UNE students bring interprofessional physical therapy event to campus

UNE students in the Department of Physical Therapy have organized an interprofessional speaking engagement titled, “Functional Progression and Return to Sport: Utilizing Objective Measures to Guide Clinical Decision-Making.” The presentation will be led by Angela Hutchinson Smith, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, ATC, clinician and clinical instructor at the University of Deleware Physical Therapy Clinic, and will take place on April 17, 2015 at 6 p.m. in Leonard Hall on UNE’s Biddeford Campus.

This event was spearheaded by UNE Class of 2017 President and physical therapy student Ali Stanley. Stanley, aided by other undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of programs, submitted a Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA) grant application to bring Smith to campus. Through these efforts, students have created a unique opportunity to collaborate interprofessionally while completing a real-life case scenario.

The lecture will focus on several areas:

  • Identifying and discussing objective criteria to aid in determining when and how to progress an athlete through the rehabilitation process
  • Identifying and discussing testing measures to aid in determining if an athlete is ready to return to sport
  • Identifying the role of each member of the health care team
  • Discuss inter-disciplinary decision-making to maximize an athlete’s success

Smith is a board-certified orthopedic and sports clinical specialist, serving as the clinical liaison for several NIH-funded ACL research studies. She is a national medical classifier for Paralympic track and field athletes, and she specializes in pre- and post-operative management of ACL injuries.

Light snacks and beverages will be provided at this free event. Members of the public are welcome.