Department of Physical Therapy

Barbara Sanders, PT, PhD, SCS, FAPTA Named Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA

The American Physical Therapy Association established the Catherine Worthingham Fellows of the Association to recognize "those persons whose work, like the distinguished woman honored, has resulted in lasting and significant advances in the science, education, and practice of the profession of physical therapy". Catherine Worthingham (deceased) was an assistant professor and director of physical therapy at Stanford University and director of professional education at the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (now the National Foundation). She served as President of the APTA from 1940-1944 as well as on the APTA Board of Directors, 1932-1934, 1938-1940, 1962-1965. Dr. Worthingham was the first physical therapist to earn a doctorate. She was an exemplary leader in physical therapy education, science and practice for more than 50 years.

Dr. Barbara Sanders was recognized as an APTA Catherine Worthingham Fellow at the 2010 APTA Honors and Awards Recognition on June 17, 2010. She has worked throughout her career as an advocate for physical therapist education in particular the improvement of the delivery of entry-level physical therapist education. Dr. Sanders developed a mock clinic at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and was one of the first PT professionals to present and publish about this unique approach to clinical education. Later Dr. Sanders transitioned the PT program at Texas State from a baccalaureate program to a master’s and then to the doctorate of physical therapy. During this period, Dr. Sanders developed a faculty dedicated not only to the didactic education of students but also to instilling the professional responsibility of being part of the PT profession. An expert in sports physical therapy, Dr. Sanders presently serves as chair of the Department of Physical Therapy at Texas State University as well as associate dean of the College of Health Professions. An active member of both the Sports Physical Therapy Section and the Education Section she is a leader in the Academic Administrators Special Interest Group (AASIG) and has been instrumental in developing a proposal for the transition of the AASIG to the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy.
 

Dr. Sanders joins four other Texans (and two PT faculty members) as Texas Fellows of the APTA.

Pictured with Dr. Sanders (center) from left to right, Dr. Betty Protas, Dr. David Greathouse, Dr. Barbara Melzer and Dr. Scott Hasson

Welcome DPT Class of 2013

The 2010-2013 Class of DPT students had orientation June 3-4, 2010 and their first classes on Monday, June 7, 2010.  We would like to welcome this dynamic and excited group of students to the third cohort of the DPT curriculum.  The games in the park at Aquarena Springs on Friday afternoon were fun and helped everyone to get to know each other.  Welcome and have fun for the next three years!

Texas State PT Students in China

From May 17-29, 2010, three Texas State Physical Therapy students traveled to Hengyang, China for a two week mission trip to a center for abandoned disabled children.  They were part of a team with ten undergraduate Texas State students, a nurse, and a physical therapist.  The group spent six hours a day playing and caring for the children.  The therapy team implemented therapy techniques into playtime with the children and assisted Michele Harris, the PT and a Texas State PT grad, in adjusting the seating technology for the children at the center. International China Concern (ICC), a Christian organization dedicated to providing compassionate care for the children, operates the center.  The center houses 135 people of all ages from infants to adults.  ICC is fortunate to have several long-term missionaries including two nurses from Australia, an occupational therapist from Germany, and a physiotherapist from the UK.  The center has employed local Chinese people to care for the kids.  They maintain a strict 10:3 child to caregiver ratio in order to keep up the quality of care and amount of attention they can provide for the kids.  Some of the local Chinese employees have been trained by the long-term PT to provide daily physical therapy for the children.  Because the team raised more than was necessary to fund this trip, they donated enough funds to ICC in Hengyang to cover the rest of the physical therapy budget for the year.  Texas State is proud of Megan Legault, David Middaugh, and Jessica Wells.  

Picture in the photo on the left, Megan (orange horns shirt) David (in the back), Jessica (middle front) and Michele (in dark shirt by Jessica on the right).

Applications for 2011 Entering Class Now Available

Applications and supporting documents are now available for the Class of 2014.  This cohort will enter the program summer 2011.  Applications are due to both the Graduate College and the Department of Physical Therapy October 15, 2010. 

Kevin McHorse, PT, SCS - Outstanding Physical Therapy Alumnus

Kevin McHorse was recognized on May 6, 2010 with the first Outstanding Physical Therapy Alumnus Award.  Kevin is a physical therapist with Central Texas Pediatrics.  He has developed a specialty practice that is unique to central Texas and to much of the country.  As one of the few specialists in sports who have concentrated in the area of pediatrics, Kevin is an active member of the APTA Sports Physical Therapy Section and is in great demand as an educator for professional development programs.  Kevin also provides guest lectures at Texas State as well as serves as a Clinical Instructor for our students.  Congratulations and Thanks Kevin! 

