Harrisburg University (HU) of Science and Technology is pleased to introduce Dr. Lori Portzer, Ph.D., ACSM-EP, as program lead of its new Exercise Science Bachelor of Science degree pathway program set to launch during the fall 2023 semester.
Having taught at multiple higher education institutions, Dr. Portzer brings a wealth of experience to HU’s Exercise Science Physical Therapist Assistant (EXSC-PTA) Pathway Program.
“Lori has a strong educational and career background, and her expertise will drive the University’s Exercise Science pathway program,” said HU President, Dr. Eric Darr. “We are excited to introduce our unique Exercise Science program under Lori’s direction this fall.”
The Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science Physical Therapist Assistant (EXSC-PTA) Pathway Program recently obtained initial accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP), the largest programmatic accreditor in the health-sciences field.
The program will offer innovative educational opportunities that respond to societal needs. The program, to be completed primarily online, will provide Physical Therapist Assistants with the opportunity for degree and career advancement through a hybrid educational model.
“The uniqueness of the EXSC-PTA pathway program being mostly an online curriculum and utilizing virtual reality to train already licensed PTAs is exciting,” said Dr. Portzer, who earned her Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in Exercise Physiology from the University of Pittsburgh. Portzer also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Activity and is a certified Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine.
“With the evolution of technology and the increasing demand for telehealth medicine, I look forward to being able to reach a diverse student population that will learn with the tools and materials that are at the forefront of the industry.”
With a part-time, primarily asynchronous program design, students will be able to continue to work as a physical therapist assistant as they complete the pathway program.
The program will foster diverse graduates who are competent, autonomous, and contemporary exercise physiologists who focus on the betterment of the health, fitness, and quality of life of diverse populations across their lifespan. Graduates of the program will integrate evidence-informed strategies into client management for the well-being of a diverse population across their lifespans.
Learn more about the EXSC-PTA Program at the following link.
Disclaimer:
Harrisburg University of Science & Technology is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on December 1, 2024. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the [professional/technical] phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in [professional/technical] courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Harrisburg University is a private nonprofit university offering bachelor and graduate degree programs in science, technology, and math fields. For more information on the University’s affordable demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, call 717-901-5146 or email, Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Follow on Twitter (@HarrisburgU) and Facebook (Facebook.com/HarrisburgU.
