The Physical Therapy Department Announces the Opening of an Evening/Weekend Physical Therapist Assistant Program in Manhattan.
The Physical Therapy Department is proud to announce the initiation of its new Evening/Weekend Physical Therapist Assistant Program. This new program is in addition to the full time day program, which has been in existence since 1996. While the program is open to all students, it is specifically designed to meet the needs of the working and non-traditional student. Evening students complete the same physical therapist assistant courses as the daytime student, however, this program affords them the opportunity to complete their Associate Degree at a slower pace. The program holds classes on Sundays and in the evenings. All liberal arts and physical therapist assistant course work leading to an Associates Degree can be completed on a full-time basis within 2-1/2 years and on a part time basis within 3-1/2 years. This program is open to anyone with a high school diploma, GED or its equivalent, who is interested in becoming a physical therapist assistant. All candidates must meet the requirements of the program, complete math and English placement exams and sit for an interview. Anyone interested should call or visit the Physical Therapy Program at 27 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010, (212) 463-0400 extension 254.
Physical Therapist Assistant Student Activities
Students of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program have had the opportunity to participate in many exciting activities. They have traveled to Albany with NYAPTA, to lobby with the Senate and Assembly for physical therapy legislation. Students Ekpo Bassey and Jessica Pepe have received leadership awards from APTA for their participation in local APTA and national student conclaves. At these conferences, students learned how our national organization runs, and what they can do to have a say in physical therapy policy making and civic affairs. Other student activities included holiday parties with the PT Masters students at New York City restaurants, fundraisers, trips to New York State APTA Conferences and reduced admission to continuing education courses sponsored at Touro.
Touro physical therapist assistant students have wealth of clinical education sites to enjoy for their affiliations, most of which are in the NY metropolitan area. Many of these sites are considered to be the best in the world. Some of our graduates have been offered positions by their clinical sites, where there is great opportunity for networking with others in the profession. Making connections is an important part of the student experience at Touro, where student participation in professional activities is supported and encouraged. The faculty is dedicated to helping students achieve success in fulfilling their dreams to be a part of the exciting profession of physical therapy.
Five Touro Professors Become APTA Clinical Specialists
Five Touro College Physical Therapy professors have recently become American Physical Therapy Association board certified clinical specialists. The clinical specialist designation indicates an extremely high level of proficiency in a particular area of physical therapy. All of the five professors are certified in the area of orthopedics. They include Donna Adams, PT, Joe Hayes, PT, Jill Horbacewicz, PT, Ray Mattfeld, PT, and Kevin Wong. PT. They join other members of the Touro college staff who are already certified clinical specialists, including Jill Auster-Liebhaber, PT, Pediatric Clinical Specialist, Sylvene Blisset, PT, Pediatric Clinical Specialist, Herbert Karpatkin PT, Neurologic Clinical Specialist, Teresa Schmidt, Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, and Ros Sofer, Orthopedic Clinical Specialist . As of now, less than 10% of all Physical Therapists in the United States are Clinical Specialists.
Student Activities of the Manhattan Entry-Level Physical Therapy Students
The Manhattan PTM students participated in a number of activities that were both enjoyable and beneficial to our profession. The PT class of 2001 joined with other NY PT’s up in Albany to lobby the Senate and Assembly for PT legislation. There are student liaisons representing each class at the greater NY district of the APTA. Jon Weiss (2003), Dana Lawrence (2001) and Allison Kosser (2001) recently attended a student focus group sponsored by the Greater NY District. Other recent activities included a "Therapeutic massage – a – thon" organized by Emil Euaparadorn (2002) and Daniel Pinto (2002). The money raised was used to sponsor a course on Myofascial release that the class of 2002 attended on their own time. Additional fundraising monies from T shirt sales and candygrams will be given to the Miami Marquette Challenge which raises money for the Foundation for Physical Therapy to sponsor PT research. Another student from the class of 2002,Christine Zic, attended this year’s student conclave in Cherry Hill NJ and many students from 2001 and 2002 attended the PT conference in Huntington. In addition, at the conference, Dana Lawrence (2001) was awarded the 2001 student participation award.
Physical Therapy Masters Manhattan Alumni Present Research
Carrie Schauer, MS, PT graduated from the Manhattan campus of Touro College in 1999. She completed an honors thesis entitled, The effect of Strain Counter Strain on pain, strength, and strength training. She presented her research in February at the APTA Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Ms. Schauer is currently employed by Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City and works on the spinal cord unit.
Tina Castiello, MS, PT graduated from the Manhattan campus of Touro College in 1999. She completed an honors thesis entitiled, The effect of ultrasound on stretching of the gastroc-soleus muscle. She will present her research in June at the National APTA meeting in Anaheim, CA. Ms. Castiello is currently employed at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City.
Current Honors Research in Manhattan
The Physical Therapy Students on the Manhattan Campus of Touro College are actively pursuing a research agenda. Although this is not a requirement for graduation at this time, eight students are currently undertaking four very interesting research projects, which are much needed within our profession. These 8 students are all on the road to graduating with honors: