国产传媒

DPT Student Life

In order to accomplish the mission of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Mount Saint Mary’s University, a wide variety of opportunities are available outside the classroom to broaden professional and personal development, increase social citizenship, and enhance ethical and compassionate practice. Consistent with the university’s mission, these activities including volunteering with underserved populations, serving the community, and advocating for the physical therapy profession ensure that our graduates are committed to using their knowledge and skills to better themselves, their environments, and the world.

Student Outreach Committee

The Physical Therapy Student Outreach Committee (SOC) was founded in 2018 by DPT students with the mission:

“To promote extracurricular student involvement in the field of physical therapy by providing opportunities to voluntarily give back to our communities, to keep students informed of current events relevant to physical therapy education and its scope of practice, and to encourage participation in educational opportunities presented by the CPTA and APTA to broaden student academic knowledge and professional connections outside the classroom.”

The inaugural SOC established three branches to accomplish this mission: Professional Development & Political Advocacy, Communications, and Outreach. In its first year, the SOC created and participated in events and programs to achieve its mission. In 2019, leadership opportunities were expanded to DPT II and III students, and two new branches were formed. The Social branch was separated from the original Communications branch to appreciate students’ specific interests and skills in digital media and marketing, and the Inclusive Excellence branch was created to specifically address issues of social responsibility and justice facing the PT profession.

 

DPT Student Outreach Committee

The SOC currently has branches in each of the following domains:

  • Faculty and DPT students at the 2024 CPTA Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA.

    Professional Development & Political Advocacy

    Coordination of APTA/CPTA con-ed courses and student sign up, advocacy opportunities in conjunction with the CA Student Special Interest Group student liaison(s), and reviewing weekly CPTA/APTA email lists to facilitate dissemination of relevant information.

  • DPT student volunteer at Rancho Los Amigos Roll Around the Ranch event with wheelchair basketball all-star.

    Outreach

    Coordinate volunteer opportunities local to LA. Develop long-term outreach relationships for different organizations relevant to PT and within the community, to educate the public about physical therapy practice and education.

  • DPT students on a sunset hike at Runyon Canyon Park.

    Social

    Coordinate cross-cohort social activities such as a Welcome Event and Bonfire Event. Facilitate social events with other nearby DPT programs. Facilitate 国产传媒 DPT Alumni-Student Mentorship Program.

  • three female students walking and smiling on campus

    Communications

    Work with other coordinators to promote their activities and events via social media accounts (i.e. Instagram, Facebook), fliers, email, etc. Manage and maintain social media accounts and online presence. Oversight of the annual 国产传媒 DPT community newsletter.

  • Inclusive Excellence

    Bring programming or create events raising awareness about issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion facing minority and underserved populations in healthcare and in the physical therapy profession.

Basic Language Skills for Healthcare Practitioners Courses

The Inclusive Excellence Committee from the DPT Student Outreach Committee has created a series of fundamental language skills classes for healthcare practitioners to help students and faculty make our patient-centered care more inclusive. These courses are live, online providing the opportunity for participants to practice during each course. Presentations for Spanish and American Sign Language have been offered.  Courses for additional languages are in development. 

Basic Spanish and ASL Presentation    Trauma Informed Approach Presentation   Break the Binary Resources

Hear from our students

I wanted to participate in the STEPtember challenge because I thought it would be fun to partake in this event and encourage my classmates to be a little more active and get those steps in. It also challenges and keeps me accountable for meeting my step count goal. It means a lot to raise awareness about cerebral palsy and money for more research to be done to support this population.
Elaine Ngo Class of 2026
Volunteering at Roll Around the Ranch for Rancho Los Amigos was a deeply rewarding experience. I witnessed the power of adaptive sports in fostering inclusion and joy. Being part of the Special Olympics for children was a profoundly moving experience. I had the privilege of cheering on young athletes and celebrating their amazing abilities. The joy and determination I saw were unforgettable.
Marian Dennis Class of 2025
Volunteering at the Summer Special Olympics was a great opportunity to use skills I've learned in the classroom and apply them practically. It was fun getting to talk with families and participants about their experience playing and competing in their sport. I enjoyed hearing each athlete's stories and helping them learn about what PTs can do.
Hannah Yen Class of 2025

Professional Development

March 16, 2018

The annual CPTA Legislative day brings together physical therapists, physical therapist assistants and students to learn about bills in the legislature that have a direct impact on the therapy profession. Attendees receive advice on advocacy from the CPTA lobbyist and public relations firm. Participants in attendance meet with legislators and their staff members who represent their home cities. Attendees experience first-hand what a strong grassroots advocacy program can do!

