Doctor of Physical Therapy – About

About

DPT Program Mission Statement

The Harrisburg University of Science and Technology Doctor of Physical Therapy program offers innovative educational opportunities that respond to societal needs. The Physical Therapy Program fosters diverse graduates who are competent, autonomous, and contemporary movement specialists with a foundation in evidence-informed practice and clinical reasoning. We prepare reflective practitioners who can think critically and provide culturally responsive patient-centric care.

DPT Program Vision Statement

Harrisburg University DPT program graduates exemplify the professionalism and leadership skills necessary to transform society by optimizing human movement.

DPT Program Core Values

Civic Engagement: Establish high standards of professionalism by engaging in the community through leadership and advocacy, both politically and non-politically, for the inclusive and equitable well-being of patients, the community, and the profession of physical therapy.

Global Awareness/Health Equity: Support local, regional, national, and global societies using movement sciences expertise to identify the cause and effects of inequity. We provide culturally responsive, comprehensive education to future physical therapists.

Ethical-Decision Making: Guide education according to the physical therapy profession’s core values and ethical principles. 

Communication/Teamwork and Collaboration: Inspire effective communication, mutual respect, and teamwork through culturally responsive collaboration with peers, patients, families, and communities.

Information Literacy/Critical Thinking/Evidence-Informed Practice: Integrate critical-thinking skills, clinical reasoning, self-directed learning, and evidence-informed practice for effective implementation of culturally responsive patient-centric care and societal engagement.

Entrepreneurship: Develop movement of science specialists who employ an entrepreneurial framework to pursue opportunities that generate value to satisfy individual, organizational, community, and societal needs.

DPT Program Goals – Student Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate the entry-level competencies to effectively implement the patient/client management model through evidence-informed practice across the lifespan of a diverse human population.
2. Apply critical thinking, reflection, ethical decision-making, and communication strategies into culturally responsive professional practice, which promotes a collaborative healthcare environment that optimizes outcomes across the lifespan of a diverse human population.
3. Integrate the core values of the physical therapy profession into actions that promote socially responsive, just, and equitable healthcare across the lifespan of a diverse human population.
4. Develop the lifelong learning strategies, entrepreneurial skills, and evidence-informed practices required of an autonomous doctoring professional.

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