UK Physical Therapy Students Are on the Move

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 7, 2012) − University of Kentucky students in the Physical Therapy (PT) program at the UK College of Health Sciences spend as much time outside the classroom as they do inside to receive the hands-on training they will need to be fully prepared to go into their perspective careers after graduation.

UK has a dynamic program that requires more than 35 weeks of clinical education per student, in over 300 sites around the world, most of which are in Kentucky and throughout the United States but also include Australia, England, Italy and Ecuador. Locally, UK students are active with area hospitals, UK Sports Medicine, private practices, Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital and other rehabilitation facilities all over Kentucky. During the course of their training, each student will go into an acute care setting, an outpatient setting, and a rehabilitation setting.

"As a resident of Kentucky for my entire life, it was important for me to travel as much as possible for my clinical rotations so that I might broaden my horizons and experience how our profession is practiced in other parts of the country and the world," said Chad Ford, class of 2012. "The highlight of my clinical education culminated during my last 10-week rotation in Gold Coast, Australia, where I had the privilege of working at John Flynn Private Hospital."

Every year, physical therapists help millions of people prevent the negative effects of injury and diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer, by recommending safe and appropriate exercise programs and facilitating mobility.  PT's also help people manage the normal mobility challenges associated with aging, accidents, and the stresses and strains of life.

The World Confederation of Physical Therapy says that evidence shows that people who stay active are more likely to keep working, engaging in society and enjoying life and that physical therapists have a vital role in helping them do so at every stage of life. This is the message that thousands of physical therapists are sending out on World Physical Therapy Day slated for Sept. 8.

"Any PT program is defined by its faculty, and this UK faculty is truly characterized by great breadth and depth in terms of specialty areas and clinical expertise," said Anne Harrison, director of Professional Studies in the Division of Physical Therapy at the College of Health Sciences.  "We place great value on teamwork, service, intellectual discovery, and professionalism, and try to impart those same values to our students. We are both student centered and patient/client centered.  I have worked here over two decades, and my sense of excitement over our faculty, student, and patient collaborations stays strong because of the energy of those around me."

Media Contact:  Ann Blackford at (859)323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu