Fifty-five students earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree during Arcadia University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Hooding and Degree Ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 7. Dr. Pamela Duncan, a nationally and internationally renowned physical therapist, epidemiologist and professor at Duke University, gave the Commencement address. Amanda Funk '09D.P.T. gave the Physical Therapy Student address and the National Anthem was led by fellow graduate Heidi Erin Fries '09D.P.T.

Fourteen graduates earned distinctions and 13 participated in international academic experiences. Read more and see photos from the ceremony. View Commencement Ceremony.

From left: Dr. Rebecca Craik, Scott Berger (Jill's husband), AaronThrush D.P.T.'09, Dr. Samuel Sisenwine (Jill's father), Phyllis Sisenwine (Jill's mother), and President Jerry Greiner.

Aaron Heisey Thrush '09D.P.T. was awarded the Jill Sisenwine Berger Physical Therapy Award on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Physical Therapy Commencement ceremony. Thrush is the first recipient for this award, presented to a physical therapy student who best exemplifies the core values of the physical therapy profession—accountability, altruism, compassion and caring, excellence, integrity, profession duty and social responsibility. The award is named after the late Jill Sisenwine Berger, an Adjunct Professor of Physical Therapy since 1998 who died after a battle with cancer. More. 

Examining and Treating Gait of Children with Neurological Impairment, a one-day course to be held on March 7, 2009, will focus on the comparison of atypical to typical gait in the pediatric population experiencing neuromotor disabilities. A case study will be presented for analysis and discussion with experiential learning through practice of treatment strategies with other course participants. Emphasis will be placed on using functional outcomes with task analysis to create an effective and efficient treatment sequence. This course is appropriate for physical therapists and physical therapy assistants who treat children towards a functional outcome that includes the gait process and pre-gait skill acquisition.

From left, Amy Love, Amanda Gerwer, Missy Lawrence, Marty Eastlack and Katie Mangione

Students Amy Love, Amanda Gerwer, Missy Lawrence—all graduating in February in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program—along with Dr. Marty Eastlack, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy and Coordinator of Admissions, and Dr. Kathleen Mangione, Professor of Physical Therapy, presented a poster at the Gerontological Society of America’s Annual Scientific Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. The title of the work they presented was “Do Changes in Motor Drive Account for Muscle Weakness in Active Elders?”

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