This year, three 国产传媒 students, Stephanie Horwitz, Michelle Dawkin, and Abdul Banafa attended. Half the day was spent being educated about the pressing issues and bills that would affect physical therapists in CA this year. The hottest topic was AB 3110, the athletic trainer bill, which would have given them a broader scope of practice that may have infringed on the physical therapist’s scope of practice. As a group the students spent the afternoon visiting each of their respective senators' and assembly members' legislative aides to make a pitch regarding the issues they cared about. They had the opportunity to meet with a senior aide in one office who took the time to listen and ask questions about their concerns and their thoughts about possible solutions. This experience gave the students a chance to voice their opinions and empowered them to engage directly with the people who make the decisions that influence our profession.

Group of students smiling

April 29 - May 1

Three 国产传媒 students, Abdul Banafa, Lisa Aletto, and An Luong joined 270 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students from 48 states who converged on Capitol Hill recently to educate legislators and staff about a range of important issues impacting the profession. Attendees discussed several issues, including:

  • The importance of integrating physical therapy into efforts to address opioid abuse
  • Passage of the CONNECT for Health Act (H.R. 2556/S. 1016), which would ease restrictions on the provision of telehealth under Medicare
  • Concerns about H.R. 4508 and its proposed changes to the Higher Education Act (PROSPER), which would affect student loan amounts, forgiveness, and repayment
  • The Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act (H.R. 302/S. 808), which would provide portability of malpractice insurance for PTs and PTAs who travel across state lines with professional and collegiate sports teams

Members also were trained on best practices for advocating through a variety of channels, as well as the role data plays in advocacy. Amy Walter, national editor of the Cook Political Report and former political director of ABC News, was the keynote speaker. The event also included APTA's annual recognition of outstanding federal advocacy efforts. This year, Linda John, PT, was awarded the Federal Government Affairs Leadership Award for her tireless efforts as an advocate, a Federal Affairs Liaison, a Key Contact, and a mentor. The association also recognized Sen Thom Tills (R鈥揘C) with the APTA Public Service Award for his instrumental role in including physical therapist assistants within the TRICARE system as part of the National Defense Authorization Act in 2017.

Community Service & Outreach

Elaine Ngo, Class of 2026
Elaine Ngo, Class of 2026

The Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Institute was founded in 2005 and established in New York City in 2015 by Australia’s Cerebral Palsy Alliance. They are the largest private funder of Cerebral Palsy research in the world. They support early detection & intervention, chronic pain, technology, regenerative medicine, and genomics. 国产传媒 DPT students volunteer and step up to the STEPtember challenge yearly to help raise funds for life-changing cerebral palsy research and innovation while reaching fitness goals.

DPT students posing at the SCI games

The occur annually in September. The Spinal Injury Games are designed for beginner or wheelchair sports enthusiasts and their families. The games provide an opportunity for participants to experience a wide variety of wheelchair sports. 国产传媒 DPT students volunteer and participate in the event.

“I loved attending the Spinal Cord Injury Games! Seeing so many SPT/SPTA volunteers representing their schools, networking with PTs/OTs, and cheering on the participants in competitive sports like rugby, basketball, and pickleball was amazing. I noticed throughout the event how each participant changed their body position and manual/power wheelchair to complete an activity. It shows that there isn’t one way to participate in a sport and highlights task variability. I can’t wait to attend in 2025!”
Anthony Montano
Class of 2026

Group of people on a beach with a blue surfboard

Founded by world champion quadriplegic surfer Jesse Billauer, Life Rolls On is dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury. Believing that adaptive surfing and skating could inspire infinite possibilities beyond paralysis, Life Rolls On began as a splash into the unknown on September 11, 2001; achieving 501c3 nonprofit status in 2002; and now touches the lives of hundreds of thousands. This year, 13 国产传媒 students volunteered their time for a full 8-hour day of water transfers, providing a means to surf for those that may not otherwise do so.

Group of people smiling

The Special Olympics transforms lives through the joy of sport, every day, everywhere. They are the world鈥檚 largest sports organization with intellectual disabilities: with 4.4 million athletes in 170 countries. In 2018, more than 1,100 athletes from across the Southern California area came to compete, making it the largest competition of the year. 28 国产传媒 students were in attendance offering physical therapy screening support for those competing through the healthy athletes booth.

Laura Hollison (‘25), Mars Dennis (‘25), Neal Samiana-Taitano (‘25), Marcos Soriano (‘25), Mitchell Peterson (‘26), Elsy Jermanos (‘26), Amanda Moushabek (‘26), Anthony Montano (‘26), and Samuel Churchill (‘26) hosted an outreach event for the 国产传媒 DPT program to introduce the students of Louisville High School to the world of physical therapy. Louisville High School is a college preparatory, Catholic high school for young women founded by the Sisters of St. Louis.

The DPT students contributed insight into how the profession changed their lives and encouraged these young women to chase their wildest aspirations. They provided the students from Louisville High School the opportunity for hands-on experience and observation by demonstrating orthopedic and neurological assessment, leading them through a workout circuit, and educating them about modalities used in physical therapy practice.