APTA Nebraska Podcast

E17 - Nebraska's PT and PTA Program Updates

• Brad Dexter • Season 1 • Episode 17

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This episode features updates from three of Nebraska's PT and PTA program directors, detailing recent developments within their institutions. Discussion points include program structure (e.g., small cohorts, hybrid options), expansion of clinical and community partnerships, and active research serving real-world patient needs. We also delve into new course offerings, notable student and faculty awards, dual-campus access, and hands-on learning initiatives focused on developing clinical judgment.

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SPEAKER_02:

Welcome to the APTA Nebraska Podcast, where we dive into the stories, challenges, and innovations shaping physical therapy in our state. We are here to advance, promote, and protect the practice of physical therapy, optimizing the health and quality of life for all Nebraskans. Join us as we connect with experts, share insights, and build community throughout our profession. Welcome back to the APTA Nebraska Podcast. My name is Brad Dexter, your host, and today's episode is a little more unique. Every fall, APTA Nebraska tries to put out information from each of our PTA and PT programs to share the good work that's going on within those institutions. And this year we wanted to try a different approach to that by sharing what's going on in each of our institutions via podcast. And so in this episode, you'll hear from three of our programs the PTA program at Methodist College, the PTA program at Clarkson College, as well as the PT program from UNMC. Admittedly, we'll try to continue to work out some of the kinks in the future so that we can represent more of our programs in the state, as many of you have been a part of those programs and are still invested in them as well. But without further ado, let's hear from each of our program leaders in those fined institutions. And I hope you guys, as listeners, enjoy this different way of interacting with the information.

SPEAKER_03:

Good morning, everyone. My name is Josh Walkenhorst. I'm a physical therapist here in Nebraska. I recently have taken over the position of program director and clinical coordinator here at Nebraska Methodist College for the Physical Therapy Assistant Program. We recently had some staff that have retired and now get to enjoy their lives. So I'm the new fresh face that gets to come in and looking forward to learning a lot around here and as well as the community. I'm from the Nebraska Med Center myself, so I'm looking forward to bringing some of my expertise to help our students learn. A little bit about our program. So we have uh up to 19 students each year that we're accredited for. Um so usually a smaller sample size, but that leads to a very good cohesion within our um classes. Um and you get a very wide range of birth of classes here. Um, you'll get your standard orthopedic knowledge and neuro knowledge, but we'll take the time to go through even some specialties such as amputations and um uh aquatics and things like that. So very fun settings to be in. Um most recently here, we actually are planning to help out with a women's health uh clinic here in the community um where we're gonna be offering massages and stuff from our students to the community to uh just kind of teach our ways of of getting involved in the community and helping out as we can. Um things that we're excited about here is in the next uh year we're gonna be adding a couple new classes. So one being uh physical therapy across the lifespan, um, which we'll kind of go through a lot of physical therapy topics, starting all the way at birth, and then moving all the way up into our geriatric age and things like that, um, which hopefully is gonna help us cohesively put a picture together of working with our patients. Um another class that we're gonna be adding is uh orthopedic interventions, where it's just gonna take our time to really focus about specific orthopedic uh orthopedic injuries. Um so it really kind of gives us a chance to really hone in and and learn a lot more uh about specific things, whether it's a rotator cuff or a knee or an ankle, anything like that. Um what I've learned so far as I've been here and what I really like about this program is it is very family feel. It is small, but man, you really get to know a lot of the students and the teachers. Um, and we all want to see each other succeed, you know. We we want the students to succeed, um, and even the students are very helpful to help the teachers sometime, you know, and uh um but that's where a lot of the fun is, and you know, we get things to do like uh Halloween events or um Christmas events, potlucks, things like that, um, and it makes it a lot of fun. Um the nice thing too is we tend to only have class about four days a week, so it does allow for people to work and things like that, because we know that students um need to make money while uh going into school. Um so that definitely is helpful um while they're completing their studies. Anyway, we're really excited about all the stuff that's coming and the new people like myself that is coming in, um, and we're really excited for the next batch of students. So um thank you, and we're uh looking forward to hopefully seeing you guys here soon.

SPEAKER_00:

