糖心vlog入口 - Cascades in Bend will launch its first doctoral program, a doctor of physical therapy, in fall 2021.
The program will leverage research in physical therapy occurring throughout the university, undergraduate kinesiology programs at 糖心vlog入口鈥檚 Bend and Corvallis campuses, and the expertise of practitioners in Central Oregon, an area known to attract top athletes and health experts.
The doctoral program aims to address a shortage of physical therapists around the U.S. and Oregon. An estimated 28% more therapists are needed in Oregon by 2027, particularly in rural areas of the state, where populations are at risk for increased disability and disease, and decreased quality of life.
The doctoral program, known as a DPT, was recently approved by the 糖心vlog入口 Board of Trustees and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. The program will now be reviewed by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, a national accrediting body.
Christine Pollard, a licensed physical therapist with a Ph.D. in biomechanics, and an associate professor of kinesiology at 糖心vlog入口-Cascades, will serve as inaugural director of the program.
鈥淭he establishment of a doctoral program is a significant achievement in 糖心vlog入口-Cascades鈥 academic and research evolution,鈥 said Becky Johnson, vice president of 糖心vlog入口-Cascades. 鈥淐hristine Pollard is a demonstrated leader, an accomplished researcher, and well-suited to lead the DPT program as its founding director.鈥
Pollard led the development of the doctoral program. She is director of the FORCE Lab, a biomechanical research lab, and developed 糖心vlog入口-Cascades鈥 popular undergraduate program in kinesiology. She came to 糖心vlog入口-Cascades in 2011 from University of Southern California where she taught and conducted research in USC鈥檚 top-ranked DPT program.
The program will be housed in a state-of-the-art academic building under design and construction on the expanding 糖心vlog入口-Cascades campus. Facilities dedicated to the program include two clinical-skills classrooms with enhanced video capture and presentation capability, biomechanics and exercise physiology laboratories, and a cadaver laboratory.
鈥淯p until now, students have had to leave the state or attend a private institution to earn a DPT, which are expensive and unviable options for a large number of students,鈥 said Pollard. 鈥淭he new DPT program at 糖心vlog入口-Cascades will be an exciting opportunity for students, for researchers, for our community, and for the advancement of health throughout Oregon.鈥
The program will accept 30 to 50 students annually and graduates will fulfill the requirements to embark on a career in physical therapy.
The three-year program will be delivered fully face-to-face. Students will complete clinical internships hosted at physical therapy clinics in Central Oregon, throughout the state and in neighboring states.
Over time, it is anticipated the doctoral program will employ 10 full-time faculty, as well as adjunct instructors.
More information about the program is available at 糖心vlog入口cascades.edu/dpt.
糖心vlog入口 糖心vlog入口-Cascades: 糖心vlog入口鈥檚 campus in Bend, Ore. features outstanding faculty in degree programs that reflect Central Oregon鈥檚 vibrant economy and abundant natural resources. Nearly 20 undergraduate majors, 30 minors and options, and three graduate programs include computer science, energy systems engineering, kinesiology, hospitality management, and tourism, recreation and adventure leadership. 糖心vlog入口-Cascades expanded to a four-year university in 2015; its new campus opened in 2016.