GU DPT Program

First Year DPT students finishing up their summer semester before heading out to their clinical experience!

We would like to congratulate one of our faculty members, Jon Ulrich, on earning his PhD! WAY TO GO JON!

Some info about Jon:

Years at Gannon: 6

General subjects: Musculoskeletal content – foundations in human movement, musculoskeletal of the extremities and spine, advanced spine, and advanced pain science; Healthcare System and Policy content – US health care system, ethics, core values, legal aspects, business practice, and management skills.

PhD info: Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Learning and Leadership

Dissertation title: Leadership in Physical Therapy: A Qualitative Study

Dissertation info: I explored the lived experience of leadership amongst outpatient physical therapist clinic managers and owner in a single southeastern state. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to discern their experience with leadership and what they feel leadership is to them. I then compared their aggregated responses to the existing literature on leadership theory to look for congruencies.

This is important because it provides researchers with a framework through which to determine what leadership should look like, develop leadership within our field, and assess leadership for effectiveness to best lead the field of physical therapy forward.

Motivation: I chose to pursue this advanced academic degree to support my own professional development and the needs of the program. I also pursued it to develop a line of research and strengthen my capabilities in designing and conducting scientific studies.

Personal stuff: My wife, Kathy, and my daughters, Madeline (11) and Cecilia (9). Started as an outpatient orthopedic PT, did travel contracts for 3 years in a variety of settings. Settled down and ultimately ended up running 10 outpatient ortho clinics in the Northern Virginia region outside of DC. Move to Erie in 2018 to teach at Gannon! Maitland Certified (COMT) and TPI Level 1 Certified in 2015, OCS in 2016. BS in Rehabilitation Science in 2005, MS in Physical Therapy in 2006 – both from Northeastern University. Transitional DPT from Shenandoah University in 2017.

Congratulations to the Gannon University Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2024!

Class of 2024 Graduation Celebration! Congrats to the award winners! We are so proud of you all!

Second year DPT students learned all about wound care physical therapy this past week. We covered selective sharp debridement, wound dressings, ABI, and more with Cardio/Pulmonary Dysfunctions faculty

Congratulations to our outstanding DPT program secretary Elizabeth "Betsy" DeAngelo for receiving the Tracy Willover Staff Appreciation Award 2024 during Gannon's Celebration of Excellence!

DPT second years just finished up their second round of community volunteer days! Thank you to all the community members who came in to help us learn. Our students also got the chance to co-treat with occupational therapy and observe their treatments thanks to MOT fourth years. Great work everyone!

Rivals Linked by Pink is a local organization for Breast Cancer support. You can help out by signing up for their pickleball tournament this weekend at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScl9BxADigMCuw7nHhKbZ6PuJUrKXMm-jHJAFKYPfi7uowBbw/viewform

Gannon DPT Alumnus Spotlight: Ben Homan

Graduation year: 2022

Work Experience: "I have worked at UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, an outpatient orthopedic facility in Erie, since I graduated."

Certifications/ specializations: "I am working towards a certification in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy with the McKenzie Institute International. I am also using each patient interaction as an opportunity to learn and grow into the best possible clinician that I can be."

Personal Testimony: "What I enjoy most about being a physical therapist is having the opportunity to meet so many special people, and the inspiration I get from seeing the hard work they put into reaching their highest potential. Helping others improve the quality of their lives certainly improves the quality of my own.

Gannon best prepared me for my career by instilling early on that PTs do not treat knees, hips, backs, etc., but that they treat human beings. Being able to relate to and empathize with the patient in front of you is what makes PT an art rather than a science. It is the most important part of our job. I was fortunate to be around so many great people in my 3 years at Gannon that led by example. They not only talked the talk, but walked the walk when it came to improving the human experience.

My favorite memory from PT school is cutting down an obnoxiously large tree to put in the courtyard during the holiday season. It gave everyone in the program a boost of spirit that we definitely needed.

My best advice to anyone in PT school is to say yes to every opportunity that you can, kick doors open rather than waiting for them to open, and most importantly, remember that you are a human being first, and a doctoral student second."

“Physicians save lives, but physical therapists save the quality of lives.”

Thank you Ben, keep up the great work!

Join us in congratulating Dr. Roca on her recent interprofessional publication with colleagues from LECOM in Bradenton, FL!

Check it out:

A Rare Presentation of Multicanal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in a Premenopausal Woman With Osteopenia: A Case Report

assets.cureus.com

We are hosting a fundraiser all day at Primanti Bros tomorrow, Tuesday 3/19. Check out the attached flier for more information and thank you for your support!

