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The ����ֱ�� Doctor of Physical Therapy Program was well represented at the 2017 American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Amy Litterini, PT, D.P.T, assistant clinical professor, gave a presentation along with three recent graduates of the ����ֱ�� DPT program.

Litterini and Nicole Stout, D.P.T., CLT-LANA, presented an Oncology Section Education Session titled “Clinical Integration of Rehabilitation into the Oncology Continuum of Care.” The two-hour session was designed to provide attendees with the ability to understand of the emerging policy initiatives in cancer and their impact on rehabilitation practice; identify important concepts in cancer rehabilitation program development and their intersection with the oncology continuum; and identify resources for clinical practice, education, and research to support the development of cancer rehabilitation programs. As oncology is a new area of board certified specialization for physical therapists, the topic was appropriately timed.  

Taryne (Ela) Thomas (DPT ’15) and colleagues from MD Anderson Cancer Center presented an education session titled, “Internal Hemipelvectomy: A Dynamic Multi-disciplinary Team Approach for Optimal Outcomes.” The interprofessional team reviewed the complex medical, surgical and rehabilitation management of patients with sarcoma, both from an inpatient and outpatient perspective, during the two-hour Oncology Section session. The case study format was highlighted by a video of a cancer survivor, which documented his journey back to wellness. The many attendees were pleasantly surprised to learn that the patient and his mother were part of the audience.

James Townsend (DPT ’15) gave a Sports Section Poster Presentation titled, “The Effect of Cross-training on Musculoskeletal Profiles of Runners in Training.”

Soliz Perez-Rodriguez (DPT ’16) represented herself and fellow ����ֱ�� DPT class of 2016 student researchers Clint Boone and Jacob Tacher in explaining the results of their study titled, “The Effects of Peer Motivation vs. Self-Motivation on Sports-Related Task Performance in Adolescent Female Soccer Players.” Based on a literature review, the group found that there was less research regarding motivation of adolescent young women than young men. Thus, the student research group studied whether the performance of adolescent female soccer players was guided more by self-motivation or motivation of their fellow soccer players while performing three sports-related exercises.

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