Physical Therapy CUAA

Future physical therapists need more than information. They need space to ask questions, practice skills, and imagine the kind of clinician they are becoming.

At last week’s School of Health Professions Open House, prospective learners and families explored CUAA’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program through lab tours, faculty conversations, and a closer look at the hands-on learning that shapes our DPT experience.

Guests saw the simulation and skills spaces where learners connect scientific knowledge with real-world application, clinical decision-making, teamwork, and patient-centered care. For parents, the visit offered a meaningful look at the supportive community and faculty mentorship behind the program. For the PT community, it was a reminder of the importance of preparing compassionate, confident professionals for the healthcare team.

Interested in seeing it for yourself? Register below to visit the DPT program on August 4.

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Learning about childhood development is one thing. Experiencing it from the floor gives it a whole new meaning.

During a recent Neuromuscular I class, CUAA Doctor of Physical Therapy learners studied childhood developmental milestones by practicing activities that reflect early movement and motor development. Learners explored tummy time, block play, drawing, and other hands-on activities that help future clinicians recognize how children build strength, coordination, mobility, and confidence.

This kind of active learning is central to CUAA’s DPT program. Through hands-on practice, case-based learning, and real-time faculty guidance, learners are prepared to connect knowledge with compassionate patient care.

At Concordia, physical therapy education is about more than mastering content. It is about preparing clinicians who serve patients and families with skill, empathy, and Christ-centered purpose.

Leadership in physical therapy education matters because it shapes the clinicians who will one day serve patients, families, and communities.

CUAA is proud to celebrate Susannah L. Steele, PT, PhD, DPT, PCS, program director for Concordia University Ann Arbor’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, who was recently awarded a grant to support her participation in the nationally recognized American Council of Academic Physical Therapy’s Faculty Health and Educational Leadership program.

Through this national leadership development opportunity, Dr. Steele will continue growing in areas that support program innovation, faculty advancement, and mentorship for emerging leaders in physical therapy education.

At CUAA, we are grateful for faculty who lead with purpose, serve the profession, and help prepare future physical therapists for compassionate, evidence-informed care.

Congratulations, Dr. Steele, and thank you for your continued service to CUAA, our learners, and the profession.

Read more about the ACAPT FHEL program and the CUAA PT Program here:
https://acapt.org/about/awards/fhel-grant
https://www.cuaa.edu/academics/programs/doctor-physical-therapy/index.html

Learning beyond the classroom. Serving beyond ourselves. ❤️ Through hands-on clinical experiences, CUAA PT students are growing as compassionate caregivers alongside dedicated clinical instructors who model excellence, leadership, and service every day. From strengthening clinical skills to building meaningful patient relationships, these moments reflect Concordia’s mission of developing students mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the church and the world.

In healthcare, we serve people from all walks of life—each uniquely created in God’s image and worthy of dignity and compassion. Building cross-cultural awareness helps us better understand others as we live out our Christian calling to love and serve our neighbor.
BaFa BaFa is a game developed to offer a hands-on way to experience how stereotypes and misunderstandings form and to encourage reflection and growth. Grounded in our shared identity as God’s creation, it reminds us to treat every person with fairness, respect, and Christ-like care.

Today, the entire CUAA community – students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents and friends – will come together to make a difference in the lives of our UNCOMMON students. Every dollar in support of the Concordia Fund goes to help our CUAA students - nobody else.

Check out givingday.cuaa.edu to learn more!

Putting yourself in other's shoes (literally!) helps a practitioner understand their patients' struggles holistically. Today, our class of 2027 participated in a simulation to experience age-related changes in sensation. 👵👴🧓