ATSU-ASHS PT alumni and students reception held during APTA conference
Posted: February 27, 2020
Over 100 of A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) PT alumni, students, and friends gathered for a reception during the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Conference in Denver on Feb. 13, 2020.
ATSU-ASHS Dean Ann Lee Burch, PT, EdD, MPH, was joined by Lori Bordenave, PT, DPT, PhD, director of physical therapy at ATSU-ASHS, in welcoming faculty, students, and alumni and provided plans ahead for growth and innovation with examples across all five departments and 13 programs in ATSU-ASHS.
Alumni including Adrienne Parry, PT, ’08, and Andy Albrecht, PT, DPT, ’13, shared current practice experiences with the group and their own enthusiasm for the University, school, and program.
Alumni from as far as Puerto Rico were in attendance and spent time catching up with colleagues and friends.
Below is a summary of the updates that were shared:
- We continue to accept 62 students into the Physical Therapy program. Our first class of students under the new curriculum will graduate this year.
- Several new faculty have joined ATSU this past year – Pam Kays, PT, DPT; Carrie Robinson, PT, DPT, OCS; Virginia Little, PT, PhD, MS; and Kayla Black, PT, DPT, CCS.
- ATSU’s Center for Occupational and Physical Therapy opened in July. The center is a student-led, pro bono clinic serving the east valley. Faculty, alumni, and students provide services. Any alumni who are interested in working in the clinic should contact the program.
Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program:
- The program continues to be strong with 201 students and over 1,750 graduates.
- The program is going global by opening the program to licensed physical therapists from around the world, not just the continental U.S. and Canada. We currently have students studying in Hong Kong, Turks and Caicos Islands, Kuwait, Japan, Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency program:
- Currently educating our sixth cohort of residents.
- Four 2018 residency graduates passed their American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties Neurologic Clinical Specialist Exam in 2019.
- Currently applying for American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education program re-accreditation.
Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency program:
- The residency is doing well with 6 residents currently practicing in Arizona. The 2020 cohort is unique in a couple ways: They are our 10th cohort, and all of the residents are working with mentors in their clinics with professional roots at ATSU, this truly demonstrates the continuum of physical therapy education at ATSU. We have a unique clinical site this year on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Chinle, Arizona. And this will be the last cohort with Cheri Hodges, PT, DPT, in director position for the residency.
- Cory Manton, PT, DPT, OCS, will be the new director of the Orthopedic Residency Program, and we are very excited to have his new leadership in our program moving forward.
- We continue to have an annual series of continuing education with national and international experts sponsored by our residency program providing affordable opportunities for quality education.
- Just a quick reminder the alumni receive discounted registration fees for these courses, check out our website for details. Hope to see you all next year at 2021’s Combined Sections Meeting!