Sports and Orthopedic PT Clinic
	Tara Manal (left)-Director of Clinical Services Noel Goodstadt (middle)-Associate Director, Orthopedic PT Clinic Airelle Hunter (right)-Associate Director, Sports PT Clinic
The Therapists and Patients, Who Are They? The Clinic has recently gone through a growth spurt, currently employing 4 full time PTs, 2 part time PTs, and 2 sports residents, for a total of 8 licensed physical therapists. Notably, 5 of them are certified specialists by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Four of the staff are Orthopedic Certified Specialists, two are Sports Certified Specialists, and Airelle Hunter recently sat for her Sports certification exam this year. Laura A. Schmitt recently took the position of Academic Liaison for Clinical Education and Sports Residency Faculty member. The Clinic and its staff involve themselves in the community, contribute to research, sponsor journal clubs, and play a vital role in the clinical education of the DPT students at UD. Every one of the PT’s on staff is a Clinical Instructor, providing guidance and support for 6-10 students per year, yielding a 1:2 PT:Student ratio during students’ integrated Orthopedic experience in the first or second year of study. Students receive a well rounded experience in both Orthopedic and Sports PT while working in the Clinic. The Clinic sees approximately 270 visits per week. This is significant growth since1994 when the University of Delaware Physical Therapy Clinic expanded its care from serving only University staff, faculty, and students, to now servicing anyone in the Newark community and the surrounding regions. Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy Residency Training Programs. At the APTA Combined Sections Meeting in February 2005, the UD PT Sports and Orthopedic Residency Programs were recognized for achieving accreditation status. Everyone involved with the Clinic is very proud of this achievement. The Sports and Orthopedic Clinic offers 2 different, year-long Residency options, one in Sports PT and one in Orthopedic PT. Currently the Clinic has 2 Sports PT Residents due to the shift of the start times of the residency programs from August to January. This was in order to give UD graduates the opportunity to apply for the residency positions. After graduating with a degree in PT, therapists can apply to enter this year-long advanced training program to foster expertise in a specific discipline of physical therapy. In 2004 Airelle Hunter became the first resident to complete the newly credentialed Sports PT residency. Awards At the February 2005 APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in New Orleans, two of our Clinicians were honored with awards. Tara Manal received the Academic Education Award 2005 from the Sports Physical Therapy Section, and Laura Schmitt was presented with the Lynn Wallace Clinical Education Award 2005 also from the Sports Physical Therapy Section. Congratulations to both! Also to note, five Sports and Orthopedic staff members presented at CSM 2005. Research Both the Sports and Orthopedic staff are involved in supporting clinical research. UDPT Faculty members hold many grants for clinical research studies. The Clinic’s staff assists in implementing the treatment for participants in these research projects. Currently five such studies are being conducted. Current studies include one on Total Knee Arthoplasty, exercise pre and post ACL surgery, Osteoarthritis of the knee, and adhesive capsulitis in the shoulder. Community Service The Clinic is also involved in community service. Every September they participate in Newark’s Community Day, providing general physical therapy related health information to the public. Also the Sports and Orthopedic Clinic holds a weekly Injury Clinic for club athletes and performing arts students. For one designated hour per week both Sports residents and a senior therapist evaluate these injured students and determine if they need to be referred for an x-ray, a specialist consultation, for physical therapy, or rest. This is an invaluable service to students who have potential injuries and are unsure if/who they need to see for further treatment. Journal Clubs The Clinic sponsors 2 Journal Clubs. The Sports PT Journal Club meets monthly on the 3rd Monday of the month, and The Orthopedics Case Rounds will resume in the fall of 2005. The purpose of these Journal Clubs is to critically review the current literature on topics of particular interest to the Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Communities, and contribute well to a practitioner’s continuing education. These meetings are open to all interested practitioners. Please visit the Sports and Orthopedic PT Clinic’s website for additional information