ANDRES TORRES & MARISA PEYERL 2022 clinical instructors of the year

The

Outstanding

Integrated

Clinical Education

Outstanding Clinical Instructor Award:

This award was established by the Physical Therapy Program to honor Clinical Instructors who have made significant contributions through their mentorship of our students during the clinical phase of the curriculum. The award recognizes the CI’s integral role in providing excellent clinical experiences to prepare well-versed, caring, and compassionate professionals who will lead the physical therapy profession in the future. The 2022 Outstanding Clinical Instructor Award went to Andres Torres, PT, DPT. Dr. Torres graduated from the CU Physical Therapy Program in 2015 and has continued to be involved ever since. He has been an integral part of the holistic admissions process and pipeline efforts in the San Luis Valley. For the past 7 years, Torres has been a dedicated clinical instructor for our students. Students have described Torres as, “an amazing professional role model, mentor, and friend.” Torres is committed to lifelong learning and creates a collaborative environment where students can learn right alongside him. He meets each learner where they are in their journey, providing just the right amount of challenge to ensure growth. He gives exemplary feedback, making sure to reinforce what students do well and offering constructive suggestions for change. He does a remarkable job of preparing students for rural physical therapy practice and welcomes them as part of the team. One student shared that Torres was, “the most supportive clinical instructor” he had ever worked with. “In these challenging times, Torres is kind every day.” Torres embodies all the values that our program tries to impart upon our students. He is an exceptional clinical educator; a leader in providing high quality evidence-based care to improve the health of individuals and his rural community. He is well-respected by patients and colleagues and is a wonderful ambassador of the CU PT Program. His genuine love for our students is appreciated.

Instructor Award went to a long-time clinical instructor and advocate for integrated clinical education, Marisa Peyerl, PT, DPT. In 2014, CU PT initiated a new curriculum which supported our program philosophy that students thrive through early and frequent exposure to real clinical practice. Within this new curriculum, our Integrated Clinical Education program places students in the clinic after only 10 weeks of education, with the focus on a team of 4 students integrating classroom and clinical learning. This novel approach to clinical education seemed daunting to many, but Dr. Peyerl said, “I’m in,” and has been an advocate and supporter of this model ever since. She created exceptional experiences for students and provided support for new clinicians willing to participate in this model of education. Peyerl not only embraced early learners; she excelled in building their confidence and preparing them for future clinical education experiences. Students commented, “Marisa is an excellent teacher – we feel so grateful to have had her as our first CI.” Peyerl exemplifies teaching excellence. An example of such excellence lies in her use of appropriately leveled questions in the clinic: students often comment on this skill noting she, “asked us a lot of questions, but it never felt like we were being put on the spot.” It is also important that students recognize how and why they are being guided through learning in certain ways. Student comments support this important aspect of teaching excellence in Peyerl stating, “When we asked questions in group discussions, she would have us reflect and clinically reason to try and brainstorm a conclusion before she gave us the answer. This helped build our confidence in our abilities to integrate the knowledge we have acquired in the classroom.” Both examples demonstrate attributes of highly effective and evidence-based teaching. Additionally, students frequently describe how Peyerl creates a safe space for learning, allowing students autonomy, while still providing a structured and supervised learning environment. She understands how to challenge students in a way that pushes them just outside their comfort zone, allowing them to grow in that space where some of the best learning happens. This can only occur with an educator who creates an environment where students feel safe. This award recognizes Peyerl’s excellence in teaching and her longevity in this role, setting the foundation for clinical learning in each student she has mentored.