And thats a wrap on DPTee’d Up’s 2024 run. Great playing everyone and thanks to Mercyhurst for hosting the Battle on the Bay and providing some excellent competition. Shoutout to our loyal fans, coach, and GU rec staff. Thank you for helping us through our successful season 🏀🙌🏼

With all the excitement around Gannon basketball this year, the DPT students had to join in too. Our DPTee’d Up intramural team came into the playoffs as a three seed and swept through the field to become IM Champions! We have our last game tonight against Mercyhurst University’s IM Champion, The Lake Show. Game will be played in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center at 5 PM with free admission. Game highlights will also be posted on our social medial page stories!

DPT second years are continuing to present their healthy living topics today in Morosky until 1!

Come visit us in Waldron as second year DPT students present topics on sleep, stress, physical activity, biometric screening, and technology! We will be here until 2 PM

Second year students learned about concussion testing and intervention in neuro 2 lab. Featured activities include the Buffalo Treadmill Test, Joint Position Error Test, and Brock String convergence. Great work this week everyone!

We hope everyone had a great spring break! Whether you had big travel plans or enjoyed a staycation, it’s time to get back to work 💪 Enjoy some highlights from our DPT students this last week

GU DPT is hosting a fundraiser through Blaze Pizza this Monday March 4th. Check out the flier for more information and thank you for your continued support of our program!

That’s a wrap! Gannon DPT faculty and alumni UKnight at CSM 2024! Check it out!

Highlights from GU DPT's 2024 trip to Mexico with Chosen

Quote from third year DPT student Derek Ekas about preparation and experiences on the trip:

"Throughout the last three years of classroom work and clinical rotations, our DPT staff has provided us with ample opportunities to learn and engage with those from the Erie community. Utilizing the valuable skills we have learned throughout our program, our small service group was able to make large impacts in the lives of over 85 patients in just a few days"

Great work everyone!

Join the Undergraduate PT Club next Tuesday with guest presenter Bill Anderson to learn about living with Multiple Sclerosis!

Going to CSM?! If not, know someone who is? Spread the word! Check out the details below for this year’s GU DPT Erie poster presenters! Be sure to stop by and learn more from our expert faculty, alumni, and colleagues about Interprofessional Education and Best Practices in Concussion Management!

TITLE: Evaluation of an Interprofessional Educational Experience in Cultural Competency
AUTHORS: Chelsea Lasky-McFarlin, Ashley Greenthaner, Rebecca Mokris
PRESENTER: Chelsea Lasky-McFarlin & Ashley Greenthaner
SECTION/SUB CATEGORY: Leadership & Innovation
PRESENTATION DATE, TIME, LOCATION: Thursday, February 15, 2024, 1-3 PM, Exhibit hall (Boston Convention Center)
POSTER NUMBER: 1144

TITLE: Concussion, Postural Control, and Lower Extremity Injury Risk: A Comparison of Postural Control Tests
AUTHORS: Courtney Roca, Rebecca Mokris, John D. Ranney, Emily Brewer, Kylie Chandler, Laura Schiltz, Amy Shirilla
PRESENTER: Courtney Roca, Kylie Chandler, Laura Schiltz, Amy Shirilla
SECTION/SUB CATEGORY: Sports/Concussion
PRESENTATION DATE, TIME, LOCATION: Friday, February 16, 2024, 1-3 PM, Exhibit Hall (Boston Convention Center)
POSTER NUMBER: 2403

Another week down in PT school!

First year DPT students learning joint mobilizations

Undergrad students practicing reflex testing

DPT Kickball Team

2nd year DPT students in cardiopulm lab

Last but not least for our DPT Class of '26 leadership, fundraising chairs Mike and Hailey. Congratulations!

Please consider supporting! Orders will be taken until 11:59 PM on Saturday 2/10. Donuts can be picked up in the student practice room at Morosky on Friday 2/16 from 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM. Delivery accommodations can be made if necessary.

Check out the link for more information and for the order form!

https://www.jotform.com/form/240286880906161

Introducing faculty liaisons for the DPT Class of 2026, Noah and Mattie!

Stop by The Brewerie At Union Station on Wednesday to help fundraise for Chosen from 5-8 PM

DPT professor Connie will be there from 6-7 serving drinks!

Introducing the DPT Class of '26 Social Chairs, Kelly and Julia!

PT Weekly Wrap-up! In order of appearance

Undergraduates participating in a disability awareness lab

Second year DPT students in cardiopulm and neuro labs

1st and 2nd year DPT students playing intramural basketball

Congrats to newly elected DPT Class of 2026 Treasurer Alison Gregori!