SHRS Blog

When I was first applying to colleges, I didn’t know what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go. I knew I wanted to work in the medical field and be a physician assistant (PA), but didn’t quite know how I would get there or what undergraduate degree would set me on the right path. 

“Anybody who is different is looked at and stared at. That happens around the globe,” observes Sue Whitney when asked how society views children with cerebral palsy (CP).  

As co-director and professor of the Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS), Whitney has decades of experience teaching students and working with adults and children who have neuromuscular movement disorders. For children, a life of independence and prosperity could easily be disregarded by society. Their ungainly stance and inability to control subtle motor skills, like hand movements, elicit stares and often relegate them to a life of constant caregiving by family and special education classes in school. “It’s really hard for parents,” Whitney continues. “I think it’s especially hard because these kids grow older and become adults, and I think people are nicer to children than they are to adults. We need to train children to be productive members of society so that they can be employed.” 

Kori Morgan completed the APP course last fall and is a nurse practitioner at UPMC Central PA in the Primary Care division. Currently, she is the program manager of the Advanced Practice Providers (APPs). Read more about her time in the program.

As an alumna, instructor and now vice chair of Post-Professional Education of Pitt’s PT Department, I am uniquely situated to share the many benefits of the University of Pittsburgh’s Master of Science in Physical Therapy program. I joined the physical therapy profession after becoming inspired by the innovative work in the field of orthopedics and sports medicine that was occurring under the direction Dr. Freddie Fu and James (Jay) Irrgang at the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine. They were leading the way in new surgical and rehabilitation techniques that I wanted to be a part of. 

David Gill is a recent graduate of Pitt’s Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) program and a veteran of the U.S. Army. Gill had an honorable career in the military prior to discovering his interest in health informatics; a passion that brought him to our Department of Health Information Management. He is now the chief of Patient Administration at Keller Army Community Hospital in West Point, NY. We asked him a few questions about his health informatics journey to where he is today.

Student engagement refers to the manner in which students behave by taking advantage of opportunities outside of the classroom that ultimately allow for stimulation. It has become an increasingly important measure of social and academic success. Experiences like research, Co-Op, internships and community service allow Master of Rehabilitation Technology (MRT) students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to hands-on, real-world situations. 

Physical Therapy is traditionally taught in a residential format where students come into a program, learn and practice concepts and techniques and then apply them to patient models to put theory and skills into practice. However, the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program wants to educate aspiring physical therapists, no matter where they are. At the University of Pittsburgh, they can, because DPT is now offered in a hybrid format. 

UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Leadership Certificate Course yields competent and knowledgeable leaders at the end of each session. The program educates aspiring APP leaders--Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants and allows for these influencers to inspire, impact and interact with one another to help develop full and well-rounded perspectives in their fields to provide the best patient care. 

Graduate school is a time of excitement and significant professional growth that will propel you towards amazing professional career opportunities. However, life continues while completing the academic and clinical requirements of graduate study. There can be unforeseen hurdles and stressors that challenge your mental wellbeing as you navigate personal and professional responsibilities.

The University of Pittsburgh Department of Occupational Therapy (OT) has much to offer. Currently, Pitt’s OT program is ranked #3* in the nation and is the highest ranked program in the state of Pennsylvania. Our 19 full-time faculty, researchers and changemakers are experts in a wide range of areas, including pediatrics, older adults, acute care, post-acute care and so much more.

At the 2022 International Bárány Society meeting in Madrid, Spain, Professor Sue Whitney received the prestigious Hallpike-Nylen Award for her lifetime achievements in vestibular clinical research. This award is presented in honor of Dr. Robert Bárány, who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his fundamental work on the physiology and pathology of the vestibular system. Whitney, co-director of our Post-Professional Program in Physical Therapy, is the first non-physician to receive this distinction.

Megan Munson, graduate of the Sports Science Master’s program this spring, is ready to be a part time coach and intern at the Sports Academy facility at The Star in Frisco, Texas--the sports performance wing of the Baylor, Scott, and White Sports Therapy and Research campus. It’s better known as the headquarters for the Dallas Cowboys.