Faculty and Student Outreach, Program in Physical Therapy at the University of Minnesota

In March 2003 the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic was developed as collaboration between the Academic Health Center, the Community-University Health Center, the Center for Health Interdisciplinary Programs, and the Oliver Presbyterian Church.  Located in the basement of the Oliver Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, the clinic delivers affordable health care to one of the poorest areas in the city.  The clinic is staffed by a volunteer team of professionals from several disciplines; including medicine, physical therapy, nursing and social work. 

Participating students are scheduled by the Phillips Neighborhood PT representative Mondays evenings from 6-9 p.m and are supervised by clinical faculty from the community.  As part of this elective, students will be performing physical therapy examinations and providing treatment for a variety of conditions under the direct supervision of a licensed, physical therapy clinical instructor.   During this experience, students learn to interact with patients from diverse backgrounds and cultures as well as working with a variety of medical disciplines.

 Minneapolis Indian Health Services Diabetic Foot Clinic

In January 2005, this outreach experience was developed in collaboration with the already existing Indian Health Services diabetic clinic located in the Phillips Neighborhood of Minneapolis. One Tuesday a month the clinic provides preventative and wound care foot services to the Native American population in the greater Minneapolis area.  Physical Therapy students under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist work alongside physicians, nursing and lab staff at the clinic to address the complications associated with diabetes in a culturally sensitive manner.

Student Service Projects

Students in our second year DPT class also assist with developing health care programs for urban, rural and international communities.  Some of the projects the students worked on during the 06-07 school year include:

• The development of patient education materials for an outreach clinic in Niger, Africa.
• The design of a PT clinic for a new rehabilitation hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
• The development of smoking cessation materials and research regarding the history of tobacco for the Latino migrant community at Owatonna-Centro Campesino.
• The design of an exercise program for mental health clients at the Leech Lake Indian reservation and a research portfolio regarding the efficacy of exercise for this population for the health care providers.
• The creation of health access materials for Hmong teenage runaways in the St. Paul area.
• Formation and implementation of a workshop for Minnesota high school students interested in a Physical Therapy career.
• Development of a mini back care class and materials for a physical therapy clinic in American Samoa.