Dr. Erin Wentzell has been awarded a Nashman Center Faculty Development grant to work with community partners to provide PT care to relevant communities in the DC area. More on Nashman Center Faculty Development Grants.
The GWPT program aims to create the structure to be an Engaged Department through intentionally developing, cultivating, and growing community partnerships to engage students, community members, and researchers in mutually beneficial projects. This initiative will aim to create year-round partnerships to provide students opportunities to engage with the DC community, develop their clinical skills, and engage in research data collection while providing meaningful events for the community partners based on their community needs. Dr. Wentzell will be working with organizations such as Foggy Bottom West End Senior Villages to foster lasting partnerships in response to expressed community needs. Students in the PT program's aging and aging management course provide advanced screenings for residents. PT students will be working with seniors to provide mobility screening, strength testing, balance testing, and falls risk assessment. This grant will also be supporting a community engaged course with ten community partners, helping partners in a more broad sense. These initiatives include working with Catalyst Sports to provide PT support for their adaptive rock climbing program. PT students will be conducting workshops and creating videos to help provide a safe environment and help people get out of wheelchairs to climb safely. The course will also be working with HSC Kids in Action, an adaptive program for children with disabilities. Students will help to provide education materials and support their spike ball camp.