Alumni Highlight - Brandi Smith-Young, PT, OCS,  FAAOMPT

Brandi Smith-Young graduated from Texas State in 2005 with an MSPT.  Prior to attending Texas State, she graduated with a degree in kinesiology from TWU.  While at TWU, Brandi contributed to two gymnastics national championships.  Upon completion of her masters degree, she pursued further education through the Manual Therapy Institute, completing her fellowship in manual therapy.  Brandi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy.  She has spent the last five years in an outpatient orthopaedic setting.  Her experience as a gymnast for 20 years, gymnastics coach for nine years and a former cheerleader for seven years led Brandi to start Perfect 10.0 Physical Therapy and Personal Training. Her background contributes a unique perspective to treatment of gymnastic, cheerleading, dance and related sports' injuries.  Perfect 10.0 Physical Therapy and Personal Training is an all-inclusive injury care, sport specific strength, and conditioning program designed to return athletes to their discipline, injury prevention, and enhance sports performance. 

Brandi is a life long gymanstics enthusiast and a professional member of the USA Gymnastics.  She has presented at the Gymnastic Association of Texas annual conference in 2008 and 2009.  She has been a guest lecturer at Texas State since 2009.  Brandi lives in Austin and married her long time high school sweetheart, Stuart Young, in 2008.  She credits Texas State with the knowledge, tools, and exposure to the Manual Therapy Institute to develop her clinical skills.  This opportunity has allowed her to meet her life long dream of giving back to the sport she loves so much.

www.perfect10physical therapy.com

perfect10pt@gmail.com

For stories about other alumni, please visit the alumni page. 

New Clinical Specialists

Texas State had five graduates recognized as new clinical specialists at the Recognition Ceremony for Clinical Specialists at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting on February 17, 2010.  We are proud to congratulate Merick Anne Stanchak, PT, MSPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, Kimberly Ann Rios, PT, MSPT, OCS, Stephanie Michelle Nino, PT, MSPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, Sheri D King, PT, MSPT, OCS, and Steve Edwards, Jr, PT, BSPT, OCS.  In addition, Mary Elizabeth Parker from our faculty recieved her NCS and Jason Hardage recieved his GCS.  Congratulations to all!

Physical Therapy Faculty

The PT faculty includes both full time and part time faculty.   Dr. Rob Wainner, Dr. Barb Melzer and Dr. Barbara Sanders are tenured faculty.  Dr. Jason Hardage, Dr. Karen Gibbs, Dr. Denise Gobert, Dr. Eric Robertson, and soon to be Dr. Mary Elizabeth Parker are tenure track faculty members.  The great Clinical faculty members include Ms. Suzy Okere, Ms. Shannon Williams, Ms. Heather Mattingly, Dr. Steve Spivey, Ms. Debbie Baylor, Dr. Rick Nauert, Dr. David Greathouse, and  Dr. Brenda Boucher. Holding this group together with her great administrative skills is Mrs. Amalia Salas.  She has  been joined by Sandra Cardenas.  This cadre of faculty have over 200 years of collective teaching and practice experience. 

Pictured above: front row: Salas, Melzer, Parker, Baylor, Mattingly, Cardenas; back row: Williams, Gibbs, Robertson, Gobert, Spivey, Hardage, Okere, Wainner, and Sanders; Not pictured: Rick Nauert, David Greathouse, Brenda Boucher

Texas State Faculty have taken the challenge.  There is 100% membership in the American Physical Therapy Association by the faculty of the Department of Physical Therapy.  This is the second year in a row that Texas State has achieved this recognition. 

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

 The program in physical therapy has been accredited by the Committion on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) since 1984.  The process requires periodic self study and site visits for continued accreditation.  The program is currently accredited for a ten year cycle; however, this has been extended with the implementation of the new Doctor of Physical Therapy (CPT) curriculum in 2008.  The next self study and site visit is scheduled for 2011.  The University and program are dedicated to the development of a comprehensive and sound education environment in which to produce graduates who are ready to enter the profession.  As such, we are dedicated to compliance with CAPTE criteria.  If any substantive changes occur in the program's admiistrative structure or function, the chair is required to notify CAPTE within seven days.  These include program leadership change, structure change, significant changes in program support, changes in admission class size, major curriculum changes.  Should anyone wish to contact CAPTE or to make a complaint, comments can be mailed to the American Physical Therapy Associaiton, Attention: Accreditation Department, 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1488 or by e-mailing to accreditation@apta.org.  For additional information see http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm.

Ask the Alumni

We want to add a new feature to the web site - Ask the Alumni.  We would love to hear from you so that we can develop a section that includes your comments.  Take some time and send us an e-mail at phystherapy@txstate.edu to respond to the following questions.

What did your experience at Texas State (or Southwest Texas State) mean to you?

What would you like to tell prospective students?

Please provide your full name and year of graduation.  We look forward to hearing from you.  As you provide your response you are providing your approval to post that response.  If you prefer not to be identified, please indicate that as well.

Notes from our Alumni.

TO Donate to the Department of Physical Therapy

Donate to the Physical Therapy Program. Click here.

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