Message From the Program Chair : Physical Therapy : School of Health Sciences : Simmons College

Small classes, engaged faculty, a long history of preparing students for professional careers, and its presence adjacent to internationally known research and teaching hospitals makes Simmons Physical Therapy unique.

The Simmons campus culture truly sets it apart. When you step on campus you can perceive that spirit. I know that I did when I came to Simmons for my first visit; I instantly sensed the supportive student environment. This was reinforced when I learned of the historical Simmons Mission of preparing students for a path leading towards professional careers.

I first heard about Simmons when I was an undergraduate many years ago and followed its growth throughout my professional career as a physical therapist, but I never really appreciated the true value of the Simmons educational experience. I am pleased to now be a part of that experience and can build on the institution's strong past to contribute to its even stronger future.

We focus on the student:

Students learn affective, cognitive and psychomotor physical therapy skills in interactive and learning centered academic environments. Student service learning experiences provide students with culturally diverse opportunities in preparation for practice in the global community.

We focus on teaching:

Faculty members teach treatment based on most recent scientific literature and their scholarly work enhances the academic environment and clinical practice. Teachers of clinical courses are clinical experts, certified by the APTA and active physical therapy practitioners. Faculty mentor students to become leaders, to successfully face the challenges of healthcare and society. Clinical Education is threaded throughout the curriculum enabling students to apply their classroom learning to patient care settings at each level of the program.

We focus on the profession:

The entire program curriculum addresses the complex process of guiding the student from the classroom to the clinical experience, to become a compassionate, highly educated practitioner of tomorrow. We structure a learning experience that goes beyond the core curriculum. We far exceed the minimum curriculum standards as outlined by the Commission of Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education.

Our curriculum:

Simmons enhances the traditional core curriculum beginning in the first semester of the program by engaging students in small group case discussions. The ratio of faculty to students in these classes is 1:7. These seminars are based on the clinical material presented in that specific semester, as well as patient encounters during integrated clinical experiences. This combination of classroom, seminar and actual clinic experiences enable our students to actively learn to become clinical decision makers. Students, in addition to this combined learning experience, are taught to efficiently gather information from the scientific literature to assess clinical findings, determine a diagnosis and design an effective treatment program. The learning cycle continues when the student completes a 15 week internship in the beginning of their second year. Students return to the classroom in the spring eager to explore new course content in their classroom and seminar classes using their newly acquired clinical knowledge. The last year of the program is made up of a semester of capstone courses that bring together the entire curriculum and concludes with two final 15 week internships. Learning in our program does not end with graduation. We provide educational opportunities for physical therapists as they continue to evolve professionally, becoming life long learners throughout their careers.

Simmons Department of Physical Therapy vision is to be:

A national leader in innovative, interdisciplinary education that integrates academic excellence with rigorous career preparation, including outstanding internships, clinical placements, and research opportunities.
A vibrant educational community that prepares graduate students for lifelong career success. A community that:
- Is career-focused, student-centered and inclusive.
- Engages students in their communities and globally connected is committed ` to making a difference.
A Physical Therapy Doctoral Program that embodies and promotes the American Physical Therapy Association's Vision 2020:
"By 2020, physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health."

I am proud to contribute my experiences in patient care, business, the classroom, higher education administration and professional leadership to the dedicated faculty and students in this unique, supportive environment of Simmons. As the Chair of the program, I have the opportunity to further the program's mission of preparing Doctors of Physical Therapy to become autonomous practitioners, collaborative clinicians, accessible to patients and leaders in the profession in the 21st Century. I hope you will join us in this pursuit.

Thank you,

Dr. Z. Annette Iglarsh

Physical Therapy

» Message From the Program Chair

Small classes, engaged faculty, a long history of preparing students for professional careers, and its presence adjacent to internationally known research and teaching hospitals makes Simmons Physical Therapy unique.