St. Ambrose University Doctor of Physical Therapy Brochure
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Transcript of St. Ambrose University Doctor of Physical Therapy Brochure
{goal } outpatient training{ reality } personalized treatment read more: www.sau.edu/pt
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.
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.
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.
Did you know? 90 percent of St. Ambrose
University Doctor of Physical
Therapy students accept job
offers before they graduate. Explore the curriculum and faculty in-depth and apply online www.sau.edu/pt
Schedule a visit with a faculty member email [email protected] 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.
{ }take AcTIOn
READ more profiles www.sau.edu/pt
faculty system 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.
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
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
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
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.
> Graduate assistantships, scholarship funding and undergraduate
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,
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.
by the numbers
> 100 percent: graduation rate
> 100 percent: employment
rate within six months of
passing the licensure exam
> 100 percent: National
Physical Therapy Exam
pass rate for the class of
2007-2009