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Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

  • Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • Ruskin, Florida
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  • Program Overview

    Physical Therapy Students

    Gannon University's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program strives to be a leader in educating autonomous physical therapists who participate in integrative and collaborative practice to facilitate high quality health and educational outcomes. We will be practitioners of choice in the community, recognized as experts in movement, function and health. As leaders we will embrace our social responsibility, promote humanistic care, and contribute to the profession's body of knowledge.

    The Gannon University Physical Therapy Program at Ruskin embraces the current APTA vision statement, "Physical therapists will transform society by optimizing movement to improve the human experience."

     Physical Therapy Students in Class

    The DPT program at Ruskin professes to:

    • Provide physical therapy graduate education of the highest quality to develop generalist practitioners, while emphasizing faith, leadership, inclusiveness and social responsibility. 
    • Prepare global citizens engaged in the community, who are service oriented and meeting  the needs of society.
    • Engage in faculty community-based scholarship with the movement system at the core of  all avenues of inquiry. 

    Amputee Day

    Gannon University is a Catholic, Diocesan University with 90 years of rich tradition in academic excellence. This success has presented the opportunity to develop a second community based DPT program at our Ruskin, Florida campus.  The Ruskin DPT curriculum begins in the summer semester. The curriculum includes four full-time clinical education experiences for a total of 40 weeks of clinical experience. Students are encouraged to travel for clinical education experiences. The curriculum includes 5 courses (Community Health Initiative I-V) that provide service-learning experiences with a network of community partners. Opportunities to work with students from other professions both on and off campus are abundant. Students are encouraged and supported to attend, participate and present projects at national and state conferences.

     

     DPT Lab

    What Makes Us Different

    • Leadership: Greater than 20 years of professional and academic experience
    • Laboratory Size: 10:1 Student-to-teacher ratio provides opportunities to work closely with faculty and peers on campus and in the community
    • Community Engagement: Students and faculty will embrace and strengthen the Ruskin, Florida community
    • Diverse Clinical Experiences: Presents opportunities to travel throughout the nation
    • Cutting Edge Technology: Students and faculty will utilize innovative equipment to develop highly-qualified clinicians 
    • Interprofessional Learning Opportunities: Promote collaboration amongst multiple disciplines and produce well-rounded leaders  

    Interim Program Director: Mollie Venglar, DSc, MSPT,  813-658-4930, venglar001@gannon.edu

     

    A day in the life

  • Financial Aid Award

    All applicants to the DPT program at the Ruskin, Florida campus for the Summer 2023 semester will be automatically considered for financial aid awards.  Admitted students will qualify for awards up to $5,250 per semester.


Student Learning Outcomes

  1. The program will provide a rich educational environment that produces graduates that can meet or exceed the demands of the current health care environment.
  2. Students and graduates will be reflective practitioners who utilize critical inquiry, the patient/client management model and evidence-based practice to make independent clinical decisions
  3. Students and graduates will provide services in the community that promote the health and quality of life of the community
  4. Students and graduates will advocate for individual patient/client needs as well as the profession.
  • Apply Online
  • Graduate Admissions

    Phone: 813-658-4900
    Toll Free: 1-800-GANNON-U

    Office Location:
    105 Commercial Center Drive
    Ruskin, FL 33573

    Email: graduateruskin@gannon.edu