Faculty and students from the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program braved the cold and snow earlier this year to share knowledge and further their skills at the annual American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Section Meeting (CSM) in Denver. Three GW faculty members presented work during the four-day event, the largest physical therapy conference in the country. The event included educational sessions, research updates, and new technological innovations to showcase top researchers and educators in the field. There were also networking opportunities. Karen Goodman PT, DPT, NCS, visiting assistant professor in GW’s Department of Health, Human Function and Rehabilitation Sciences, presented a poster on the feasibility of an interdisciplinary program to manage persistent pain.
“The main goal was to showcase that it is possible and necessary to construct an interdisciplinary program, such as the one we created at MedStar Health,” said Goodman, the academic director of MedStar NRH/GW Neurologic Residency Program. The program consists of a combination of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and neuropsychology in both group and individual settings to maximize compliance, participation, and education for students.
Marisa Birkmeier PT, DPT, PCS, assistant professor with the GW DPT program and the director of clinical education at SMHS, presented a poster on the benefit of engaging graduate education and rehabilitation students in a team-based practicum in early intervention (EI) for children and families. Feedback from students demonstrated that they felt more prepared and more confident in their EI skills after the four-week practicum.
The third GW faculty presentation at the conference was from Lindsay Garmirian PT, DPT, PhD, assistant professor at SMHS. Garmirian showcased results from her dissertation, revealing the musculoskeletal and neural changes in the upper extremity in patients with chronic stroke. “Our research found changes in muscle volume, muscular activation, and abnormal muscle control in the patient’s upper extremity,” said Garmirian. GW DPT student attendees found the conference enlightening.
“The enormity of CSM is inspiring, educational, and a bit overwhelming in the best possible way,” said Nikki Smith, DPT ’21. “The variety of educational sessions allowed participants to pursue different passions and subspecialities and to learn from experts in the field.” GW attendees are already looking forward to next year’s event. “It is so exciting to see students and new professionals explore the profession and create new relationships that will likely impact their professional careers,” said Birkmeier.