At the University of Lynchburg DPT, we emphasize student participation in community service and professional involvement. Each year, our students complete nearly 4,000 hours of community service and almost 2,000 hours of professional involvement through our Student Professional Involvement program. The SPI courses provide students with the opportunity to earn program credit for their community service and professional involvement. Students will participate in the SPI program throughout all three years in the curriculum. The mission of the SPI program is to actively engage students in community and professional opportunities throughout the physical therapy curriculum to develop a lifelong commitment to community service and the promotion of the physical therapy profession.
In the first summer of the program, students select one of 5 community service groups to participate in for the duration of the Lynchburg DPT program. These community service organizations include:
- University of Lynchburg Community Health Center
- Wheels on the James
- Geriatric Health and Wellness
- Special Olympics
In the 1st year of the SPI curriculum, students take on a more participatory role in their community groups and explore professional involvement activities and specialties. In the 2nd year of the curriculum, students assume a greater administrative and implementation role in their community service programs and are more firmly established in their professional endeavors and activities. 3rd-year students move into a more mentorship role and the succession-planning phase for their community groups. They are responsible for administering the Fall Professional Symposium for the community and the 1st- and 2nd-year cohorts.
The SPI courses are an excellent way for the students to not only participate in community service, but also explore professional topics such as:
- Advocacy for the patient and the profession
- American Physical Therapy Association participation and meetings
- Promotion of the profession/networking
- Program development and leadership
- Community education
- Local/National/International service
- International service trips (currently have trips yearly to St. Lucia and Guatemala)
