When more than 10,000 physical therapy professionals from around the country gathered at the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in San Antonio, Texas, a professor and four students from NIU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program were among them.
NIU Clinical Assistant Professor Dawn Brown and DPT program students Giovanni Regalado, William Malysa, Ben Lee and Dylan Lange took part in the four-day event which brings together physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and students from all 18 specialty sections including education, orthopaedics, pediatrics, geriatrics, and neurology.
“This premier physical therapy conference brings together more than 10,000 physical therapy professionals who convene to expand their knowledge and skill as it relates to educational and clinical practice,” said Brown, who also presented an educational session titled An Innovative Academic Leadership Toolbox to Transform Leaders in Physical Therapy Education. “It’s a great way for my DPT students to meet and network with other students, faculty, and clinicians from physical therapy programs and clinics across the country.”
First year DPT student, Giovanni Regalado, echoed the sentiment.
“I went in with an open mind and got to listen to, meet, and speak with some of the most knowledgeable physical therapists in a variety of fields,” Regalado said. “I walked away with a plethora of information that I will be able to utilize in school and practice moving forward.”
Student Dylan Lange enjoyed attending, and was also able to present his research on patients with Parkinson’s disease as a poster presentation.
“As a third year DPT student on external clinical rotations, I gained new insights and treatment methodologies that I was able to apply with my own patients,” Lange said. “Additionally, I was able to connect with both professionals and students. Overall, this experience is one I would highly recommend from a learning and networking prospective.”
Brown said it’s beneficial for both faculty and students to attend and present at professional conferences such as CSM as it broadens their networks and allows them to keep current with best practices in the profession.
“Attending CSM exposed these students to a whole new world of physical therapy beyond the four walls of the NIU DPT program,” Brown said. “I will cherish the shear excitement and awe that the students expressed to me each day of the conference. I hope that the students’ newfound enthusiasm to become physical therapists continues each year they progress through the DPT program.”
Learn more about NIU’s Physical Therapy program.
