First Commencement Held at the Anschutz Campus

Congratulations to the Class of 2008, and to our graduates from the tDPT Program! Their Commencement Ceremony was held on Friday May 23rd. Andrew Guccione, PT, PhD, DPT, FAPTA delivered the Convocation Address to hundreds of friends, family, volunteers and affiliates, who joined in celebration at the new Anschutz Medical Campus. Click here to view photos from the event. (to download a photo, double-click to enlarge the image, then right click and select Save Picture As...)

Drs. Schenkman and Rapport Receive APTA Awards

Margaret Schenkman, PT, PhD, FAPTA, Director of the Physical Therapy Program and Assistant Dean for Allied Health at the University of Colorado Denver, was recently named a Catherine Worthingham Fellow by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).  In 1980, the APTA established the Catherine Worthingham Fellows of the Association "to recognize those persons whose work, like the distinguished woman honored in this action, has resulted in lasting and significant advances in the science, education, and practice of the profession of physical therapy."  

Mary Jane Rapport, PT, PhD, and Assistant Director of the PT Program, has been named a recipient of the Lucy Blair Service Award from the American Physical Therapy Association.  This award acknowledges physical therapist members of the APTA who have made contributions of exceptional value at multiple levels of the Association. 

Both Drs. Schenkman and Rapport were recognized for their achievements in a ceremony and reception on June 12, 2008 at the APTA Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX.

Jennifer Hide elected to Colorado APTA Board

Class of 2007 Alumni Jennifer Hide, DPT was elected to the Colorado Chapter APTA Board of Directors as the Director-at-Large on Saturday March 29th.

Students and Faculty Teach in Nicaragua
3 CU faculty and 3 senior DPT students traveled to Central America in January, providing instruction in current physical therapy techniques and methods for fostering critical thinking skills to faculty at the University in Managua, Nicaragua.  Students Emily Baker, Kristin Carpenter and Rebecca Vernon assisted in the development of a series of instructional courses that combine classroom instruction with hands-on laboratory sessions, and presented these courses in Spanish to the faculty of the only physical therapy program in Nicaragua, located at the University in Managua, Nicaragua (UNAN).

The lectures presented current evidence-based practice in a specific topic area, and case studies were incorporated to enhance critical thinking skills. Laboratory sessions involved the demonstration and practice of manual techniques, as well as integration of lecture and lab material by live patient demonstrations.  The majority of instruction was performed at the University in Managua, however, students were exposed to other educational opportunities through site visits to various PT settings in local hospitals in Leon, as well as a prosthetics clinic (Walking Unidos),  and a training program for rural pediatric therapists (Los Pepitos). Faculty mentors participating in this elective were Jennifer Stevens, PT, PhD, Tamara Struessel, PT, DPT, OCS, MPT and Betti Krapfl, PT.

Rebekah Griffith, Class of 2008 is recipient of COAPTA ACE Award

In recognition her academic and clinical excellence, leadership ability, and potential to contribute to the PT profession, the Colorado Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association recognized Rebekah Griffith, a 3rd year CU PT student, at the Spring COAPTA Convention, held at the Anschutz Medical Campus on March 29th, by awarding her the Chapter ACE Award.
Chapter President Greg McCall noted many of Rebekah's achievements including her role as the Governmental Affairs Officer of the Colorado Student Special Interest Group, and membership in the Sections on Neurology, Orthopedics, and Health Policy Administration. Rebekah has held numerous student leadership roles at CU, including Presidency of the Student Senate, during which time she established the position of Student Vice-President for Diversity. She lobbied at the state level for passage of increased campus funding, and became the Chair of the Intercampus Student Forum and Liason to University President Hank Brown, all while maintaining a 3.868 GPA.
In the past year, Rebekah organized a student SIG/PAC fundraiser and is a participant in the National APTA mentorship program. She has volunteered for numerous APTA and CU PT events and activities, and is an exemplary role model for students of the physical therapy profession. Click here for a photo and more details.

In Memoriam:
Dorothy Hoag, CU PT Program Director from 1950-72

Dorothy Hoag was a mentor and teacher to many in Colorado, and will be fondly remembered. She passed away at age 94 on February 7th. She was a member of APTA since 1943 and served her country as a physical therapist for returning WWII veterans at the Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Aurora. She was technical advisor for the US Army film, "Toward Independence", which was produced to help veterans learn to adjust to their disabilities. The movie won an Oscar in 1948 for best short subject documentary. Memorials may be sent to:

Dorothy Hoag Physical Therapy Scholarship Endowment
University of Colorado Denver, Physical Therapy Program, C244
13121 E. 17th Place - PO Box 6508
Aurora, CO 80045

Tuition Award Program for Transition DPT Students

There is a Tuition Award Program (TAP) for the Transition Doctor of Physical Therapy (t-DPT) Program. TAP recipients will be granted a tuition award equal to approximately 50% of the cost of tuition during each semester in the t-DPT Program, with the maximum total award being $1,800.  All student fees, books, and other costs associated with enrollment are the responsibility of the student.  Click here for details and criteria for the Tuition Assistance Program.

PT Students lead the UCD Student Senate

A new slate of student officers assumed positions on June 1st, including Class of 2009 PT students Jennifer Volnec as VP for Communications and Hope Yasbin as VP for Legislative Affairs, serving as representatives of the entire student body of the Health Sciences Center.