With a future shortage of physical therapists predicted across the country, Lynchburg College plans to launch a new Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program in the fall of 2010 in partnership with Centra.
In May, Lynchburg College announced the hiring of Kevin Brueilly, P.T., Ph.D. as founding chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Dr. Brueilly has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) since 1994, holding membership in the Acute Care, Education, and Research sections within the APTA.
He has been involved in many areas of the profession of physical therapy throughout his career, volunteering time and expertise to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy in many capacities. He also serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Physical Therapy Education, and Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and is an Editorial Advisory Board member of the APTA's acute care publication Acute Care Perspectives.
Dr. Brueilly comes from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans where he served as assistant professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. He has also worked at Texas Tech University.
Dr. Bruielly earned his B.A. degree from Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio; his master of physical therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine, Institute of Physical Therapy, St. Augustine, Florida; and his Ph.D. from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.
Dr. Brueilly will assume his position as of July 1, 2009. His initial work will include the design of the curriculum for this exciting new program for Lynchburg College.
The decision to offer the new three-year program came after an extensive feasibility study involving Lynchburg College, Centra, Rehab Associates of Central Virginia, Orthopaedic Center of Central Virginia, and Garman & Proffitt Physical Therapy.
"Every graduate program that Lynchburg College offers was created to meet identified local needs," said LC President Kenneth Garren. "The needs are quite real and the benefits tangible - hence the interest on the part of the local medical community. We are excited to be able to offer a doctorate program for the first time in the College's history."
"With a shortage looming across the country, we are excited to partner with Lynchburg College to offer this important degree program that will ultimately meet the needs of our patients and our regional community," said George W. Dawson, Centra president and CEO. "We believe this is a solution that will benefit our region and other communities across the nation for many years to come."
The number of physical therapy jobs is expected to climb 27 percent, from 2006 to 2016, creating 68,000 new jobs nationwide. This increasing demand will coincide with a growing aging population, a predicted rise in chronic diseases and obesity, and a decline in fitness. About 40 physical therapists are expected to graduate annually from the new program.
Nationally, there are only 210 accredited physical therapy programs, and LC expects its new program to be fully accredited by the first graduating class in 2013. In Virginia, only Hampton, Marymount, Old Dominion, Shenandoah, and Virginia Commonwealth universities offer DPT programs. Educational requirements for physical therapists have changed over time with the elimination of bachelor's degree programs, and master's degree programs being phased out. New programs must now offer a doctorate program.
As part of the partnership, LC is responsible for curriculum development and implementation, oversight of student admissions, personnel and faculty, and education equipment and facility remodeling. Centra and its physical therapists will provide clinical experience and observation for Lynchburg College students, and assist with program facilities, while also offering scholarships to students who will remain with Centra after graduation.
Applicants for the program must have a bachelor's degree. Nationally, a typical student has a 3.4 grade point average and three-fourths of candidates are women. Among the undergraduate courses that are useful when applying to a physical therapist education program are anatomy, biology, chemistry, social science, mathematics, and physics. Before granting admission, many programs require volunteer experience in the physical therapy department of a hospital or clinic.
Physical therapist education programs start with basic science courses such as biology, chemistry, and physics and then introduce specialized courses, including biomechanics, neuroanatomy, human growth and development, manifestations of disease, examination techniques, and therapeutic procedures. In addition to classroom and laboratory instruction, students receive supervised clinical experience.
As experts in rehabilitation, physical therapists help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and people with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.
Lynchburg College is seeking accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-/706-3245; accreditation@apta.org). The program will submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status nor does it assure that the program will be granted Accreditation.
For more information on physical therapy, visit the American Physical Therapy Association, www.apta.org.
For more information about the program, contact the graduate studies office by e-mail gradstudies@lynchburg.edu, phone 434/544-8383, or http://www.lynchburg.edu/dpt.