25th Anniversary Gala
On Saturday, October 21, 2023, the University of South Florida (USF) School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences (SPTRS) celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the school and fortieth anniversary of the athletic training program during a starlit gala at Mision Lago Estate. The gala was full of entertainment, networking, and great food and drink to not only celebrate the anniversaries, but also to raise funds for the school. Read More
USF Health PT Center Moves
Moving an entire clinic can be a very daunting and cumbersome task, especially when you have to get it ready for patients only a few days later. The staff and faculty of the USF Health Physical Therapy Center managed that process recently when they relocated the clinic to its new home. Read More
Deadbug Day for Athletic Training
This summer our incoming athletic training students received their Nexxus Deadbug Sling Bag, which was designed and owned by one of our alums J. Ostia. Each year our athletic training program does a fundraising campaign to provide the bags at no cost to our students to use during the clinical experiences, and in the career after graduation. This year students were even more excited because they received special pen lights and a specifically designed side pouch for their bags.
Chalsty Rehabilitation Experiential Learning Lab Opens
The USF Health School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences has launched a new state-of-the-art simulation lab – the Chalsty Rehabilitation Experiential Learning Laboratory – revolutionizing the way students gain practical experience in the field. This innovative facility allows students to familiarize themselves with inpatient settings, providing invaluable hands-on training before they embark on their clinical education or begin their professional practice. Read More
Expanded Research at the School
The USF Health School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences (SPTRS) is taking strides to expand its research efforts and contribute significantly to the improvement of patient care and the advancement in the movement sciences, particularly in physical therapy and athletic training. With a vision to make lives better, the school is focused on internal and external collaborations, securing grants, and conducting research that addresses critical questions using scientific methods. Read More
Florida Physical Therapy Association Awards
The USF Health School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences (SPTRS) had a great showing at the Florida Physical Therapy Association (FPTA) meeting held recently in Orlando, with faculty and alumni earning three of the top awards presented.
- Laura Lee “Dolly” Swisher, PT, MDiv, PhD, FAPTA, Professor Emerita at USF, earned the FPTA’s Shelia Nicholson Legacy Award.
- Matthew Lazinski, PT, DPT, MS, associate professor and assistant director of Clinical Services for SPTRS, earned the FPTA’s Excellence in Clinical Practice Award.
- Aziza Swellam, PT, DPT, an alum from the SPTRS’ DPT Class of 2013, earned the FPTA’s Outstanding PT/PTA Team Award.
2023 Rebecca L. Stearns Korey Stringer Institute Alumni Award
Rebecca Lopez, PhD, ATC, CSCS, professor and director of Post-professional Graduate Advanced Athletic Training Program in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, recently earned the 2023 Rebecca L. Stearns Korey Stringer Institute Alumni Award.
Movement Science Pre-College Summer Camp
This summer the school launched its first summer camp aimed at providing local high school juniors and seniors with an opportunity to learn more about various movement science professions such as Physical Therapy, Athletic Training, Occupational Therapy, and more. Students had the opportunity to engage with faculty, staff, and students in various engaging activities, and learn about admissions, financial aid, and other opportunities USF provides. They also learned about biomechanics research in our lab, toured USF Sports Medicine and USF Health PT Center, and toured campus. This first summer camp welcomed sixteen students to campus from five different states.
International Society of Biomechanics Muybridge Award
Irene Davis, PhD, PT, FACSM, has received the 2023 Muybridge Award from the International Society of Biomechanics. A professor at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine’s School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Dr. Davis is set to deliver a lecture titled “Born to Move: Embracing Our Evolutionary Legacy” this summer in Fukuoka, Japan, as the organization’s annual meeting. Dr. Davis is the second woman to receive this high-profile international award. Read More
Professional Conference Attendance
This year our faculty had record attendance and participation at various professional conferences nationally and internationally. Our faculty participated in the following:
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Combined Sections Meeting (CSM)
- APTA/ACAPT Educational Leadership Conference (ELC)
- The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
- National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Annual Conference
- Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association (SEATA)
Faculty not only attended, but several provided presentations or posters, and served on various committees within each organization.
