Department of Physical Therapy

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Welcome DPT Class of 2012

Orientation for the Class of 2012 was held on June 4-5, 2009.  More pictures will be posted soon in the photo gallery.  Thanks to Ginny Leggett for leading the outdoor activities.  Welcome!

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Orientation for the Class of 2012

Fun at the Park

On June 4-5, 2009, the newly accepted DPT student met with the faculty and staff for orientation. After a day and a half of indoor activities, the class escaped to the park for some fun, get to know one another activities.  To see more pictures visit the photo gallery.

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DPT II Students Getting Practical  Experience

The second year DPT students are getting some real world experience by visiting Warm Springs this summer.  It looks like they are learning and having fun at the same time.  Steve Spivey has coordinated their learning visits.

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Dr. Rob Wainner Travels to Israel

            

Dr. Robert Wainner was invited by the Israeli Physiotherapy Society to provide the keynote address entitled "Clinical Excellence" at their annual convention in May 2009.  In addition, Dr. Wainner provided several workshops and lectures dealing with the hip and cervical spine and presented the results of his most recent publication relating to randomized clinical trial of manual physical therapy and exercise for patients with neck pain (Spine, 2008;33 (22):2371-2378).  The other guest speaker from the US was Dr. Stuart Binder-MacLeod who presented on the educational aspects of first professional physical therapy programs in the country of Israel.  The Israeli Physiotherapy Society has been a member of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy since 1956.  Of course, no trip to the Middle East would be complete without a camel ride - so Dr. Wainner made sure he accomplished this and many other things.  He was accompanied by his son Joshua on the trip.

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Application Information for Class of 2013

The information and documents for application to the class of 2013 are now available in the Admissions Tab. Both application to the Graduate College and the Department of Physical Therapy are due October 15th, 2009 for the entering class of Summer 2010.  Applications must be complete at that time to be considered.  Complete applications for the Graduate College include application, application fee, transcripts and GRE scores.  Complete applications for Physical Therapy include the application, personal statements, pre-requisite course form, reference checklists and application fee. 

 

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Graduate Highlight

LCDR Mitchel Ideue

Mitchel Ideue graduated from Southwest Texas University (as it was known then) in 1990 with a degree in Physical Therapy. He then moved back to his beautiful home state of Hawaii, obtained licensure and purposely worked in different clinical setting to gain richer experience. His diverse experience includes serving as a team leader traumatic brain Injury in an acute rehabilitation center, staff physical therapist with homecare service and rehabilitation manager for rehabilitation service. He spent his free time as a part time physical therapy assistant instructor and travelled along the south pacific rim providing rehab instruction to various island nation hospitals. In 2007, Mitchel gave up his rehabilitation manager position so that he could provide physical therapy service to the wounded warriors in the U.S. Navy who fight tirelessly in the war against terrorism.

Mitchel's background in neuro-rehabilitation and management has resulted in his selection to Officer In Command of Inpatient Services at Landsthul Regional Medical Center (LRMC) Germany. LRMC is the largest American hospital outside of the United States and the primary medical treatment of casualties of U.S. operations within Europe. There are 162 beds at LRMC, with an expansion capability in excess of 310 beds. There are, on the average, 16 admissions daily, 37,00 outpatient visits monthly, 510 operations monthly, and 3 births daily.

"Considering my Hawaii roots, Germany is definitely cold, but the people and landscape are lovely. The work, though, is especially and personally rewarding" says Mitchel. His department provides care to all Wounded Warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan in need of services.

Mitchel is in his second year of voluntary service and is hoping to be accepted to perform services for a third year. He is able to perform such service because his family, especially his wife Susie Ideue (who also graduated from SWT), are most supportive with his commitment to support the troops in the war effort. Susie has visited Mitchel at LRMC and observed the exceptional care provided to the wounded. Her firsthand observation of care to Wounded Warriors has resulted in offering her professional service as Trainer in Performance Improvement or any voluntary position.

While at LRMC, Mitchel has helped establish the first Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Program in Europe and worked with the Medical Department of the Navy to provide information and make recommendations to the Deputy, Surgeon General to improve access and delivery of trauma care. In his free time, he goes on surfing trips. He has surfed in France, Spain, South Africa and Maldives and ridden camels in Egypt.

Contact Mitchel at Mitchel.Ideue@amedd.army.mil.

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Student Update

The MSPT Class of 2009 has graduated.  The first DPT cohort 2008-2011 are entering their second year of the DPT curriculum.  And the second DPT cohort will start with orientation on June 4th.  See what the students are up to - check out this page!

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Clinical Faculty Member Highlight

Pieter Kroon 

Pieter Kroon is a physical therapist, a board certified orthopaedic physical therapist, and fellow, American Academcy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists.  Pieter is physical therapist at Sports Performance International, a clinic that focuses on evaluation and treatment of endurance athletes.  In addition, he is co-owner and program director of the Manual Therapy Institute, an APTA credentialed fellowship program in manual therapy.  Pieter not only provides clinical education experiences in his practice for our students, but spends countless hours in the classroom providing students an opportunity to learn from his vast knowledge and experience.  Pieter is married to Theresa and they have 2 sons - Ben and Sammy.  Thanks Pieter for all you do for Texas State PT but also the profession. 

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Physical Therapy Faculty

The PT faculty includes both full time and part time faculty.   Dr. Rob Wainner has been granted tenure effective September 2008.  He joins Dr. Barb Melzer and Dr. Barbara Sanders as tenured faculty.  Dr. Jason Hardage, Dr. Karen Gibbs, Dr. Denise Gobert, and soon to be Dr. Mary Elizabeth Parker are tenure track faculty members.  The great Clinical faculty members include Ms. Suzy Dougherty, Ms. Shannon Williams, Ms. Heather Mattingly, Mr. Steve Spivey and Dr. Rick Nauert (not pictured), Ms. Debbie Baylor (not pictured), Dr. Brenda Boucher (not pictured). Holding this group together with her great administrative skills is Mrs. Amalia Salas.  She has recently been joined by Sandra Cardenas.  This cadre of faculty have over 200 years of collective teaching and practic experience. 

 

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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. 

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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.

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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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TO Donate to the Department of Physical Therapy

Donate to the Physical Therapy Program. Click here.

Click on link.
Complete form.
Select College of Health Professions.
Select Physical Therapy.

Thank you.