In 2017, Elon University became one of very few universities in the United States without a medical school to have an in-house Anatomical Gift Program (AGP). The program accepts first-person-consenting individuals only and within 2.5 years has become self-sufficient, supporting anatomy curricular needs of its physical therapy, physician assistant,…

In Brazil, a federal law ensures that all students with disabilities are entitled to enrollment in higher education institutions. Higher courses in human anatomy stand out for their complexity in both theoretical and practical contents. Therefore, adaptation is required to accommodate students with special educational needs. This study aimed to…

Currently, the most common measurement of empathy is obtained using scales that offer a continuum between a minimum and a maximum value. The objectives of this study were to establish a norm and estimate cut-off points that would make it possible to assess the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) version for Health Professions students (HPS-version),…

Academic advising is a facet of academia that fosters the holistic development of the individual student. Faculty members have consistently played a role in advising students, but that role is not always clearly defined is relation to its alignment with institutional expectations, the specific needs of a program or the unique needs of an…

This paper draws on a study that examined the experiences of four high-achieving Pasifika physiotherapy degree level students to identify factors contributing to their success. As peer students, they identified five approaches that assisted them to become high achievers within the tertiary environment. This paper refers specifically to these…

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly changed the way that physical therapists provide care to patients, as well as the way physical therapy students and faculty learn and teach, respectively, in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs. Students and faculty quickly changed their teaching and learning methods when the curriculum was abruptly…

Reflective practice, in its comprehensive intent, allows a practitioner to make meaning of complex situations. While opportunities for developing reflective thinking are readily available in health professional education programs, opportunities for developing reflective practice abilities are limited. This pilot study was undertaken to address…

The National Academies Global Forum on Innovations in Health Professional Education held a public workshop in November 2023. Speakers explored how health professional educators and providers with health systems science (HSS) training can prepare learners to work together within health systems, resulting in better patient care, improved population…

Context: The role of a faculty member in higher education includes engaging in the 3 facets of research, service, and teaching. Allied health faculty members face additional responsibilities such as administration, patient care, and addressing external accreditation. It is not understood how junior faculty members balance these multiple roles.…

Learning occurs in many forms, and learning through mobile devices is becoming increasingly common in higher education. Potentially, there are many ways students may implement mobile learning to enhance learning, and this may be influenced by students' confidence and preferences. To identify mobile learning behaviours, biomedical students (n=189)…

Advances in information technology have changed how healthcare programs deliver instruction. Many students are attracted to distance learning because it offers flexibility, convenience, and independence. The fully Hybrid, Professional, Entry-level Physical Therapy program (DPT) at Nova Southeastern University's Tampa Campus is an excellent…

The physical therapy profession needs to increase the number of minority providers to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse U.S. population effectively. However, neither the student body nor faculty demographic adequately reflects the population, leading to the problem of practice: the underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minority faculty…

Physical therapy has changed from its humble beginnings as informal classes for reconstruction aides (RAs) educated in gymnasiums to the professional education programs for students graduating with an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy. The occupation, now a profession, complete with autonomy, direct access, and great responsibility for…

Recent advances in virtual reality (VR) technologies provide new opportunities for e-learning by giving the students an increased sense of presence. One of the VR technologies recently introduced to the public is (360-degree) 360° video. Despite its limited empirical backing as an effective educational tool, this emerging technology could prove…

Financial support for institutional research is relatively stagnant, and thus institutions are likely to seek tuition revenue to offset the costs of research and teaching. It is likely that this has led to increases in tuition driven activities, and thus has limited research activities of academic physical therapy (PT) programs in particular.…