Department of Physical Therapy

News and Updates on Admissions for the DPT Program

New GRE scores

The Physical Therapy Student Selection Committee recently reviewed the minimum GRE scores based on the new scoring grid provided by ETS. Applicants taking the revised GRE exam must score a minimum of a 150 Verbal and a minimum of a 145 Quantitative.

Applicants for Class of 2015 (entering 2012) - DPT Class of 2015 has been confirmed

The Physical Therapy Student Selection Committee has selected 42 candidates to join us for orientation starting in May 31st and will begin the DPT program in June of 2012. Congratulations to those candidates that have accepted their position in the class.

Applicants to the DPT Class of 2016 - New Application Available after May 1, 2012

If you are looking to apply for the DPT Class of 2016, the application materials and documents will be available no later than July 1, 2012. For those looking to reapply to the program, reapplication procedures will be detailed in the application instructions. If you have any questions, please contact the PT Department at phystherapy@txstate.edu.

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PT Awards Night

The Department of Physical Therapy hosted their 3rd Annual Awards Ceremony at the LBJ Student Center Ballroom on May 3, 2012. Students, family members, faculty, and clinicians came together to celebrate the vast accomplishments throughout the school year. Thank you all for joining us on a fabulous evening and here are the awards that were presented:

• Academic Excellence - for all those students who achieved a GPA of 3.8 or higher
• Outstanding Students in Clinical Performance - Dr. Severo Saenz and Dr. Eleah Bason

• Outstanding Student in Scholarly Performance - Christine Utskot and Bryan Jacobson for their research work with Dr. Denise Gobert.

• Outstanding Students in Community Service - Ian Wallace, Tom Lawlor, and Christine Utskot

• Outstanding Faculty Member in Teaching - Dr. Suzy Okere

• Outstanding Faculty Member in Scholarship - Dr. Karen Gibbs

• Outstanding Faculty Member in Service - Dr. Denise Gobert

• Dr. Diana Hunter Award for Excellence - Dr. Matt Seliga

• Dr. Barbara Melzer Outstanding Clinical Instructor - Kerri Kallus

• Outstanding Alumna or Alumnus - Michelle Harris

• Outstanding Clinical Facility - Austin Manual Therapy Associates (James Harris, PT, OCS, FAAOMPT and Benjamin Keene, PT, OCS, FAAOMPT)

• Dr. Barbara Sanders Service Award - James Lorenz

• VIP Award - Seton Medical Group

Relay for Life

The DPT students participated in Relay for Life, which is an all night event that serves as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Our Texa State DPT team raised $1,610 for the society and were very proud to represent the PT Department as well as Texas State University. Students participated and placed in several events throughout the night. Thank you students for being involved in a great cause!!! 

(Posted: May 2, 2012)

2012 PT Olympics

The 2012 PT Olympics were held on March 30th and 31st at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Students participated in many events which included tug-o-war, softball, sand volleyball, billiards (singles & doubles, karaoke, wheelchair obstacle course, dance competition, dodgeball, basketball, and soccer.The PT students from Texas State came in 2nd place overall and were awarded the Most Spirited PT Team. Congratulations to all who participated.

Wound Care Instruction

Kate Young Biasiolli, a Senior Manager for KCI in Global Professional Eudcation, presented a lecture and laboratory session for second year students.  After covering the basics in negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), Kate directed a hands-on lab where students could practice V.A.C. application on "wounded" watermelons.  (One uninjured watermelon was consumed - they just smelled too good!)  Students also drew wounds on each other so they could apply the V.A.C. and feel NPWT for themselves.  It was a great lab and KCI donated all the V.A.C. supplies.  Thanks Kate for an excellent learning opportunity and thanks KCI for contributing to our integumentary program!

PT 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, and Dr. Eric Robertson.  The great Clinical faculty members include Ms. Suzy Okere, Ms. Shannon Williams, Dr. Steve Spivey, Ms. Debbie Baylor, Dr. David Greathouse, Ms. Mary Elizabeth Parker and Dr. Brenda Boucher. Holding this group together with their great administrative skills is Mrs. Amalia Salas and Ms. Sandra Cardenas.  This cadre of faculty have over 200 years of collective teaching and practice experience. 

Pictured above:
(front row) Baylor, Salas, Melzer, Sanders, Parker, Gibbs
(back row) Hardage, Cardenas, Greathouse, Robertson, Boucher, Spivey, Okere, Williams, Gobert, Wainner

Important Information for Our Clinical Sites

Changes in National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE)

and Licensure

Fixed date testing now in place.  The FSBPT has announced dates for fixed date testing in 2012.  Dates for testing in 2013 should be released in 2012.  Texas State is working with our graduating students so that they will be prepared to take the examination in July 2012 - the first dates when they are eligible following May 2012 graduation. 

For additional information, see the FSBPT web site at www.fsbpt.org .

Special Thanks To

The faculty of the Department of Physical Therapy would like to thank the many companies who support our program by their donation of time money, equipment and support. Thanks to:

3M                                                         EMPI, Inc                                           Osborn Medical Corporation
Action Bandage, LLC                               Exciton Technologies, Inc                    Regent Medical
Advanced Orthopedic Designs                  GaitRite, Inc                                        Sage
Allard USA, Inc                                       Healthpoint                                          Seton Hays County Medical
Carolon                                                  Heel Lift                                                  Center (Kyle, TX)
Carrington                                              Hollister Wound Care                           Seton Main Hospial              
Central Texas Medical Center -                                                                          SkiL-Care Corporation
   Department of Surgery                          Hydrofera, LLC                                     Smith & Nephew
Chattanooga Group                                 KCI                                                      St. David's North Medical
Christus Santa Rosa                               Lakeway Aquatic Therapy &                      Center (Austin, TX)
   (New Braunfels, TX)                                 Wellness Center                                Texas Neuro Rehab
Cody Burrough, PT, MSPT                       Lympha Press USA, LTD                      Texas PT Specialists 
ConvaTec                                               Medical Solutions                                     (San Marcos, TX)
DARCO                                                 Medical Technologies, Inc                      Travis Medical
Davol, Inc                                               Molnlycke                                            University Medical Center at
Derma Sciences                                    Orthotic & Prosthetic                                  Brackenridge, WC
Dewey Whisenant, MD                               Technologies, Inc                              Wake Pharma US
                                                                                                                        Warm Springs Specialities
                                                                                                                        Z - Medica

New Clinical Specialists Recognized at 2011 CSM

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

 Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commissionon Accreditation in Phyiscal Therapy Education(CAPTE) is required for licensure. The DPT program at Texas State University is accredited by CAPTE and has been since 1984.  The process requires periodic self study and site visits for continued accreditation. Texas State completed the process in 2011; the program is accredited until 2021.  If any substantive changes occur in the program's administrative 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 Association, Attention: Accreditation Department, 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1488 or by e-mailing to accreditation@apta.org.  For additional information see www.capteonline.org.

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.

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