Physical Therapy News : School of Health Sciences : Simmons College

Student News

First Year DPT student receives the Carol Waller Pope Award

The Carol Waller Pope award, established to honor The Black Alumnae Symposium Chair Carol Waller Pope ('74), is awarded to a student of color who demonstrates exemplary leadership. The 2007 recipient was Raven Jackson, a first year student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.

Ms. Jackson has been an active member of numerous organization and offices in the Simmons community including the BSO and gospel choir and the Admissions and Student Life offices. She was described by her faculty nominator as an example of an inspiring leader who is courageous, assertive, generous and caring. Her peer nominator described her as loyal, both tough and sensitive, and "the epitome of leadership" who provides consistent guidance to others.

Ms. Jackson sets a great example for all of us in her choices and actions as described by one other nominator, who noted that she is committed to young people, and respected by the people of all ages who work with her. And perhaps most important, "She is consistent in her plan to have a life that means something".

For the seventh time in nine years, a Simmons Physical Therapy Graduate Student Wins MA Chapter APTA Award

Each year, the Massachusetts chapter of the APTA presents the highly respected Ruth Hall award to one physical therapy student in the state who demonstrates the professional characteristics of dedication, caring and scholarship. This award recognizes the devotion to quality patient care and high standards of ethical practice of each recipient.

Elizabeth Schulte '09 received the prestigious Ruth P. Hall Clinical Fellowship Award at the APTA Massachusetts chapter meeting in November 2008.

Past recipients include Philip Cody Weisbach '07(pictured here),Saloni Doshi '05HS, Jenny LaFlamme '04HS, Geoff Gray '03HS, Pat Roy '02HS, and Karen Juda Weber '01HS.

Cody Weisbach, originally from Boulder, Colorado, said the award is a testament to the self-directed learning style engendered by the Simmons PT program. Weisbach commented that he chose the Simmons DPT program in part because of the case-based learning model. Cody was also a recipient of a competitive Dean's Academic Scholarship.

Faculty News

On June 17, 2009, Dr. Clare Safran-Norton, assistant professor of the physical therapy, addressed high school students at the National Youth Leadership Forum at Babson College, on the topics of "Health Care in the 21st Century" and the physical therapy profession. She also is the recipient of a post-doctorate research fellowship from the Health and Disability Research Institute at the Boston University School of Public Health. She will be on leave from Simmons for the next year while she pursues her research.

Dr. Z. Annette Iglarsh has been appointed chair of the physical therapy department. She is a national expert on physical therapy practice, leadership studies, and responsible conduct in research. Dr. Iglarsh comes to Simmons from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia where she served as the physical therapy department chair. She also has served two terms on the executive committee of the American Physical Therapy Association's board and serves on the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, and is currently a member of its ethics and legislation committee. Dr. Iglarsh has a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Upstate Medical Center(SUNY) Syracuse. She has an MBA from Loyola College in Baltimore and a Ph.D. in stress management and health education from the University of Maryland in College Park.