Hello everyone, I am Jessica Neiman. I'm the PTA program director at Clarkson College, and I am thrilled to be able to share with you some of the remarkable highlights from this past year, everything from student and faculty awards to curricular expansions. Uh, but first, before we get into that, I'll give a quick overview of our program. I like to think of our program as a hub for PTA education because we offer two program options for the associate's degree. We offer a two-year traditional in-person option and a 16-month hybrid option for those with a minimum of 35 college credits. And then we also support lifelong learning for PTA and PTA clinicians by hosting multiple continuing education courses throughout the year. And we offer a Bachelor of Science in PTA degree for PTA clinicians who are ready to level up their career. We're going to start first with an inspiring story from one of our recent graduates, Olivia Estrada, who was honored with the Clarkston College Maltese Cross Service Award at the Clarkston College August commencement ceremony. Olivia completed over 300 hours of community service while she was in the program. She volunteered weekly at the Healthcare Heroes program, inspiring and educating elementary students about healthcare professions. She also supported children and adults with neurological conditions during volunteerism at MS Forward and the Pediatric Therapy Center. And while doing this, she was also dedicating time to her church. Olivia's dedication and compassion are a reminder of the powerful impact our students make beyond the classroom. Our faculty also had a standout year. Ms. Kat Purcell received the Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, and she completed her master's degree in healthcare administration. Miss Greta Schoneman was promoted to assistant professor, and Dr. Nathan Holm earned his award-certified orthopedic clinical specialist credential. And then additionally, Dr. Jessica Wisink completed an emerging leadership program in which she developed a project titled Elevate and Appreciate the Key to Employee Engagement. These accomplishments reflect the passion and professionalism that define our PTA faculty. The program itself continues to evolve in really exciting ways. Our transfer PTA program, delivered in the hybrid format, was uh ranked number one in the nation by Nurse.org for top online PTA programs. And I believe that this recognition speaks volumes about our commitment to accessible high-quality education. We also expanded our intra-professional education efforts this year. Our program has a long history of PT student and PTA student collaborations with UMC and Creighton, but this past year, in the summer, the experiences included client-centered care through a partnership with MS Forward, which is a gym serving individuals with neurological conditions, and PT students at College of St. Mary. Students collaborated in a semester-long project in which PT students conducted evaluations and developed plans of care while PTA students implemented treatments. It was a real-world learning experience that benefited community members while strengthening teamwork, communication, and clinical skills for students. And finally, this year we launched uh capstone poster presentation events. Graduating PTA students showcased their research and clinical insights to faculty, peers, and the broader community. It was a proud moment for all by highlighting the depth of their work and their readiness to enter the profession. I truly am encouraged by everything our students and faculty have accomplished, and I'm excited for what's ahead in the landscape of PTA education.

SPEAKER_01:

Hello, everyone. My name is Betsy Becker, and I'm the program director for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. I'm a professor there, and I also serve as the chair of the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, which includes our PT program as well as the occupational therapy program. And I'm really thrilled to represent the University of Nebraska Medical Center and share a little about who we are, what we do, what my role is, and why we're really just proud of our program. So as the program director, I oversee the curriculum, the development, our faculty engagement, student success, our research enterprise, and the service and administrative initiatives. I'm also proud to say that I'm an alumni of this program, which gives me really a deep sense of loyalty and commitment to the excellence that we have. And my passion lies in preparing future PTs to deliver the evidence-based patient-centered care while advancing our profession through the research and community service that we do. Our program spans just under three years and operates across two campuses in Omaha and Kearney. So we really serve both an urban and rural community area. And this dual campus, one program model, allows us to really meet Nebraska's healthcare needs. And we emphasize clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, PT and society, and team-based care that are all threaded through the curriculum. And in addition to our DPT program, we have a comprehensive continuing education opportunities, as well as our orthopedic physical therapy residency. Guess a few things about recent highlights. And this last year, they raised over$6,000 for the Nebraska Arthritis Foundation. We recently had a career fair where we connected with 60 employers, a lot of who are alumni or are clinical instructors. We also have a Go Baby Go event that's interprofessional with OTs, engineering students, and in collaboration with the Monroe Meyer Institute, where we modify the small electric mobility cars for children. And then at their low cost, easy access way for young children with movement delays to really stay active. And these activities really showcase our academic excellence, but also our students are great leaders and engaged in service. A little about our special projects or research. Research is central to our mission. You know, we're an academic medical center, and students and faculty collaborate on projects ranging from fall risk reduction to rehabilitation strategies for patients post-ACL surgery, heart failure, innovation with educational technology, including virtual reality, blood flow restriction training, educational scholarly work. And I know I'm leaving some things out, but those are maybe some highlights that are off the top of my head. And these efforts have led to presentations at national conferences and partnerships that really move health forward. We also have a faculty member who has two patents, which is just really interesting. A little about some new developments. Um we've had some recent milestones in 2024. Our program received the University Wide Teaching Award, which recognizes our commitment to excellence in education and an esprit d'accord of our faculty. We've welcomed new faculty members who bring our fresh perspectives and expertise to our team while our emeritus faculty continue to stay actively involved even though they've retired. We host continuing education courses on a variety of topics. We're practicing clinicians. Recently hosted a three-week summer educational experience for international students, which really strengthened our global connections. Alongside these achievements, we've introduced anatomy e-learning modules to complement the gross dissection course. And we've expanded our curricular theme integration of lifestyle medicine and interprofessional teamwork to really keep our program innovative and responsive to the needs of healthcare and the workforce. So we think we stand out. We have an excellent reputation. And our students, graduates, alumni, and friends of the program really provide the energy and resilience to inspire us every day. And that's something that we're just really proud of. If you'd like to learn more about our program or ways to collaborate, we can connect on social media, uh, visit our website, and uh we look forward to hearing from people and um sharing the good work we do. Until next time, keep moving forward. And uh we think that's literal and figurative.

SPEAKER_02:

Thanks for tuning in to the APTA Nebraska podcast. Stay connected with us for more conversations that elevate our profession and improve the lives of Nebraskans. Don't forget to subscribe, share, and join the discussion because together we're driving the future of physical therapy forward.

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Brad Dexter

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Erin Isenhart

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Nathan Halm

Editor