciplines will use all in-house facilities to become better interprofessional health care providers.”
Goals of the new Center 1. Provide opportunities for students to gain important experience in screening/examination, intervention, clinical decision making, communication, cultural competence, and development of professional core values. 2. Provide physical therapy services by screening for and direct treatment of impairments of the movement system that affect participation in daily life roles, as well as the need for prevention, health promotion, and wellness. 3. Address health care disparities by promoting access to physical therapy services for individuals who have limited access to health care. 4. Serve as a cost-effective model for experiential learning for students as a component of clinical education experiences. 5. Provide an opportunity for applying clinical skills that is fully integrated within the physical therapy curriculum. 6. Provide opportunities for interprofessional collaboration through direct client care and referral. 7. Provide a source of data for clinical research.
Dr. Jane Baldwin supervises Nidhi Shah and Hamani Thamhane working with a client in the Physical Therapy Center for Clinical Education and Health Promotion.
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Physical Therapy ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Charlestown Navy Yard 36 1st Avenue Boston, MA 02129-4557 (617) 726-8009
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Department of Physical Therapy Leslie G. Portney, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, Professor, Chair, Interim Dean, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Donna Applebaum, DPT, MS, Clinical Assistant Professor, Director of Clinical Education DJ Mattson, EdD, DPT, SCS, Assistant Professor, Coordinator of Entry-Level DPT Tracy Brudvig, DPT, PhD, OCS, Clinical Associate Professor, Coordinator of MSPT Cynthia Zadai, DPT, MS, CCS, FAPTA, Clinical Associate Professor, Coordinator of tDPT Amy Klein, DPT, DSc, OCS, Clinical Associate Professor, Coordinator of Clinical Residency in Orthopaedics
SAVE THE DATE Come Celebrate 30 Years of Physical Therapy at MGHIHP October 15-16, 2010 l www.mghihp.edu/pt30
Haiti Earthquake Prompts Alumna to Assist Victims When an earthquake struck Haiti earlier this year, Kristin Parlman, DPT ’03, PT, NCS, recognized that there would be a need for physical therapists once the immediate demands of acute care were met.
2003 alumna who gave the keynote address at the Institute Department of Physical Therapy’s awards ceremony at Commencement 2010 in May. “The prolonged immobility added to the complex injuries of these individuals,” she conAn inpatient neurologic Clinical tinued. “Despite the conditions Specialist in the Department of and the injuries, we found that Physical Therapy at Massachusetts the people of Haiti were some General Hospital, Dr. Parlman of the most motivated and teamed with Jane Evans, OTR/L, resilient individuals.” CLT, the hospital’s Clinical Director of Outpatient OccupaOfficials estimate that as many as tional Therapy, for two weeks 250,000 people were killed and 3 this spring helping dozens of million left homeless in the wake Dr. Kristin Parlman in Haiti helping earthquake victims. earthquake victims through of the January 12 earthquake. Project Hope in the impoverished Caribbean nation. Part of Dr. Parlman’s work was helping to identify the The two women were among the first hospital staff to work resources needed to develop an approach to caring for the with patients on the ground; previously, patients were flown victims, including how Haitian health care providers will be to and cared for aboard hospital ships moored offshore. able to assume much of the long-term care while the country slowly recovers from the natural disaster. “By the time we arrived, some patients had received little or no follow-up care since their surgery and spent most of their “We can’t ignore the fact that the need for rehabilitation days lying on a cot in a hospital tent,” said Dr. Parlman, a services will exist long after we all leave,” she said.