Message from the Chair
Welcome to Old Dominion University's School of Physical Therapy. We have been successfully educating physical therapists for more than 25 years and we are confident that our program is one of the best in the country. ODU graduates are well known for their excellent clinical skills and ability to work as part of a patient care team from the moment they start their first job.
What makes ODU’s School of Physical Therapy special? Our core and adjunct faculty are friendly, determined and in-touch with the changing world of clinical care. We don’t just stand behind a podium and lecture; we set up learning experiences for students to practice, apply, discuss, interact and analyze. Our students are bright, energetic and focused. I am always impressed by the caring spirit they show by engaging in community activities and service learning. It is exciting to watch students grow into professionals that I am proud to work with side by side in a clinical setting.
Think - Discover - Connect! These three words characterize the three main threads woven through the entire curriculum: Clinical Reasoning/Problem Solving, Evidence-Based Practice, and Communication Skills.
Clinical Reasoning/Problem Solving: Clinical work may seem routine on the surface ... another person with a painful shoulder, another baby with delayed development ... but each person is unique. The individuality that patients bring with them makes Physical Therapy a challenging profession. Students at ODU often work in small groups to figure out the best approach to a clinical problem or to create an effective treatment strategy. Each semester of the first two years features a Clinical Problem Solving class to give students time to integrate knowledge from all of the other courses. Practice cases are discussed throughout the curriculum, with time to ask questions, put forward ideas and look for ways to solve the daily puzzles that patients bring. Think!
Evidence-Based Practice: The practice of physical therapy is dynamic. As science progresses and new discoveries are made, treatment needs to progress. We expect and hope for change, but just because an idea is new doesn’t mean it’s good. New techniques need to undergo testing using scientific methods to evaluate their effectiveness and determine when and how to use them. And some techniques may sound good but they just don’t work at all. There are plenty of hucksters and snake-oil salespeople who want to sell therapists on their newest patented techniques or exercise gadget. To be well-educated is to be well-armed in sorting out the bogus from the beneficial. At ODU we work hard to develop in students the combination of skepticism and curiosity that will serve them well in throughout their careers. Discover!
Communication Skills: An excellent therapist must be able to communicate effectively with patients and their families, other health professionals, third-party payers, policy makers, and the general public. If we can’t explain what we are doing and how it is of benefit, why should anyone follow our advice, refer patients, or pay for services? That is why we provide learning opportunities that help students develop the communications skills they need to become successful leaders. Connect!
All The Best,
Martha Walker PT, PhD
Chair and Program Director
School of Physical Therapy