Educating Physical Therapists – eBook

Modeled after the Carnegie Foundation’s example, Drs. Gail Jensen, Laurita Hack, Terrence Nordstrom, Elizabeth Mostrom, and Jan Gwyer began an examination of the state of physical therapist education in the United States in their study, Physical Therapist Education for the Twenty First Century (PTE-21): Innovation and Excellence in Physical Therapist Academic and Clinical Education. With the same team of authors, Educating Physical Therapists (PDF) documents this examination, detailing the key findings of the excellent study and expanding on its implications.

The textbook begins by looking at the current state of physical therapist education across the continuum, from professional education through residency, then continues by describing exemplars of excellence and best practices that were observed in academic and clinical settings. Through this survey of the profession, a conceptual model of excellence in physical therapist education is derived and presented with practical recommendations.

Areas addressed:

• The critical need for system-based reform
• Elements that promote a culture of excellence
• Academic and clinical organizational imperatives
• Critical needs for advancing learning and the learning sciences

Finally, after looking at the current state of physical therapy education, Educating Physical Therapists ebook looks to the future, providing a reimagined vision for what the profession and professional education could be. These recommendations for growth come with commentary by international experts in physical therapy education, providing a wide range of perspectives.

After an intensive examination of physical therapist education, Educating Physical Therapists is designed to change the way educators and administrators across academic and clinical settings prepare physical therapists for the future.

From the Foreword…
“The authors of this volume have much to teach us, and they have taught us well. We can accept their recommendations, or we can argue with them. To ignore them is not possible.” – Lee S. Shulman, PhD, President Emeritus, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

Review

“This is a must-read ebook for physical therapy academic professionals, clinic managers, clinical educators, or organizations trying to develop clinical and organizational excellence in physical therapy or physical therapy educational programing. The authors present an extensive re-imagining of the physical therapy educational system to address the current and future needs of the profession. The authors make recommendations from their extensive study and experience to promote positive changes within organizational, leadership, and educational structures to promote excellence as the common mission.” – Jennifer Hoffman, DPT, PT, OCS, Doody’s Book Review Service