SC Wisconsin News

A community physical therapy clinic in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) is now operational at the Stevens Point Area YMCA. The clinic offers free consultations and services to the public while providing practical experiences for students in the university’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

The students participate in the clinic as part of their DPT Integrated Clinical Practice course sequence. This hands-on training begins at the start of the two-and-a-half-year program and continues until they commence their full-time internships.

“We start our students’ in clinical experiences right away,” stated Chris Durall, a clinical associate professor in UWSP’s DPT program. “In the very first semester of the program, students are working with patients and attending to their needs. As their education progresses, the students continue to apply their classroom learning in a clinical context.”

The clinic operates from noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. It is managed each day by a team consisting of three first-year students, three second-year students in alternating physical therapy roles, and supervising faculty. The second-year students provide mentorship to first-year students, supported by a UWSP DPT instructor or a volunteer licensed physical therapist who supervises each session and offers feedback on patient care.

“Having excellent communication skills makes for an excellent physical therapist,” Durall emphasized. “Our students need to have solid interpersonal skills to thrive in the clinic.”

Durall joined UWSP in 2021 and was instrumental in the establishment of the new doctoral program and clinical experience, which accepted its first group of students in 2022. The clinic, initially based on campus, transitioned to the YMCA to alleviate space and parking constraints.

“The program approached the YMCA about using space there and they’ve been very accommodating,” Durall said. “We are providing a service for under or uninsured community members, but we also see insured patients and help them connect with another local PT provider if needed. We want to help our clinical partners in the community.”

Ben Hoeger, a first-year DPT student from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, participates in the clinic on Wednesdays. He considers the clinical experience at the YMCA vital for student readiness as professionals.

“It’s a bit of a trial by fire,” he remarked. “We encounter different scenarios that apply our learning to real-life situations. Our professors are exceptional, allowing us to try with safeguards in place. They assure patient safety but also allow us to apply our learning and take a leadership role. We get feedback right away that helps us grow.”

Hoeger was drawn to UWSP’s program due to its emphasis on preparing physical therapists for service in rural areas, reflecting his own background.

“I hope to provide therapy services for those who may not have had local access in the past,” he said. “I’ve always had an interest in the human body, fitness, and helping people. Physical therapy brings my passions and interests together.”

Second-year student Caden Prahl, from Iola, pursued his studies after personal physical therapy experiences inspired him during high school injuries. He noted the value of the YMCA clinical experience in honing skills and gaining diverse insights from guest lecturers in the program.

“The clinical experience at the YMCA has allowed me to practice my interpersonal and manual therapy skills, think on the fly, prescribe exercise plans, as well as everything else that comes along with being a student physical therapist,” Prahl shared.

“The UWSP DPT program does a great job exposing us to such a wide variety of career opportunities with the abundance of guest lecturers who bring different perspectives on the profession,” he said. “This allows us as students to discover our own professional goals in physical therapy in different disciplines that interest us most.”

Prahl acknowledged Durall as a supportive mentor throughout the program.

“From great conversations about clinical practice on the walks over to the YMCA, to our mid-examination talks about what the next steps could be with individual patients, Dr. Durall has been extremely supportive of our learning,” Prahl noted.

Durall, set to retire in August, said, “Seeing them develop into professionals over time and seeing their growth during patient interactions as they pull their training together is very gratifying. I’m fortunate to be able to share what I’ve learned, and also to learn from them.”

Further details about the UWSP Physical Therapy Clinic at the Stevens Point Area YMCA, including appointment scheduling, can be accessed at the UWSP website, via email or by calling the provided number.