Thank you for your interest in the Department of Physical Therapy. You are considering a rewarding and exciting career that challenges you to promote health through the prevention, diagnosis, and ultimately the treatment of disease.
To prepare our students to face these challenges, our Doctor of Physical Therapy program incorporates interactive classroom discussions and laboratories, research, and clinical training. Our excellent faculty offer expertise in all aspects of physical therapy practice and model this expertise through continued clinical practice.
The classroom experiences in our educational program provides knowledge and skill in preparing future physical therapists (PTs) to provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Additionally, the variety of clinical rotations afforded to our students allows the opportunity for hands-on experiences under the supervision of experienced PT clinical instructors.
During clinical experiences, students with their clinical instructors examine patients’ medical histories and then test and measure the patients’ strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function. They also determine patients’ abilities to be independent and reintegrate into the community or workplace after injury or illness. With supervision of a licensed PT, student PTs develop treatment plans describing a treatment strategy, its purpose, and its anticipated outcome. Additionally, student PTs may interact with Physical therapist assistants (PTA) and PT techs during clinical rotations. In collaboration with the PT, a student PT may direct and supervise a PTA in implementing treatment plans with patients or in supervising a tech for support activities within the clinical setting.
I hope this gives you a glimpse of educational opportunities in our DPT program at UTMB. We are always excited to serve prospective students and look forward to meeting you soon. Come discover at UTMB why we are "Here for the Health of Texas."
Sincerely,
Carolyn Utsey, PT, PhD
Chair and Associate Professor
