St. Ambrose University Doctor of Physical Therapy Brochure

Doctor of Physical Therapy

{ goal } clinical experience

WHY ST. AMBROSE?

The St. Ambrose University Doctor of Physical Therapy department has a reputation for providing high quality professional and post-professional education. Physical therapy is one of the most needed and fastest growing professions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The DPT enhances clinical reasoning and integrates evidence-based practice in patient management, building upon the university’s history of liberal arts studies.

Faculty members include award-winning teachers, researchers and master clinicians; many are involved in on-going clinical practice and use their talents to enrich the community. Alumni are employed nationwide in almost every practice setting, including hospitals, private practice, outpatient clinics, sports centers and the armed services. And the new Center for Health Sciences Education facilitates interdisciplinary learning among nursing, occupational therapy and physical therapy students to prepare them for better communication and optimal patient care.

curriculum > The coursework is timely and relevant, crossing practice pattern categories defined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice.

> The professional, entry-level DPT is a full-time program completed in two and a half years.

Classes begin in the fall.

> Three admissions tracks mean students can apply in high school, during undergraduate studies or post-graduate. In all tracks, the curriculum is a mix of campus-based classes and 35 weeks of full-time clinical education experience.

> The optional clinical residency program in orthopaedic PT provides an extra year of specialty training. The clinical component is offered in collaboration with Rock Valley Physical Therapy.

Advanced coursework is completed at St. Ambrose. Upon completion, students qualify to take the specialty exam. It’s the only program of its kind in Iowa, and one of only 28 in the country.

Our students have consistently passed the

National Physical Therapy Exam at a rate higher than the national average. The class of 2009 had a first-time pass rate of

100 percent,

compared to the Iowa pass rate of 89 percent and the national pass rate of 87 percent.

OVERVIEW

> The DPT curriculum bridges theory and practice. Students complete several clinical education experiences, including three clinical internships, to gain skills in a variety of practice settings. Students explore specialty areas including cardiopulmonary, clinical electrophysiology, geriatrics, orthopedics, neuromuscular, pediatrics and sports.

> Students work closely with a faculty advisor on a yearlong evidence-based practice scholarship project. Students identify the most relevant literature to guide clinical decision-making and then share their work with practicing clinicians.

> A hallmark of the program is a focus on professional behaviors, clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice.

> A small class size of 36 students allows faculty members to provide personalized attention.

> Students come from all over the country, with undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of subjects. They bring diverse and pre-professional experiences to the classroom.

Classes include graduate students seeking their first professional degree and adults preparing for another career.

hands-on experience

Practice makes perfect. You’ll

get 1,400 hours of patient care experience in the clinical education program, working at seven sites for 35 weeks. You can choose from a pool of more than 400 sites, including general and specialized practice settings. Our Center for Health Sciences Education encourages physical therapy, occupational therapy and nursing students to learn together under one roof. The new building’s labs simulate real settings, including a hospital skills lab with 12 beds, a home health lab and labs that replicate outpatient rehab centers.

Did you know?

90 percent of St. Ambrose

{ take action }

University Doctor of Physical Therapy students accept job

Explore the curriculum and faculty in-depth and apply online www.sau.edu/pt

offers before they graduate.

Schedule a visit with a faculty member Email pt@sau.edu or call 563/333-6403

from degree to career

St. Ambrose is committed to your success.

Students often find themselves mentored by our experienced alumni for their first clinicals. The Career Center sponsors workshops to help students develop a resume and write cover letters, and hosts career fairs to assist in finding jobs, summer positions and scholarship programs.

Our graduates can be found working near and far. They take positions in Iowa, Illinois and throughout the country, from Florida to Oregon. They practice in a variety of settings, such as schools, orthopaedic and sports clinics and hospitals.

Alumni often earn board certifications in specialty areas, are promoted to supervisory positions, serve as clinical instructors and teach in physical therapy programs. They keep in contact with Ambrose after graduation and are invited to take continuing education courses.

Katie Swanson { goal } focused practice { reality } expanded horizons “ Don’t limit yourself. St. Ambrose allows you to get tons of clinical experience in a variety of settings. I always thought I wanted to focus on outpatient and orthopaedic PT. Now that I’ve been in inpatient, pediatric and neuro rehab settings, I’m open to more areas of the field.”

Katie Swanson ’10 DPT Walnut Grove, Minnesota

READ

more profiles

faculty system

www.sau.edu/pt

Our knowledgeable faculty and staff are dedicated to

helping you become a top-notch PT. They make themselves available to students who need advice and assistance outside of the classroom. They keep current on the latest PT techniques and technology by staying active in clinical practice, community service, scholarship and professional activities.

> No graduate teaching assistants; only expert faculty members teach students.

> The faculty has earned 10 board certifications and fellowships.

> The program hosts 60 guest lecturers every year, including physicians, nurse practitioners and occupational therapists.

Only at

Ambrose

> Students experience a spirit of cooperation and generosity in our program and on campus, which reflects the quality of life in the Quad Cities. They share classes with peers from the area who appreciate the convenience and flexibility we offer local residents, as well as with students who come here from locations such as Arizona and Minnesota. > Students take part in a range of service learning projects, including volunteering at local parish health fairs and homeless shelters, screening for high blood pressure at soup kitchens and building homes with Habitat for Humanity; some even worked on an “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition� project. > Students participate in state, regional and national PT conferences. Past trips to national conferences have taken students to Las Vegas and New Orleans. > Students are leaders on campus. Organizations like the Student Physical Therapy Organization, the Graduate Student Government Association and the Iowa Physical Therapy Association Student Special Interest Group enrich their relationships with classmates and working PTs through professional, social, fundraising and philanthropic activities.

{ reality }

creating hope

“ Ambrose taught me that physical therapists are a source of hope for their patients.

Having a positive attitude matters. We establish goals for patients and can help them to feel empowered.”

Tara DeWolfe ’05 DPT Pediatric Physical Therapist Genesis Health System

{ goal } outpatient training { reality } personalized treatment read more: www.sau.edu/pt

Kelly Kersten ’05 DPT, Outpatient Orthopaedic Physical Therapist, Rock Valley Physical Therapy As an athletic trainer for Rock Valley Physical Therapy, Kelly worked alongside physical therapists Mark Levsen and Kevin Farrell, faculty members of the St. Ambrose University DPT program who inspired him to earn a DPT. “One of the most valuable things I learned is when to use and when not to use certain techniques. Each patient is different. Some are appropriate for therapy, and some aren’t. It’s about helping the patient progress.” As a graduate of the DPT program, Kelly is now a Rock Valley physical therapist who works with outpatient orthopaedic patients, with a concentration on individuals with knee and shoulder injuries.

the bottom line

Financing a degree might seem hard, but

our students quickly learn that a St. Ambrose education is valuable and affordable.

by the numbers

> 100 percent: graduation rate

> 100 percent: employment

> Graduate assistantships, scholarship funding and undergraduate

rate within six months of

work study are available.

> Track I and Track II students continue to receive their undergraduate financial aid package during the first year of the DPT program.

> Many employers offer tuition remission.

> Many graduates receive sign-on bonuses, relocation assistance,

passing the licensure exam

> 100 percent: National Physical Therapy Exam pass rate for the class of 2007-2009

continuing education funding, professional dues payment and tuition reimbursement.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association. St. Ambrose University is accredited to offer this doctoral degree through The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Our Mission St. Ambrose University—independent, diocesan, and Catholic—enables its students to develop intellectually, spiritually, ethically, socially, artistically and physically to enrich their own lives and the lives of others.

518 West Locust Street Davenport, Iowa 52803 www.sau.edu/pt